Broadcaster killed in Zamboanga del Sur ambush

By Jong D. Cadion

PAGADIAN CITY, Zamboanga del Sur (May 12, 2018) – A broadcaster identified as supporter of Zamboanga del Sur Governor Antonio Cerilles was killed in ambush at Barangay Noburan in Labangan municipality of this province Saturday at 3:00pm.

The victim identified as Carlos A. Matas also known as Caloy in his morning radio program over DXCA-AM/FM of Baganian Broadcasting Corp, legal age and a resident of Purok Mahayahay, Barangay Dao of this city. 

The operating personnel of Labangan Municipal Police Station headed by Chief of Police Senior Inspector Harry R. Velez responded to the reported ambush incident at 4:30 in the afternoon and found the dead body of victim Carlos Arapoc Matas sustained multiple gunshot wound in the different part of his body.

In the initial investigation, four unidentified suspects using cal. 45 pistol and 5.56 M16 rifles base on the fired cartridge cage recovered from the crime scene shot the victim to death.

The suspects fled towards the directions of Barangay Langapud, Labangan Zamboanga Del Sur with the use of Single MC. Motive of incident still undetermined.

The police operatives conducted hot pursuit operations, which resulted to the on-going encounter between the suspected persons as of press time. 

Caloy is presently a provincial coordinator of Cassava Farmers Association. He is a co-anchor broadcaster of the provincial information officer Marivic ‘Titamai’ Jongco in their provincial government paid radio program aired every morning in DXCA-AM/FM radio station.

Titamai Jongco in her facebook account posted comment quoted “Nagdugo ang akong kasing kasing sa kamatayon sa tawo nga akong giilang amahan nga ang tumong mao lamang ang pagpalapnag sa katarong ug maayong pagdumala sa Probinsya nga si kuya Caloy.. Election lang man ni nganong mopatay man..” (My heart bleeds on the death of the person who is like a father to me and that his only purpose is to disseminate the good management of the province, that is kuya Caloy. This is just an election, why do they have to kill.)

In a police report last Tuesday, Carlos A. Matas together with Samuel Patajo and Sannyboy Tepura reported to Labangan Police Municipal Station that they were allegedly waylaid by single motorcycles riding individuals at about 4:10pm at Purok Tundan, Langapod also of the said town and fired shots unto their vehicles but fortunately none of them were harmed. The suspects fled towards different direction after the incident.

At the same day, a certain Mohamidin Dimatinggal Alam, 24 years old, single, and resident of Purok Dimatinggal, Lower Sang-an of the said municipality also reported to the said Police Station and put into record that the group of Carlos Matas ambushed him at said place. Alam sustained gunshot wound on his left armpit that he decided to abandon his single motorcycle (Racal) and single motorcycle DT owned by his companion Amerudin to report the incident to the police. Police said the motive believed to be election related.