Mindanaotoday.com | Broadcaster’s slay suspect yields
The Philippine media climate is expected to improve further after the alleged gunman in the May 31, 2023 killing of Mindoro Oriental radio blocktimer, Cresenciano ‘Cris’ Bundoquin, voluntary turned himself in before the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in Manila, June 27, 2023.
“The arduous road towards uncovering the truth and giving justice to Bundoquin just hurdled a major obstacle with the voluntary appearance before the NBI of Isabelo Lopez Bautista,” said Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS) Executive Director Paul M. Gutierrez.
Accompanied by his wife, brother and other close relatives, Bautista turned up at the NBI National Capital Region office in Manila past 6 pm on June 27, to claim he is not the gunman who shot Bundoquin several times at close range. Bautista also vowed to fully cooperate with the NBI in finding out the truth about the incident.
A radio blocktimer at the local Kalahi News FM, Bundoquin, 50, was shot to death by two motorcycle-riding armed men around 4:20 am in front of his family-rented store in Bgy. Sta. Isabel, Calapan City, last May 31.
Two witnesses had identified Bautista as the gunman while his alleged cohort, identified as Narciso Ignacio Guntan from Roxas town, died after their motorcycle crashed when it hit a metal road barrier during their escape.
Bautista was immediately appraised of his rights under the law on his arrival at the NBI and later met with Gutierrez and lawyers from the Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) to ensure that his rights as an accused were observed and respected.
The evolving motive for the killing of Bundoquin was the rampant proliferation of illegal gambling in the province with local carnivals (peryahan) as front, as well as local politics as both were severely criticized by the victim at his radio programs.
Bautista confirmed that he and Guntan are ‘employees’ of one ‘Felix Solis,’ allegedly the biggest carnival financier/operator in Mindoro.
Gutierrez noted that at the time of Bautista’s walk-in at the NBI, there is yet no formal case filed against him at any trial court and that he has no pending warrant of arrest.
The Calapan City Prosecutor’s Office is yet to file any information against Bautista before the court despite receiving the police’s complaint for murder and frustrated murder against Bautista last June 9, 2023.
“So, technically and legally, we cannot say that Bautista ‘surrendered’ as he is not a wanted person in the absence of any warrant of arrest,” Gutierrez said.
“Nevertheless, we are glad that Bautista decided to turn himself in as his statements later on would help investigators in establishing all the facts and the truth surrounding the killing of Bundoquin and expedite our quest for justice for Bundoquin,” he added.
Bautista said he already left Mindoro as far back as June 8 and stayed for some time at an undisclosed location in Batangas province before travelling to Manila.
He claimed he decided to hide it out for some time on the advice of some close friends and relatives but is determined all along to turn himself in before the NBI.
The NBI, thru its NCR office headed by Atty. Rommel Vallejo, was ordered by Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla to conduct a ‘parallel investigation’ about a week after the incident to hasten its resolution.
The parallel investigation was aside from the probe being conducted by the Special Investigation Task Group (SITG) Bundoquin immediately formed by the Philippine National Police (PNP) after the incident headed by Oriental Mindoro police director, P/Col. Samuel Delorino.
Gutierrez further expressed optimism that the Bundoquin case would be resolved soon after getting the support of Oriental Mindoro governor, Humerlito ‘Bonz’ Dolor, during their meeting in Manila also last June 27, just hours before Bautista surfaced at the NBI.
Dolor assured the PTFoMS of his office’s full cooperation in resolving the incident, noting that he is also a “friend” of Bundoquin, as well as other members of the local press in Mindoro.
“Kung ano ang kailangan ninyo (PTFoMS), kung ano ang maitutulong ko, sabihin lang ninyo,” the governor said. He added that the maintenance of peace and order in his province has always been his top priority.
“Coming as it did with the handing down of additional sentences last June 23 by the court against three inmates over the killing of broadcaster Percival ‘Percy Lapid’ Mabasa, the voluntary appearance of Bautista at the NBI four days later highlights the fact that the Philippine justice system is working and that the Marcos administration is determined to give justice where justice is due.
“This twin development is an assurance to the international community that the Philippine government is deeply committed to protecting and upholding the life, liberty and security of all members of the press by providing them with a safe environment for the free and full exercise of their profession,” Gutierrez said. (PTFoMS)
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