By GENALYN D. KABILING
The government is determined to bring to justice the perpetrators behind the killings of a priest in Cagayan and a radio broadcaster in Dumaguete City.
Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said they condemn these murders and assured that investigations are under way to arrest and prosecute the culprits.
“Kinokondena po natin lahat ng patayan na ‘yan at sinisiguro ko naman po na ang gobyerno po ay gumagawa ng hakbang para tuparin ang kaniyang responsibilidad,” Roque said. “Iimbestigahan po natin ‘yan, lilitisin, at paparusahan ang mga pumapatay,” he added.
Fr. Mark Anthony Ventura was shot dead after officiating a Mass in Gattaran, Cagayan last Sunday. Police probers were looking into a personal grudge as possible motive behind the murder of the young Catholic priest.
Radio anchor Edmund Sestoso was gunned down by unidentified assailants last Monday near his boarding house in Dumaguete City. Sestoso, former chairperson of the National Union of Journalists in the Philippines, was declared dead by doctors in a nearby hospital.
Roque assured that the government task force on media security is already looking into the case of Sestoso.
He assured that it would rank high in the priority of cases under investigation by authorities. “Hindi po natin binabaon sa limot iyong mga namatay na mga mamamahayag,” Roque said.
“At ang paninindigan po talaga natin, magkakaroon po talaga ng puspusang paglilitis at talagang paparusahan ang mga pumapatay sa lahat, lalong-lalo na po sa pumapatay sa media at mga taong mga nananampalataya,” he said.
