MANILA, Philippines – 58 year old Correspondent for Manila Standard and Reuters, Jess Malabanan, was shot dead inside their store in Calbayog, Western Samar on Wednesday confirmed by his wife, Mila.
“We were watching television when a shot rang at close range. I didn’t see the gunman because it was dark,” Mila said.
He was brought to St. Camillus Hospital in Calbayog for medical treatment but was declared dead on arrival by the attending physician.
The Pampanga Press Club, which Malabanan is a member of, and other fellow journalists condemns the assassination of Malabanan.
“Jess to many among us, a long-time reporter and stringer for manu media outfits for many years, had proven himself to be a man dedicated to his duties as a journalist.”
The Pampanga Press Club also calls on the “help in the prompt investigation that lead to the arrest of the perpetrators of this cowardly act in the justice.”
The Police Regional Office 8 has yet to release a statement pending the ongoing investigation of the incident.