PRESS STATEMENT NO. 08-19-08
11 August 2008

TF211 CHAIRMAN BLANCAFLOR IS ENRAGED BY ATTACKS ON MEDIAMEN


“This has got to stop!”, said Department of Justice (DOJ) Undersecretary Ricardo Blancaflor, concurrent Chairman of Task Force Against Extrajudicial Killings (TF211) when informed of the death of RMN commentator Dennis Cuesta in St. Elizabeth Hospital in General Santos City. Cuesta was pronounced dead by his attending physician Saturday, August 9.

“I am extending my deepest condolences to the family of Dennis. I may not have personally experienced what they are going through right now, I can only understand how painful it is to lose a loved one. As Chairman of TF211, I personally assure you, that no stone will be left unturned in the investigation of this case,” he said.

Blancaflor further said, “as of this moment, prosecutors have been closely coordinating with law enforcement agencies in the investigation and arrest of the assailants. These criminals will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”

He added,”the government is unwavering in its resolve into putting a stop on all these extrajudicial killings.”

Cuesta is the second RMN commentator to die as a result of an attack by unidentified assailants in a span of two weeks.
 

Task Force Against
Political Violence