Palace vows justice for slain columnist

Malacañang has vowed the filing of charges against the suspect in the murder of a tabloid columnist, who was shot in Arayat, Pampanga, on Sunday.

The suspect in the killing of Remate columnist Jupiter Gonzales was identified as a certain Armando Maglaya Velasco, reportedly a public relations man for a local carnival in Barangay Cacutud.

Communications Secretary Martin Andanar commended the Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFOMS), the Arayat police and the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group for a good job, solving the case in less than a week.

“This proves that this administration will stop at nothing to hold perpetrators of violence against media workers to account,” he said in a statement.

Andanar said two counts of murder would be filed this week against Velasco, who reportedly expressed his intention to surrender to authorities.

Last Sunday night, Gonzales and his companion, Christopher Tiongson, were gunned down inside their car.

PTFOMS executive director Joel Egco said the two victims were apparently killed following a heated argument over the operations of a local carnival in the barangay.

A surveillance camera captured the incident on film, allowing authorities to establish the gunman’s identity.

Investigation showed that Tiongson was shot first and died immediately, while Gonzales managed to drive the car for 50 meters before crashing into a plant box. He was later declared dead at a nearby hospital.

In a statement, Egco said Velasco was allegedly seen trying to grab the wheel from Tiongson.

He said Gonzales knew his killer, who entered the back seat of the car and even spoke with the victims.