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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MANILA 002273 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/01/2016 
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PINS PREL SOCI RP
SUBJECT: ANATOMY OF AN EXTRA-JUDICIAL KILLING 
 
REF: MANILA 2193 AND PREVIOUS 
 
Classified By: Acting Pol/C Joseph L. Novak for reasons 
1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
¶1.  (C) Summary:  During POL team's recent visit to Puerto 
Princesa, the capital of Palawan in the western Philippines, 
contacts expressed their deep concern about the brazen 
daytime killing of a well-known radio broadcaster and former 
politician on May 22.  GRP authorities arrested a serving 
member of the local police force for the killing, but many 
contacts assert that the Puerto Princesa mayor, a political 
opponent of the victim's, probably orchestrated the attack. 
The slaying has clearly bred anger, fear and cynicism in 
Palawan, highlighting in a microcosm the damage done by 
extra-judicial killings on a national scale.  End Summary. 
 
------------------------- 
Brazen Killing in Palawan 
------------------------- 
 
¶2.  (U) Acting Pol/C and Senior POL LES visited Puerto 
Princesa, the capital of Palawan, a large island located in 
the western Philippines, May 24-26.  During the visit, many 
contacts expressed their deep concern about the killing of 
popular radio broadcaster Fernando "Dong" Batul on May 22 
(see reftel).  Batul was killed on the way to work by several 
gunmen in downtown Puerto Princesa in broad daylight as his 
car rolled over a speed bump.  Contacts told Acting Pol/C 
that Batul, 36, was one of the most famous people in Palawan 
-- an area with about one million people -- due to his 
popular morning radio show on station DYPR called "Bastonero" 
(meaning "one who whips"), which ran hard-hitting exposes on 
political subjects and alleged corruption.  He had also 
served as vice mayor of Puerto Princesa from 2001-03. 
 
¶3.  (C) Catholic Bishop Pedro Arigo told Acting Pol/C on May 
25 that he was "a good friend" of the slain broadcaster. 
Batul, he said, had feared for his life in recent months 
after receiving several threatening letters demanding that he 
end his radio show.  Batul did not reveal the full contents 
of the letters, but he indicated that some were linked to his 
on-air interview with a local leader of the communist New 
People's Army (NPA).  A couple of weeks ago, Bishop Arigo 
related, two unexploded grenades were found near Batul's home 
(where Batul, who was unmarried, lived with his mother). 
Feeling that he was in danger, Batul planned to go on break 
soon to Baguio City, but was killed before doing so.  Gertie 
Anda, the head of the Palawan Environmental Legal Assistance 
Center, told Acting Pol/C on May 25 that she was also a 
friend of Batul's and had had "many nightmares" since his 
killing.  Noting that there had not been many such killings 
in Palawan in the past, Anda remarked that "many people are 
now afraid that they could be targeted and killed, too." 
 
----------------- 
Blaming the Mayor 
----------------- 
 
¶4.  (C) Many contacts blamed Mayor Edward Hagedorn, a 
long-time politician with a thuggish image, for the killing. 
The allegations about Hagedorn started almost immediately 
after the slaying when Batul's mother and sisters turned up 
at the murder site and began to shout that Hagedorn was 
responsible.  Anda noted that Hagedorn has been a political 
opponent of Batul's and the subject of frequent criticism 
from Batul on his radio program.  Anda theorized (as did 
other interlocutors) that Hagedorn (who is said to be very 
thin-skinned) may have been so angered by the criticism that 
he ordered the killing.  During a May 25 meeting, Joel R. 
Reyes, the Governor of Palawan and a political opponent of 
Hagedorn's, claimed that he had information which "might 
establish" a link between Hagedorn and the killing, noting 
that a police officer arrested for the crime (see below) had 
served as a bodyguard for Hagedorn. 
 
¶5.  (C) Concerns about Hagedorn's alleged involvement has 
also drifted down to the public, with drivers of 
three-wheeler taxis holding an anti-Hagedorn "noise barrage" 
on May 24, while a crowd gathered at the main Catholic Church 
denounced the attack and offered prayers for the victim.  Two 
businessmen told Acting Pol/C that "even if Hagedorn is not 
proven to be linked to the crime, his political position has 
been seriously damaged due to the suspicion." 
 
------------------- 
Arrest of Policeman 
------------------- 
 
 
MANILA 00002273  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
¶6.  (SBU) In response to the press outcry over the killing, 
Malacanang announced on May 24 that the National Bureau of 
Investigation (NBI) was taking the lead in the criminal 
investigation.  On May 25, the NBI announced that it had 
arrested Aaron Golifardo, an active duty member of the Puerto 
Princesa Philippine National Police (PNP) force.  The NBI had 
arrested Golifardo on May 24 in Manila, where he had 
allegedly flown right after committing the crime on May 22. 
According to press reports, Golifardo had a long record of 
infractions while a member of the PNP and had even been 
linked to a murder in 2002.  In allegedly killing Batul, 
Golifardo reportedly may have been motivated by negative 
comments that Batul had made about him on his radio program. 
Golifardo is currently incarcerated in the NBI's jail 
facility in Puerto Princesa after being formally charged with 
the crime on May 25.  The NBI has announced that its 
investigation is continuing and that it is trying to track 
down other perpetrators of the attack.  In meetings with GRP 
officials in Puerto Princesa, Acting Pol/C underscored the 
need for a full investigation of the crime, and the arrest 
and trial of all perpetrators. 
 
------- 
Comment 
------- 
 
¶7.  (C) Batul was a well-known and well-liked figure, and his 
slaying has clearly roiled Palawan.  While many contacts 
believe that the local mayor is linked to the crime (a view 
that involves conjecture), they do not believe he will face 
serious scrutiny because of his influence, which includes a 
close relationship with Malacanang.  This has bred cynicism 
toward the political and legal system.  Batul's slaying 
highlights in a microcosm the damage done by extra-judicial 
killings on a national scale in the Philippines.  Very few 
suspects have been caught and prosecuted for the rash of 
killings of leftist activists, journalists, and alleged 
criminals over recent years.  This, in turn, has led to 
serious questions about the rule of law and the fairness and 
effectiveness of the country's law enforcement system. 
 
Visit Embassy Manila's Classified SIPRNET website: 
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eap/manila/index. cfm 
 
You can also access this site through the State Department's 
Classified SIPRNET website: 
http://www.state.sgov.gov/ 
 
Kenney