Got Death Threats, Filipino Journalist Dies With Gunshot Wounds To Head While Watching Television

Shooting illustration. (Pixabay/Skitterphoto)

JAKARTA - Pampanga-based journalist Jesus 'Jess' Malabanan was shot dead in Calbayog City, Samar Province on Wednesday, December 8, according to the Pampanga Press Club (PPC).

"Pampanga Press Club strongly condemns the murder of one of its members Jesus 'Jess' Malabanan, the Manila Standard Today correspondent," PPC said in a statement condemning the killing of Malabanan, as reported by Rappler December 8.

Malabanan is a longtime stringer with the international news organization Reuters. He also previously worked as a stringer at The Manila Times.

According to a PPC statement, the journalist was shot dead around his home in Samar by an unidentified assailant on Wednesday afternoon.

In a phone call, Calbayog City police confirmed Malabanan's death. Police have also not provided further details about the journalist's death.

Journalist Manny Mogato, who also works for Reuters, shared in a Facebook post that the late Malabanan helped news organizations with their story about the drug war, which won the Pulitzer Prize in 2018. According to Mogato, Jes was threatened before his murder.

"Jess helped Reuters a lot in the Pulitzer-winning drug war story in 2018. Reuters helped her hide for months in Samar when she was threatened in San Fernando, Pampanga," Mogato said.

Mogato said, according to the victim's wife, Malabanan was killed inside their small shop.

"His wife said Jess was watching television at 6pm in their small shop in Calbayog when a gunshot rang out. She didn't see the gunman but the shot hit Jess in the head and killed her instantly," the reporter said.

To note, the death of Malabanan adds to the long list of Filipino journalists who have been killed. In October, Orlando 'Dondon' Dinoy was killed inside his apartment in Bansalan, Davao del Sur.