COTABATO CITY, Philippines – The killing of a Bombo Radyo driver and occasional reporter in Koronadal City was probably not work related and could have been the result of a grudge over a land dispute, police said, but the provincial board of South Cotabato disagreed.
Rommel Palma’s murder so angered members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of South Cotabato that they passed a resolution condemning the killing and describing it as an attack on media as the victim was killed on duty.
“It was unnecessary, whether work-related or personal grudge. The fact that he worked as media person and was on duty at the time of his murder was already a clear attack on the media,” said provincial board member Jose Madanguit.
The resolution condemning the attack on Palma was passed Monday afternoon and copies of it would be forwarded to Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo. The resolution urged Robredo to look into the case and ensure that government facilities such as hospitals were safe for everyone.
The provincial board was alarmed that the shooting happened in the compound of a government hospital, supposedly a secure facility.
On Tuesday, Superintendent Michael Lebanan, Koronadal City police director, said investigators believed the killing of Palma, 31, was due to a boundary dispute involving a lot that the victim’s family owned in Barangay (village) New Pangasinan, Koronadal City.
“Initially, we can say it was far from his being a driver and an occasional weather and traffic reporter of Bombo Radyo but more of land conflict with neighbors,” Lebanan said in a radio interview.
Lebanan said he personally talked to Bombo Radyo reporters who themselves admitted the shooting was most likely due to Palma’s misunderstanding over lot boundaries with some people.
Palma, driver of a Bombo Radyo car, was shot by two men riding tandem on a motorbike at 5:15 a.m. on Monday inside the compound of the South Cotabato provincial hospital in Koronadal City.
He succumbed to two gunshot wounds in the head and spinal column.
Rey Legario, Bombo-Radyo anchorperson, said Palma had driven him to the hospital to gather news when he heard several gunshots at the hospital car park.
“He was never a hard-hitting reporter, he reported light news stories,” Legario said.
Lebanan said two persons who allegedly had heated discussions with Palma about a week ago were invited for questioning. The duo, Palma’s neighbors with whom he had an argument on April 22, denied involvement in the killing.