| Slain broadcaster laid to rest, cops still hunt suspects |
| Written by Eldie S. Aguirre | |
| Sunday, 17 August 2008 | |
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A mammoth throng of colleagues, friends, relatives and acquaintances paid their last respect to the slain broadcaster Dennis Cuesta who was laid to rest in a memorial park here on Saturday afternoon.
A mass was offered at the Mary Mediatrix Cathedral in Digos City before the long queue of vehicles tailed the hearse carrying his coffin to Digos Memorial Park in Barangay Tres de Mayo.
Radio Mindanao Network (RMN) executives and personnel and various media entities and organizations from General Santos City, Davao del Sur, Davao City and Cotabato City took turns in giving their final words to bade goodbye to a fallen comrade.
No clinched fists and ear-bursting chants, some media personalities and close friends failed to hold on their tears as they glimpsed at Cuesta’s body for the last time and watched the concrete-sealed niche went down six feet under.
Various media organizations wear T-shirts and polo shirts with markings; “Justice for Cuesta”, “Stop Killing Journalists”, and “Justice for Journalists”.
Some tied black armbands bearing slogans with synonymous context.
Ben Arche, Manila Bulletin correspondent for Davao del Sur said he joined another group of journalists wearing hole-riddled black shirts to show his protest against individuals who considered media practitioners as worthless animals.
“We are becoming an object for target practice. It must be stopped before the people will loss their only bridge to the people in government,” Esperidion Edianon, a radio commentator in Digos City said.
RMN-General Santos Manager Alex Josol assured Gloria, Cuesta’s wife and mother of six children the higher management will not cease knocking the doors of the authorities until justice will be afforded to her husband.
“Until now, I still could not believe I’ve loss a dear friend. I took pity on Dennis’ (Cuesta) children,” Roger Panogadia, a news writer for Sapol Tabloid with base in General Santos, said.
As of press time, the “Task Force Cuesta”, formed after Cuesta was shot on August 04 along the Makar National Highway in Barangay Lagao, General Santos City, has not released any press statement as to the real identities of the suspects based on the cartographic sketches of the gunmen.
“The suspects must be arrested before they could kill another journalist,” Rex Torres, a Digos based radio reporter said.
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