De Lima orders probe on CNN man’s killing

Jonathan Oldan. FACEBOOK PHOTO

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima has ordered the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to look into the killing of CNN Philippines assistant cameraman Jonathan Oldan to determine whether his death was work-related.

In a statement sent on Friday via text, De Lima said the NBI’s Death Investigation Unit has already started its probe into the killing of 29-year-old Oldan, who was shot dead at 5:15 a.m. on Thursday in Imus, Cavite, on his way to work.

The police are conducting a separate investigation into the shooting.

“A team was immediately dispatched yesterday (Thursday) morning,” De Lima said.

“Part of their assignment is to preliminarily determine whether the killing is work-related, subject to further evaluation by the (interagency on extralegal killings, enforced disappearances, torture and other human rights violations),” she said.

Once the killing is found to be related to his job, De Lima said a special investigation team would be formed.

“If determined to be work-related, hence an extrajudicial killing, then it will be assigned to a special investigation team, to be monitored by the Special Oversight Team, as among the existing mechanisms under Administrative Order No. 35,” said De Lima, in reference to the 2012 order that created the interagency committee on extrajudicial slays, abductions and human rights violations.

Oldan was a driver and assistant cameraman who formed part of CNN Philippines’ crew that covered the justice beat, including courts and the Department of Justice.