After 3 years, families of 2 slain radiomen still cry for justice

BUTUAN CITY- More than three years after their gruesome killing, justice remains elusive for a block-timer broadcaster in Tandag, Surigao del Sur and a cameraman-reporter of a local radio station in San Francisco, Agusan del Sur. No less than the police admitted Sunday their difficulty in solving the twin slayings and confusion on whether to accept the two victims as legitimate members of the press. According to the local Kapisanan Ng Mga Brodkaster sa Pilipinas (KBP) Tandag, Surigao del Sur chapter, radio block-timer Eldee Gabalanes Sablas was not in the KBP roster of members. Sablas was shot dead on a tricycle at the crossing of the national highway and Navales Street in Barangay (village) Bag-ong Lungsod last June 14, 2003. Tandag Police claimed in their official report that Sablas was shot to death because of his alleged involvement in illegal activities. They did not elaborate what illegal activities Sablas were into. But before his death, Sablas was exposing the alleged involvement of some policemen in illegal activities like illegal gambling and drugs. Sablas was also very critical to some politicians in the province but some jealous newsmen claimed that Sablas’ radio air time was sponsored or paid by rival politicians. But according to the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) Caraga Regional Office, the Sablas murder case was already archived because lack of witnesses and the alleged lack of interest of the complainants in the case. The complainants were the Sablas family members. In an earlier interview, they claimed that they lose interest to pursue the case because of financial problems. “Wala na ngang makain ang pamilya, nahinto ang pag-aaral ng mga bata at wala pang tumutulong, hustisya pa kaya na masyado mahal dito (We have nothing to eat, the children can’t continue their studies, nobody is helping us and justice is expensive, which cannot afford)," Sablas’ relatives were quoted as saying. According to the family, the CIDG and the PNP investigating team only visited them once, asking routine questions. The CIDG was tasked by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to spearhead the investigation into the media and extra-judicial killings. According to CIDG records, Sablas sustained three gunshot wounds to the head after he was shot by two men as he emerged from the ULTRA Marketing in Purok Napo. Meanwhile, the widow of slain PECBC cameraman and reporter Rico Ramirez of radio station DXSF in San Francisco, Agusan del Sur, said sloppy investigation of the police led to the dismissal of the case. Brenda Ramirez said like the Sablas killing, CIDG investigators only showed up once and asked routine questions and they never showed up again. Brenda is now being assisted by the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility (CMFR) and the National Union for Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) in funding the education of her only child. Ramirez, through the help of CMFR and NUJP, is operating a small store near her residence to earn a living. Ramirez told GMANews.TV in an exclusive interview that case against the suspect was dismissed by the Agusan del Sur Provincial Prosecutor Office, which noted many lapses in the investigation. CIDG acting regional director Supt. Elmer Doropa Doyo of the Caraga Region said the Ramirez case was not investigated by CIDG but by the local police in San Francisco town. Ramirez was shot dead at 8:45 p.m. on August 20, 2003 by a lone gunman in the dimly-lit portion of the road leading to his home in Purok 6, Barangay San Isidro, San Francisco. His station manager, Max Tutor of DXSF, said he suspects that Ramirez’ exposé on illegal drug activities over his radio program could have triggered the killing. Tutor said he scored the PNP for saying that Ramirez is not considered a legitimate newsman. Tutor said the CMFR and NUJP had made a stand that anybody who is involved in news gathering will be recognized as worker in the media industry.- GMANews.TV