Suspects in Pangasinan journalist’s slay charged

VILLASIS, Pangasinan, Philippines — Three persons tagged in the killing of journalist Virgilio Maganes in November have been charged with murder.

There was probable cause to file the charges against Noe Ducay, Romar Bustillos and a John Doe, according to a resolution issued by senior assistant prosecutor Charlotte Duron-Cabida and approved by provincial prosecutor Abraham Ramos II on Feb. 8.

Cabida’s findings, which were corroborated by investigators and witnesses, showed that Bustillos acted as the “point man” when he sent a text message to Ducay, the alleged gunman, when Maganes was about to enter the compound of his home in Barangay Blas.

Maganes was shot dead by motorcycle-riding men, one of them believed to be Ducay.

The victim wrote for local newspaper Northern Watch and was a commentator for dwPR.

The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines said Maganes survived an ambush in November 2016 by playing dead.

Presidential Communications Operations Office and Presidential Task Force on Media Security co-chairman lauded the PTFoMS staff, National Prosecution Service and local police for the early resolution of the case.

PTFoMS executive director Joe Sy Egco commended personnel of the Villasis police for their “immediate intervention and continuous investigation” of the incident.