PTFoMS tags carnival operator as gunman in Pampanga journalist slay

PRESIDENTIAL Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS) announced on Thursday that the suspected gunman of a tabloid columnist and his companion in Pampanga has been identified.

Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar, who co-chairs the PTFoMS, said the gunman was identified as Armando Maglaya Velasco, who works for a  local carnival operator in Barangay Cacutud in Arayat.

Citing a report from PTFoMS Executive Director Joel Egco, Andanar said the gunman had initially sent surrender feelers through his wife.

“I commend the Task Force, the CIDG (Criminal Investigation and Detection Group) Region 3 and the Arayat Police headed by Lt. Col. Dale Soliba for a job well done. This proves that this administration will stop at nothing to hold perpetrators of violence against media workers to account,” Andanar said in a statement.

“They can run and hide but the long arm of the law will eventually catch up on them,” the Palace official official said.

On Sunday, journalist Jupiter Gonzales and his companion, Christopher Tiongson, were shot dead inside their car after what appeared to be a heated altercation with the gunman.

Tiongson was killed on the spot, while Gonzales died before reaching Arayat District Hospital.

Andanar said closed-circuit television camera (CCTV) footage showed Velasco attempting to grab the steering wheel from the wounded driver in an attempt to commandeer the vehicle.

“A closed circuit television camera captured the incident, which led authorities to immediately establish the identity of the gunman,” he said.

Egco had said that the victims knew the suspect since he was seen casually entering the victim’s car.

“Our investigation showed that Gonzales knew his killer. In fact, the gunman first boarded the left backseat of the victim’s car and presumably spoke with the victims,” Egco said.

“A CCTV footage shows that the gunman stepped out of the vehicle after about four minutes and opened the driver side in an apparent attempt to commandeer the vehicle. However, Gonzales was still able to drive 50 meters away until he hit a flowerbox,” he added.

Meanwhile, Andanar assured the public that “regardless of the reasons for the killings, murder shall not go unpunished.”

“Charges of double murder are being prepared against Velasco and would be filed immediately,” he said.

Gonzales, who wrote a column for tabloid Remate, was a known staunch critic of illegal gambling in local carnivals.