Watchdog wants Pala’s slay probed anew

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines – The US-based press freedom watchdog Committee for the Protection of Journalists (CPJ) is urging Philippine authorities to reinvestigate the case of slain Davao broadcaster Juan “Jun” Pala.

The CPJ made the call after retired Senior Police Officer 3 Arthur Lascañas, a self-confessed member of the so-called Davao death squad, admitted his participation in the murder of Pala in 2003.

 Lascañas claimed the killing was ordered by President Duterte, who was mayor of Davao City at the time.

Lascañas said he carried  out extrajudicial killings on Duterte’s orders.

Shawn Crispin, CPJ’s senior Southeast Asia representative, urged authorities to reinvestigate Pala’s killing based on this new information.

“The allegation that President Duterte ordered the killing should be taken seriously, investigated and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” Crispin said.

Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar described Lascañas’ revelation as “character assassination and vicious politics.”

Pala, commentator of dxGO radio in Davao City, was killed as he, a bodyguard and a friend were walking home on Sept. 6, 2003. 

He had criticized communist rebels and corruption in government in his radio program.

Last year, Duterte lambasted what he described as “corrupt journalists” and specifically mentioned Pala, calling him a “rotten son of a bitch.” But Duterte denied participation in Pala’s killing.