MANILA – The victim of another shooting incident in Cotabato City on Aug. 21 was not a member of the press but a Muslim scholar, the Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS) clarified Wednesday.
The clarification was made following initial reports saying that the victim, identified as Mohammad Hessam Midtimbang, was a radio blocktimer and host of the Bangsamoro Darul Ifta radio program aired over Gabay Radio 97.7 FM.
Citing an updated local police report, PTFoMS executive director Paul Gutierrez said Midtimbang was not a journalist but an “ustadz” or someone who is knowledgeable on Islam laws.
Gutierrez said the victim had been invited by Gabay Radio as guest on several occasions to seek his expertise “being an acknowledged scholar and expert on Islam.”
Midtimbang was gunned down by two unidentified assailants when he was about to board his vehicle parked along Gov. Gutierrez Ave. at Barangay Rosary Heights 9 in Cotabato City past 6 p.m. on Monday.
The victim sustained at least five gunshot wounds.
Gutierrez said police are looking at politics and personal motive as “the likely reasons why Midtimbang was killed,” given that the Muslim scholar came from a prominent political family in Cotabato City.
Gutierrez condemned Monday the “senseless” act of violence and coordinated with the police and the military to expedite the resolution of the victim’s case.
During the PFToMS’ first inter-agency meeting at Malacañan Palace in Manila on Aug. 16, there was a discussion on the definition of who constitutes “members of the media” or those considered as “media workers.”
Gutierrez said the clarification would help the task force in speeding up the resolution of all cases of violence against members of the media based on its mandate. (PNA)
