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

Task Force 211 (Task Force Against Extrajudicial Killings) Chairman Undersecretary Ricardo Blancaflor of the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced today the result of the Inquest conducted by the Special Panel of Prosecutors finding PROBABLE CAUSE for the CRIME OF MURDER against Kristian Tan y Erickson alias “Ian” and Joenel Lastimoso y Valerio alias “Bongbong Pantat” for the murder of RMN broadcaster Martin Roxas of Roxas City.

Blancaflor said, “this victory shows that the government is very firm in its resolve to putting a stop on extrajudicial killings. As I have said before in my previous statements, no stone will be left unturned in our quest to giving justice to the families of the victims. I am giving my personal assurance, that TF211 will not stop until these criminals are put behind bars’.

He further added, “the widow of Martin Roxas, Hayna D. Roxas, personally thanked DOJ Secretary Raul Gonzales for the speedy filing of the case and the attention given by the prosecutors of Roxas City.”

TF 211 has been closely coordinating with the different law enforcement agencies for the apprehension and eventual conviction of the perpetrators of another RMN commentator Dennis Cuesta who was gunned down in General Santos City.
 

Task Force Against
Political Violence