Task force vows justice for slain ex-editor

Scene of the crime: Gott Beauty Salon and Spa (Facebook photo)

MANILA – The Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS) asked the Philippine National Police (PNP) to make a thorough investigation of the killing of former journalist Gwenn Salamida earlier this week.

PTFoMS Executive Director Undersecretary Joel Sy Egco, said in a statement on Wednesday, although the motive may not be related to Salamida’s former journalism career, the truth must still come out for the sake of her family, including her two daughters.

Salamida would have turned 41 the day after the crime.

“This is personal, Gwenn is a good friend and a former colleague. Those who are behind this cowardly act picked the wrong victim and they will pay dearly for it. We have already directed law enforcement agencies to use all available resources to hunt down and bring to justice the perpetrators of this heinous crime,” Egco said.

The initial report of the PNP-La Loma Station said Salamida and her partner, Oliver Perona, were shot by two unidentified persons while inside Gott Beauty Salon and Spa on Kaingin Road, Barangay Apolonio Samson, Quezon City, at around 3:35 p.m. on Tuesday.

After the shooting, the gunmen fled on a motorcycle.

Salamida died on the spot due to multiple gunshot wounds.

Perona was hit on the chin and chest and remains in a critical condition.

Four fired cartridge cases of caliber .45, two fired bullets, and a deformed lead core were recovered from the scene, according to the PNP report.

Egco recalled that Salamida even called him up last week, inviting him to visit her salon once it reopens after the enhanced community quarantine.

Salamida and Perona began their business just last month.

She was a former editor and operations manager of Remate and was advertising manager of another daily, Saksi Ngayon, at the time of the slay.

As the election season draws near, Egco reminded current and even former journalists to never let their guards down as they could be targeted by the enemies of press freedom even if they have moved on to other endeavors.

“Historically, there is a spike in election-related violence committed against journalists and other media workers as the election heats up,” Egco said.

Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Martin Andanar, who serves as PTFoMS Co-Chair, also condoled with Salamida’s family, friends, and colleagues.

PNP chief Gen, Guillermo Eleazar assured of a complete investigation of the incident in coordination with PTFoMS. (PNA)