MANILA, Philippines- Bumuo na ang Department of Justice (DOJ) Special Investigation Team on New Cases (SITN) para imbestigahan ang pagpatay kay dating Kalibo mayor at veteran journalist Juan “Johnny” Dayang.
Sinabi ng DOJ na ang Special Investigation Team on New Cases (SITN) ay pamumunuan ng dalawang magtitipon-tipong multi-agency team na kabibilangan ng mga imebstigador mula Philippine National Police (PNP), National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) at iba pang ahensya.
“In pursuit of its mandate to uphold the rule of law and protect members of the press, the Secretary of Justice has issued a Department Order designating two prosecutors to head the SITN. Their appointment is in accordance with Administrative Order No. 01, s. 2016, which authorizes the DOJ to coordinate with law enforcement agencies to ensure a thorough, impartial, and expeditious investigation of media-related killings,” nakasaad sa kalatas ng DOJ.
Ang mga nakatalagang piskal ang mangunguna at mangangasiwa sa fact-finding process, lilikom ng mga ebidensya at magpapadali na makapagsampa ng kaso kung kinakailangan.
Ang SITN ay inaatasan na magsumite ng regular progress reports sa DOJ hanggang sa maresolba ang kaso.
Ipinabatid na kay Undersecretary Jose Torres Jr. ng Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMs) ang pagbuo ng SITN. Nakikipag-ugnayan na ito sa mga piskal at law enforcement agencies na nagsasagawa ng imbestigasyon.
“The Department of Justice remains steadfast in its commitment to safeguard press freedom and ensure that acts of violence against media practitioners do not go unpunished,” pagtiyak ng DOJ.
Magugunita na binaril si Dayang sa loob ng kanyang tirahan sa Kalibo, Aklan nitong April 29.
Siya chairman emeritus ng Publishers Association of the Philippines (PAPI) at founder ng Aklan Press Club. Teresa Tavares
