Accused in broadcaster’s murder arrested

CMFR/ Philippines – One of the accused in the murder of a broadcaster was arrested last 8 August 2012 in Bgy. Tinongan in Isabela town, Negros Occidental. Negros Occidental is approximately 467 kilometers south of Manila.

Noel Guimeroy, one of the accused in the killing of radio broadcaster Niel “Lito” Jimena,  was arrested by the police at around 6 a.m. on the strength of an arrest warrant issued by Judge Felipe Banzon of the Silay City Regional Trial Court Branch 69 last 11 February 2012.

Guimeroy and Joel Calungsod, a former militiaman who remains at large, are accused of killing Jimena on 22 August 2011 in Enrique B. Magalona town, Negros Occidental.

Jimena was on his way home when he was gunned down.  He co-anchored a blocktime commentary program over dyRI-Radio Mindanao Network. His program “Husgador (Judge)” was a commentary on corruption and other illegal activities in the province. (http://www.cmfr-phil.org/2011/08/26/broadcaster-shot-dead-in-southern-philippines/)

In a phone interview with the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility (CMFR), Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) Western Visayas director Senior Superintendent Eddie Benigay said it took them weeks to file the murder case against the two accused.

The murder case against Guimeroy and Calungsod was filed on 9 September 2011. More than two eyewitnesses have positively identified Guemiroy as one of two men riding in tandem on a motorcycle who chased Jimena and shot him, Benigay said.

The CIDG Western Visayas director explained that the two accused were not wearing a helmet at the time, which was why eyewitnesses were able to identify them. He said that Guimeroy was the driver while Calungsod was the gunman.

He added that Guimeroy claimed he was the victim of mistaken identity, but the director insists that more than two eyewitnesses had positively identified him.