Court acquits suspect in 2006 murder of Palawan broadcaster Batul

PUERTO PRINCESA, PALAWAN (Updated 1 p.m.) — A local court on Monday acquitted a policeman in the 2006 killing of popular radio broadcaster Fernando "Dong" Batul after finding the prosecution witnesses "not credible." Judge Bienvenido Blancaflor of Branch 95 of the Puerto Princesa Regional Trial Court also gave weight to the documented and corroborated evidence presented by suspect PO1 Aaron Golifardo that he left the city on the day of the killing to attend a child support hearing in Camp Crame, the Philippine National Police headquarters in Manila, and was not fleeing from the crime. Batul was gunned down inside his vehicle by two suspects on a motorbike on May 22, 2006 while on his way to work as anchorman of the top-rated morning radio program Bastonero on dyPR. The gunmen escaped after the incident, which took place two days before Batul's 37th birthday. Two days after the killing, Golifardo was arrested in Manila. Paraffin and drug tests performed on the suspect in Camp Crame yielded negative results, which were also cited in the ruling. Golifardo has repeatedly maintained his innocence in the crime, and no other suspect has been arrested since then. The case investigation has never identified the mastermind either. The family of Golifardo applauded when the verdict was read while Batul's mother broke down in tears. "Kung hindi namin makuha ang hustisya ngayon, may hustisya pa rin sa kabilang buhay," Conrada Batul said. One of Batul's sisters, Selina Batul-La Torre, added: "So sino ang pumatay kay Dong?" Letty Batul, another sister of the slain broadcaster, pleaded for support from the media sector for the resolution of the case. "Hindi lang naman namin laban ito. Posible ring mangyari ito sa ibang journalists e," she said. Meanwhile, an angry relative of Golifardo was heard shouting along the corridor after the verdict was read, "Bakit ikinulong nyo siya ng halos limang taon tapos wala pala siyang kasalanan?" "Chilling reminder" A media group monitoring the case described the ruling a "devastating setback" and called for greater vigilance in following up the unsolved cases of slain journalists in the Philippines, which is regarded as one of the most dangerous places for media workers worldwide. "While the Center for Community Journalism and Development (CCJD), a media non-profit that works with journalists in many local areas, bows to the majesty of the courts, it laments the acquittal of PO1 Aarön Golifardo y Madamay (criminal case no 21309) after a long and tedious trial marked by the anguish of a family and public who had lost a voice in the death of Batul," executive director Red Batario said in a statement. "The acquittal also serves as a chilling reminder that other cases of journalist killings should be monitored closely not only by the news media but by citizens as well because the killing of journalists have a horrific impact on the people's right to know," Batario added. "Only a vibrant and free news media can help ensure that people can speak and be heard freely." Heroes' funerals Batul's murder was the first killing of a broadcaster in Palawan and one of the most high-profile violent incidents in the city. Monday's verdict came three months after another prominent radio anchorman, Gerardo Ortega, was gunned down also in Puerto Princesa. Both radiomen were civic and religious leaders in the province, and had served in public office before they were killed. Batul was the vice mayor of Puerto Princesa while Ortega was once a board member of Palawan. Thousands of people attended the 5-km funeral protest march for Batul along the main streets of the city, an unprecedented sight that was replicated in Ortega's hometown of Aborlan five years later when the latter was buried at the public cemetery. Batul and Ortega had attracted a loyal following, especially among poorer sectors, for addressing complaints about inadequate public services and other social justice issues. They were also active environment advocates and worked for a number of years at the crocodile farm, a conservation project in the city. – Sergio Pontillas, VVP/YA, GMA News