Two arrested for killing of reporter

CMFR Philippines – Two men including the alleged gunman in the murder of tabloid correspondent Nerlita Ledesma were arrested Sunday, January 11 in Bataan Province. Ledesma was shot dead on January 8 while waiting for a public transport vehicle a few meters from her home in Baranggay Tuyo, Balanga City. Bataan province is 122 kilometers south of Manila.

Witnesses identified a certain Inocencio Bendo alias Banjo as the gunman, and Juan Pulo alias Buboy as suspects in Ledesma’s killing. Two men who served as lookouts and the mastermind are still unidentified.

Regional Police Director Chief Superintendent Ronald Santos said in an interview with CLTV 36’s Mhike Cigaral that the suspects were already held in the Bataan Police Provincial Office for further investigation.

Charges of murder and attempted homicide and illegal use of firearms were filed against Bendo and Pulo respectively on January 12.

While the motive for the killing was still unclear, the police were looking at the land dispute in the home owners association where Ledesma was the president and her work as a journalist as possible leads.

If proven to be work related, the killing of Ledesma will be the 146^th case of a journalist/ media worker and the 11^th woman journalist killed in the line of duty in the Philippines since 1986.