Slain GenSan mediaman laid to rest

GENERAL SANTOS CITY, Philippines—Slain tabloid publisher and editor Christopher Guarin was laid to rest Sunday afternoon amid overflowing sympathy and support from his family, friends and colleagues in media.

Guarin, 41, was driving home with his wife and 9-year-old daughter when shot by two unidentified motorcycle-riding men on January 5.

He has been deemed the first journalist killed this year and the 150th victim of media killings in the country since 1986.

As of Sunday, journalists here have raised some P88,000 reward money. Local journalists launched a fund drive Thursday last week to raise a P200,000 bounty.

Journalists claimed the amount will be given to the triggerman if he surrenders and reveals who ordered him to kill Guarin. They also pledged to help the gunman avail of the Department of Justice’s Witness Protection Program.

“Aside from getting the reward money, we will help you get the necessary protection by asking the DOJ to put you under its Witness Protection Program,” Edwin Espejo, chair of the local chapter of National Union of Journalists in the Philippines, said.