(CMFR/IFEX) – The following is a 26 September 2005 CMFR statement: Pampanga broadcaster murdered A BROADCASTER working as a local radio health program host was found murdered inside her house on 2 September in Angeles City, Pampanga, 90 kilometers north of Manila. Elaine Malit, 40, anchorperson of radio station dwGV-AM’s Buhay at Kalusugan (Life and […]
(CMFR/IFEX) – The following is a 26 September 2005 CMFR statement:
Pampanga broadcaster murdered
A BROADCASTER working as a local radio health program host was found murdered inside her house on 2 September in Angeles City, Pampanga, 90 kilometers north of Manila.
Elaine Malit, 40, anchorperson of radio station dwGV-AM’s Buhay at Kalusugan (Life and Health), was found by her cousin lying lifeless with seven stab wounds and several lacerations in the head. The victim was inside the comfort room of her house, according to local police.
Angeles City police chief Policarpio Segubre said the suspect was apparently drug-crazed when he committed the crime.
About two days after Malit’s body was found, a task force formed by Central Luzon police chief Alejandro Lapinid collared three suspects, one of whom was a nephew of the victim. Police authorities captured the main suspect, Walfrido Gundran, at his safehouse in the city.
Police said robbery appeared to be the main motive behind the broadcaster’s slaying. Lawmen invited two other persons for questioning, Hazel Bornales (Gundran’s alleged live-in partner) and a certain Raymond Guevarra after learning that they helped Gundran sell two air-conditioners taken from Malit’s house. The air-conditioners were reportedly missing after the murder.
Gundran tested positive for drugs. All three suspects are facing robbery charges, with Gundran facing the additional charge of homicide.
Rudy Simeon, station manager of dwGV-AM, said Malit had been a block-timer at the radio station for the past three years. He said he did not think her murder was related to her job but recalled that she had been criticizing an illegal recruiter in her program more than a year ago.
Malit was host of a health program that endorsed a slimming tea product. The program is sponsored by the herbal tea outfit, My Marvel Taheebo, which bought a one-hour airtime from the radio station.
Meanwhile, Ashley Joy Manabat, president of the Pampanga Press Club (PPC), urged a closer look into the killing of Malit, saying the broadcaster might have also been killed because of her fight against illegal drugs in the city.
She said another possible motive for the attack was Malit’s refusal to drop a case against an illegal recruiter whose victim had come to the broadcaster for help.
Known as “Lady Elaine” to her listeners, Malit gave health tips during her hour-long show. Malit lived alone in her house as her German husband is often out of the country. The couple had no children.
With reports from Tonette Orejas, PDI Central Luzon Desk.
