Manhunt launched for killers of Palawan broadcaster
By Fernan Marasigan
Reporter

THE police released on Tuesday the artist’s sketches of the two gunmen who shot and killed radio commentator Fernando “Dong” Batul in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan on Monday.
       Batul was the fifth journalist to be killed this year.
       Director General Arturo Lomibao, National Police chief, ordered a massive manhunt on the island-province to track down the two assailants, with policemen checking all possible routes of escape including seaports, wharfs, airports and land transport terminals.
       Deputy Director General Isidro Lapeña, chief of the National Police directorial staff, flew to Puerto Princesa City on Tuesday to personally assess the ongoing investigation into Batul’s killing.
       While in Puerto Princesa, Lapeña was briefed by Task Force Batul under Senior Supt. Elpidio de Asis Jr., Palawan police commander, on the progress of the investigation.
       Task Force Batul is composed of agents from the National Bureau of Investigation, Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, 412nd Provincial Mobile Group, Puerto Princesa City Maritime Group, Traffic Management Group and Crime Laboratory.
       Lapeña said that the recovery of several pieces of physical evidence from the scene will be helpful in the investigation, and are vital in establishing an airtight case against the assailants.
       Besides the the nine pieces of spent 9-mm and .45-caliber cartridges recovered from the crime scene, investigators also discovered a blue crash helmet, three live .45-caliber cartridges, a blue polo shirt, a pair of gray and blue jogging pants, a blood-stained hand towel and a baseball cap.
       The items were found on the back of a parked truck along Malvar Street and were confirmed by witnesses as belonging to the two gunmen.
       “The investigators are looking at all possible motives behind the murder, but we are not singling out any particular angle at the moment because we do not want to miss any important lead along the way,” Lapeña said.
       Lapeña also assured the victim’s family of swift police action to arrest and prosecute the killers. He also turned over to the victim’s mother the financial assistance extended by Lomibao.