Palace vows justice for slain priest, radio commentator

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 Spokesman Harry Roque said the government condemns these murders and assured that investigations are underway 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 [We condemn these killings and we assure the government is taking steps to fulfill its responsibility],” Roque said during a Palace press briefing.

“Iimbestigahan po natin ‘yan, lilitisin at paparusahan ang mga pumapatay [We will investigate, prosecute and punish the perpetrators of the killings],” he added.

Rev. Fr. Mark Anthony Ventura was shot dead after officiating a mass in Gattaran, Cagayan last Sunday.

Radio program anchor Edmund Sestoso was gunned down by unidentified assailants last Monday near his boarding house in Dumaguete City.

Sestoso, former chairman of the National Union of Journalists in the Philippines, was declared dead by doctors at 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 [We are not burying in oblivion the slain journalists],” 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 [Our commitment is to prosecute ad punish the killers especially those behind the killings of media and religious personnel],” he said.