CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – Journalists in Misamis Oriental and this city said they were happy that the Task Force Against Political Violence (TF211) has finally identified the killers of broadcaster Ariceo Padrigao.

Padrigao, who was based in Gingoog City in Misamis Oriental, was dropping off his daughter at her school on Nov. 17 when attacked by two motorcycle-riding men wearing crash helmets.

On Friday, the task force headed by Justice Undersecretary Ricardo Blancaflor announced that it has finally charged Benjamin Palarca and Ariel Degamo for Padrigao’s murder.

Degamo is one of Misamis Oriental’s most wanted persons and is a known killer.

Bingo Alcordo, of the Cagayan de Oro Press Club and a friend of Padrigao, said they believe that the two gunmen were hired by “unseen forces.”

“We still believe there are unseen forces behind the killing. It was not an act of one gunman. We would like to get the name of the mastermind behind this dastardly act,” Alcordo, a member of the task force, said.

Manuel Ansiangan, who hosts a program in Radyo Natin, urged the task force and the National Bureau of Investigation not to waver in their investigation.

Ansiangan said the same people that had Padrigao killed has also started threatening him.

“A few hours after Padrigao was killed, I received a phone call from a man who said he will wipe us out all because we were making so much noise on the radio,” he said.

“They are still around,” he said.