Task force formed to solve Marasigan’s slay

Former journalist-turned-press agent Michael Marasigan

Probers still have no leads in the killing of former journalist-turned-press agent Michael D. Marasigan and his brother, Cristopher, but the police have formed a task force to look into the slays, Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez said on Friday.

“There are still no leads,” Dominguez said of the killing of Marasigan, who was his communications consultant, and Cristopher.

The Marasigan brothers were killed after they were ambushed by still unidentified men on a motorcycle in San Juan City around 6:10 p.m. on  Thursday.

“I hope they will report positive results,” Dominguez said, adding that he had already asked three high-ranking police officials to prioritize the case.

Task Force Marasigan

One of the officials was Eastern Police District (EPD) director Chief Supt. Romulo Sapitula, who created “Task Force Marasigan” to look into the double murder.

The task force, Sapitula said, will be headed by EPD deputy director for operations Senior Supt. Florendo Quibuyen.

Before he became press and public relations officer of the Department of Finance, Michael, 60, had been managing editor of BusinessWorld and former independent video producer at Living Asia Channel.

What happened

He had also been a press agent for several companies and individuals, including Tagum Development Corp., owned by the family of Davao del Norte Rep. Antonio Floirendo.

The San Juan City police chief, Senior Supt. Lawrence Coop, said the brothers were on a metallic-gray Mazda CX5, with plate No. WOU 583, and were traveling along V. Cruz Street toward Barcelona Street when they were attacked around 6:10 p.m.

The police believe the perpetrators followed the victims from Michael’s home on Valentin Street in Barangay Onse,  where he was fetched by Cristopher who also lived nearby.

Barangay Santa Lucia watchman Troy Chavez said the brothers’ vehicle was nearing Barcelona Street, frequently used by motorists going to Quezon City, Makati City and Mandaluyong City, when the assailants on a black motorcycle approached the SUV.

PR AGENT DOWN Former journalist-turned-press agent Michael Marasigan was on board this car when two men on a motorcycle fired at least 34 shots at them in San Juan City on Thursday.
Marasigan and his brother, Cristopher, were killed in the attack.

No videos

There were no closed-circuit television cameras installed in the area, Chavez said.

The back rider alighted and fired at the right side of the vehicle at least 34 times with no less than two pistols.

Bullet casings found on the scene were for 9mm and caliber .45 rounds, probers said.

Michael, who was in the front passenger seat, sustained at least eight visible gunshot wounds in the chest and two in the neck while Cristopher had 14, Sapitula said.

Cristopher, 50, was still alive when he was removed from the vehicle and rushed to San Juan Medical Hospital, but was declared dead upon arrival at the hospital.

Few theories

Sapitula said Marasigan family members were cooperating with the authorities although they were still shocked by the killings.

Coop said investigators were exploring all possible angles, including business interests, but robbery or drugs appeared to be the least likely motives.

Cristopher’s son, Christian,  believed the likely target was Michael since Cristopher had no business interests and had been Michael’s driver for 15 years.

Christian, quoting Sapitula,  said the barrage of gunfire was evidently directed at Michael and there were no known threats against Cristopher.

Friends shocked

The family intends to have a one-day wake at  Arlington Funeral in Quezon City.

Michael’s longtime colleague Teddy Montelibano said the killings also shocked friends in the media community.

“I can attest to the character of Mike,” said Montelibano, who worked with Michael for many years at BusinessWorld. “How can he have an enemy? Who would have wanted to kill him in that manner?”

“It is also strange as he was working as a consultant for Dominguez at the Department of Finance. He is a friend of the administration,” Montelibano said.

Thorough professional

“As my communications consultant, [Michael] was always prompt, thorough and very good at what he did,” Dominguez said.

“I have known Mike for over 30 years. I and his peers held him in very high regard for his skills and thorough professionalism,” Dominguez added.

“Mike, who always had a kind word to everyone he meets, was a highly respected journalist and public relations man,” he said.

Work-related

Meanwhile, the Presidential Task Force on Media Security condemned the killings, although it was uncertain whether the slays were related to Michael’s work while he was still a journalist.

The task force’s executive director, Undersecretary Joel Sy Egco, said he had already asked the police to get to the bottom of the incident.

“While it is yet to be confirmed if this incident falls under the mandate of the task force in relation to the Administrative Order No. 1 of President Duterte in protecting the life, liberty and security of media workers, there is a possibility that the killing may be related to Marasigan’s previous work as a journalist,” he said in a statement. —WITH LEILA B. SALAVERRIA