Andanar names suspect in Remate columnist's killing

Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Martin Andanar on Thursday identified the suspect in the killing of a tabloid columnist and his companion in Pampanga last Sunday and said charges will soon be filed.

Andanar, co-chairperson of the Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS), identified the gunman as Armando Maglaya Velasco, who is reportedly working as a public relations man of a local carnival or peryahan, operating in Barangay Cacutud in Arayat, Pampanga.

The Palace official said double murder charges are being prepared against Velasco.

“This proves that this administration will stop at nothing to hold perpetrators of violence against media workers to account. They can run and hide but the long arm of the law will eventually catch up on them," he said.

Citing a report from PTFoMS Executive Director Joel Sy Egco, Andanar said the gunman had initially sent surrender feelers through his wife.

On Sunday night, Jupiter Gonzales, a columnist for the tabloid Remate and Christopher Tiongson were shot inside their car apparently over a heated argument involving the perya operation.

Investigators surmised that Tiongson was shot first and died instantly while Gonzales managed to drive for about 50 meters before hitting a plantbox. He was declared dead upon arrival at the local hospital.

Velasco was even seen attempting to grab the wheel from the already wounded driver in an apparent attempt to commandeer the vehicle, according to PTFoMS.

A closed circuit television camera (CCTV) captured the incident, which helped authorities to immediately establish the identity of the gunman.

Egco earlier said that the victims knew Velasco since the latter was seen casually entering the victims' car through the left backdoor. —Virgil Lopez and Anna Felicia Bajo/KBK, GMA News