MICHAEL MEDINA
Editor-in-chief
PAGADIAN CITY—A text message, claiming to be an unofficial communication from an unnamed government agency looking into the murder of Ernesto “Ka Ernie” Rollin, mischievously circulated last Saturday among journalists, saying one of the suspects in the killing has already surrendered.
Rollin, a block timer of DxSY-AM and based in Ozamiz City was shot dead, Feb. 23, in Oroquieta City while on his way to work.
Journalists who received the said text message were one in labeling it as “mean and provocative and implying the obvious” as they said bringing it out will not only insult them but also confuse the investigators.
“Three days after the killing of Ka Ernie, ‘Task Force Usig’ was created by DOJ appointing the NBI and CIDG Manila to lead the investigation following the petition through a resolution by the media fact finding team requesting DOJ to create an independent body to investigate and the exclusion of the task force created by Governor Ocampos,” the first part of the message said.
“Two identified suspects, ang usa voluntarily surrendered while ang usa at large. Both are allegedly provincial government employees,” the message continued.
The media community in the cities of Ozamiz, Iligan and Cagayan de Oro has since demanded for a speedy probe on the broadcaster’s killing and has initiated a countdown.
This writer, after receiving the messages from a media colleague, requested the unknown sender to name himself and verify the information.
But the sender only said: “Misurender ang suspek kay nahadlok siya kay naa pod daw gusto mopatay niya, suspek na siya sa pagpatay ni Mayor Geromo sa Molave.”
A third message, this time said: “Naa na sa kamot sa task force ang driver. Dili pa ipabalita kay gi-ready ang demanda.”
The fourth message, although imprecise, stated that the said suspect was arrested “somewhere in Jimenez, Misamis Occidental.”
Neither confirming nor denying the information was accurate, NUJP national director Jovencio Godoy Jr. advised media to exercise caution in reporting about the text message.
“As soon as the task force guys will say it can be released, it’s better to keep it FYI only,” he said.
To recall, hours after Rollin was shot, Gov. Loreto Ocampos and PNP Provincial Director Leonilo Cabug disclosed in their joint statement four angles as the possible explanation of Rollin’s death.
According to Ocampos and Cabug, these angles involved a love triangle, property dispute and politics—wherein Rollin was said to be actively involved in political character demolitions job sponsored by politicians and that the broadcaster has an alleged existing case in Lanao del Norte with former Rep. Cerilo Alipio Badelles.
The fourth angle involved an unvalidated allegation, which said that sometimes Rollin is seen in company with some notorious drug lords and criminal elements in Ozamiz City.
For the past week, media practitioners from Ozamiz City led by DxSY and Ronda Balita conducted their own probe and were able to disprove the four angles.
Pol Aguaviva, a colleague of Rollin in DXSY, said the fourth angle is preposterous, adding Rollin was never in the company with drug lords and was never in any way involved in drugs.
Even Rollin’s wife, Phoebe, when interviewed, likewise said the issue of love triangle was not a significant topic since she and Rollin were separated for several years already and that as long as she recalls, there was not one instance she and Rollin’s new live-in partner have had bitterness against each other.
As to the disputed property located in one of the subdivisions here, media met with the owner, identified as Rodolfo Reyes, who said the ownership of his house was transferred in the name of Rollin legally and without encumbrances.
Reyes added that he even gave Rollin a special power of attorney to deal and do every act necessary for the sale of his house. He likewise denied the property issue was the main motive of the broadcaster’s killing.
“Bakit ko naman siya (Rollin) ipapatay eh siya ang nag-alaga sa akin at maganda ang pinagsamahan namin. Hindi totoo lahat ng mga sinasabi diyan,” he said.
For his part, Badelles told media in an interview inside his residence that the case of libel he filed against Rollin a year ago was already dismissed.
“He has approached me, talked to me and apologized already. Isip usa ka Kristiyano, ako siyang gipasaylo and I have shown lack of interest in the case also that is why it was dismissed by the regional trial court,” he said.
Badelles likewise said that he was surprised why Ocampos’ press statement included his name in one of the possible angles.
“Ang tinuod, bisag kinsay mobasa, ang impression ug perception nga molutaw morag involved ko. Gusto unta ko maghilom lang, pero mas maayo mahibaw-an sa katawhan nga layo ra sa tinuod nang maong pasangil,” he added.
Meanwhile, a report from DxDD-AM said, quoting a recent interview with Cabug, said that the police is considering business rivalry as one of the new angles.
Cabug disclosed that they are looking into Rollin’s part-time job as an insurance agent.
To recall again, Rollin's last issues he tackled before he was shot concerned the Magna Carta for Health Workers. He also commented about the vehicles issued to Provincial Board members in Misamis Occidental.