Palace vows justice for 2nd media practitioner killed this week

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang condemned on Friday the killing of a broadcaster-activist in Sorsogon, the second media practitioner slain this week.

The Palace vowed justice for 56-year-old Teodoro Escanilla, a radio dzMS blocktimer who was gunned down at his home in Barangay Tagdon in Barcelona town on Wednesday.

"Kinokondena ang pagpaslang kay Teodoro Escanilla; tutugisin ang mga pinaghihinalaang salarin at papanagutin," Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said in a text message.

Initial investigation showed that Escanilla was entertaining an unidentified guest inside his family's residential compound when another man arrived and started shooting.

Reports said a caliber .45 pistol and an M-16 rifle were used in the killing.

Escanilla, who anchored the "Pamana ng Lahi" program every Saturday, was also chairman of the Anakpawis Party-list and spokesman for the human rights group Karapatan in Sorsogon.

Escanilla’s killing came a day after the murder of Gregorio Ybanez, publisher of Kabuhayan News Services and president of a media club in Davao del Norte.

"The Philippine National Police is tasked with pursuing the suspects and bringing them to the bar of justcie," Coloma said in a separate text message.