 Her case is significant, as it is the first of the 56 murders of Filipino journalists since 1986  for which the people ultimately responsible were identified, in addition to the people directly involved.Esperat, as former employee of the Department of Agriculture in Central Mindanao (DA-12) and Midland Review, Tacurong City columnist, exposed the alleged Jocelyn "Jocjoc" Bolante fertilizer funds scam, in which President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was implicated.Two weeks after the killing, Randy Grecia (one of the lookouts) surrendered to police, and subsequently pleaded guilty.