‘Dating Daan’ television host killed

CAMP OLIVAS, Pampanga – Motorcycle-riding armed men shot dead last Sunday a television host and former Iglesia ni Cristo minister who is now a member of the rival religious group Ang Dating Daan (ADD) along the service road of the North Luzon Expressway in Barangay Sta. Monica in San Simon, Pam­panga.

Chief Supt. Errol Pan, director of the Central Luzon police office, identified the victim as Marcos Mantaro, 40, of Ba­rangay Sampaloc, Apalit, Pam­panga, was also a television host at the ADD television station UNTV Channel 37.

Pan said the victim was a former Minister of the INC but later transferred to Ang Dating Daan, headed by Elie Soriano.

Mantaro was waiting a ride along the shoulder of the service road when one of the unidentified suspects on board a motorcycle shot the victim in the different parts of the body. The victim died on the spot.

Pane said the victim was waiting for a passenger bus and was bound for Manila.

Scene of the Crime Operatives (SOCO) team recovered nine spent shells of a .9 mm pistol near the victim’s body.

The suspects’ get-away motorcycle developed engine trouble and the gunmen abandoned the vehicle and boarded a northbound passenger bus.

Pan ordered the Pampanga police authorities to further investigate the shooting incident.

The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) said Mataro was the 56th mediamen to be assassinated under the Arroyo administration.

The Philippine National Police (PNP)’s Task Force Usig is now investigating Mataro’s killing, NUJP said.

Mataro, known also as “Bro. Marcos” among ADD followers, was gunned down by two armed men on board a Yamaha motorcycle with license plates DY-4524.   – With Nestor Etolle