AFTER United Nations official Irina Bokova condemned the killing of Zamboanga del Sur broadcaster Elvis Ordaniza, Malacañang condemned the killing and appealed to the public to support a thorough investigation of the case for its immediate resolution.
Asked to comment on the Ordaniza killing, Undersecretary Manuel Quezon III of the Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office said it is always a cause of grave concern and great outrage that journalists should die for doing their jobs.
“In these cases, we should bear in mind that there is a task force that has been set up and that we can point to cases moving faster,” he told dzRB Radyo Ng Bayan on Saturday.
Media killings like the case of Ordaniza requires thorough investigation to bring the perpetrators to justice.
“So let us all call for and support the thorough investigation of this terrible tragedy to ensure that a case that is water tight is filed,” Quezon said.
“And let us also appeal because at the end of the day even the best investigation will only take you so far.”
But Quezon also said that the case is already in the disposition of the court and the executive branch can do nothing about the pace of the litigation in the court.
“There have been many instances when we have all been waiting for justice and a resolution because the court process is slow and courts are supposed to be independent. The government can’t do much in that case,” the Palace official said.
“And it requires our constant appeals to the judiciary in a respectful but firm manner to bear in mind that justice delayed is justice denied.”
Ordaniza was very critical against the proliferation of prohibited drugs and illegal gambling and police suspected that he was gunned down because of his stand against drugs and gambling.
Ordaniza, 49, works for the dxWO Power 99 FM of the Times Broadcasting Network based in Pagadian City.
Police said Ordaniza was gunned around 7:10 p.m. Tuesday, February 16, at Purok Bagong Silang in the village of Poblacion, Pitogo in Zamboanga del Sur.