Media Groups Condemn Murder of Agusan Radioman; Urged a Stop to Killings

by Ben Serrano

June 30, 2009

BAYUGAN, Agusan del Sur- The National Federation of Press Clubs of the Philippines (PhilPress) and Butuan Press Club today condemned in strongest term the murder of radio block timer Jonathan Lisondra Petalvero and urged a stop in the series of killings in this town which make it seven in a row murdered in cold blood for month of June 2009 alone.

Yesterday afternoon, officers and members of the two media groups pay a visit at the wake of the fallen radioman in Petalvero residence here, condoled the widow Mrs. Girlie Cortes Petalvero, their five children and close relatives who came all the way from Surigao City.

Leadership of the two media groups extended financial assistance although small amount and flowers to the immediate grieving family upon knowing that the youngest of the five Petalvero siblings was still two years old.

It was learned that the fallen radioman who is also the incumbent number one Barangay Councilor of Barangay Poblacion of this town will be buried in Surigao City on Saturday, July 4.

The present Barangay Poblacion village chief who is also Association of Barangay Captains (ABC) President is Kim Lope Asis, son of incumbent Mayor Magdalena Asis.

The fallen radioman’s mother who is a Lisondra is one of the biggest clans in Surigao City.

Butuan Press Club President Felix Villacastin who is also National President of the Federation of Press Clubs (Phil Press) urged authorities for an impartial and in-depth investigation of the Petalvero killing claiming that Petalvero was the seventh person murdered in a matter of three weeks for the month of June 2009 alone.

PhilPress Secretary-General Tyrone Power Calo who once served as Agusan del Sur Provincial Administrator and later elected in 1995 as Agusan del Sur Provincial Board Member told This Writer that prior to Petalvero murder, another Barangay Kagawad in Barangay Ipil of this town was also murdered.

Calo said that a Muslim community leader by the name of Sultan Amoran Buyog and her daughter were also allegedly murdered in broad daylight right in their home that took place earlier this month.

Calo was former Chairman of the Committee of Peace and Order of the Agusan del Sur Provincial Board when he was still Board Member.

Bayugan Police Desk Duty Officer of the Day P02 Allan Conson confirmed to this writer the killing of the Muslim community leader.

The two media leaders suspected Petalvero, the Muslim community leader and the Barangay Ipil Kagawad killings were politically motivated

But Petalvero’ s close kins who have just arrived from Surigao City and went straight to the Bayugan Police Office Saturday morning wanted impartial investigation of why the incident in the murder of their brother, Jonathan Patalvero was not yet recorded immediately at the police blotter,

They alleged that it was only recorded at the police blotter right after they visited the police office and complained.

Caraga Police Regional Operations for Personnel Division Chief Senior Supt. Nestor Monton Fajura told This Writer police investigators are now investigating three angles in the Petalvero murder case, one, personal grudges involving stalls in the market, two, work-related as media person and three; that the killing was politically motivated.

Fajura said Task Force Usig headed by Deputy Regional Police Director for Operations Senior Supt. Ramon Castillo Espiritu has been automatically task to lead investigation of the Petalvero murder

But some quarters of the local opposition group here wanted Espiritu replaced as Task Force Usig head allegedly due some political ties or connections of Senior Supt. Espiritu who once served as one of the longest Agusan del Sur Police Provincial Director.

“We feel we cannot put behind bars the real mastermind and killers if Task Force Usig will be under him (Espiritu)” they alleged as they refused to be identified after two opposition Barangay Kagawads were already killed.

Petalvero is an ally and is working in the radio station of incumbent Bayugan Vice Mayor Atty. Genesis Efren who publicly announced his plans to run for Bayugan Mayor in May 2010 polls against ABC President son of present three-termer Bayugan Mayor Magdalena Asis.

Petalvero and Efren were regular anchors of news commentary program “Balita at Komentaryo” aired every 7:00 a.m. to 7:30 a.m. every morning at FM station “Frenster” here in Bayugan.

Colleagues of Petalvero at the radio station told This Writer that the fallen radio man although sometimes hard hitting is not mentioning particular personalities or politicians but always criticizing poor, dilapidated road networks in Barangay BIDCOR here and other alleged government project anomalies .

Petalvero was supposed to meet and held talks with businessman Roberto “Bob” Aquino, son of late former Agusan Rep. Jose Aquino, Sr. on Sunday to allegedly express political support to Aquino who is planning to run for Congressman of Agusan del Sur’s first congressional district in 2010 elections.

The fallen radioman, according to his surviving spouse, has expressed interest to run for Bayugan Vice Mayor but as Independent.