The Philippine National Police on Easter Sunday tasked the Butuan City, Agusan del Norte police to launch a manhunt operation against the dispatcher who allegedly killed a radio commentator on Black Saturday.
Francisco Patindol, a radio commentator for Butuan-based DXJM, was stabbed to death around 10 a.m. in Butuan.
Butuan police identified the suspect as Ulating Macarampat Barapangcat, alias “Ola Saransamen,” a dispatcher.
A picture of the suspect was released by the Butuan police to enable the public to report him to authorities should they see him.
Police Col. Bernard Banac, PNP spokesperson, said the Butuan City police station has been ordered to conduct an immediate probe to determine the motive behind the killing and arrest the suspect.
“The safety and protection of members of the media is paramount,” he said.
According to initial investigation, Patindol was chatting with some of his companions outside a photocopy center on Narra Road, Barangay New Society Village when the drunken Barapangcat suddenly approached them.
The suspect then pulled out a knife and stabbed Patindol on the left side of his chest, police said.
Patindol was rushed to the MJ Santos Hospital in Butuan where he died, police added. Barapangcat fled on foot and was nowhere to be found.
Banac assured that justice will be given to the family of the slain journalist as he emphasized that the PNP gives importance to the security of the public, including all journalists.
Last April 10, the PNP deployed 21 police personnel to the Task Force on Media Security to act as security escorts for media workers whose life are in danger and to investigate media-related violence. (Martin A. Sadongdong)