Suspect in killing of former PDI stringer in Davao faces murder rap

Undersecrertary Joel Sy Egco of the Presidential Task Force on Media Security. INQUIRER.net file photo

MANILA, Philippines — A murder case was filed against a suspect at large for the killing of reporter Orlando “Dondon” Dinoy in Davao del Sur in October, the Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS) announced on Tuesday.

According to PTFoMS Executive Director Undersecretary Joel Sy Egco, a murder case against Brandie Mercado Campaner alias “Bos-Bos” was filed before the Provincial Prosecutor’s Office in Davao del Sur.

“While the case is deemed non-work related, we will continue to monitor and work double-time to catch his killers and whoever may be behind them. There is no justification for murder,” he said in a statement.

The task force officially declared that the Dinoy murder case is not related to his work as a journalist, Egco said.

Uncovered by investigators from the Bansalan Municipal Station, Egco shared that there were three possible motives behind the killing of Dinoy.

The strongest motive shows that there was a personal grudge in relation to Dinoy’s other endeavors apart from being a reporter.

Egco said that several eyewitnesses pointed Campaner as the gunman who shot and killed Dinoy. He assured eyewitnesses that they will be referred to the Department of Justice’s Witness Protection Program.

He likewise called on the persons making the case as propaganda to instead help fellow journalists by empowering them.

“Sa mga nagpropaganda sa kasong ito, huwag kayong manahimik. Kung tutulong kayo, tumulong kayo. Ginagamit niyong ‘media killing’ to hit the government and for your own benefit. Pero hindi naman talaga kayo nakakatulong,” Egco said.

(To those who are using this case as propaganda, do not be silenced. If you are going to help, then help. You are using this “media killing” to hit the government and for your own benefit. But, you are not really helping.)

“Bagkus [Instead], you are helping the perpetrators by way of you muddling the case. Tulungan natin ang mga maliliit na kasapi ng [Let us help members of] media by empowering them economically. Help them by pushing for the proposed Media Workers Welfare Act,” he added.

Meanwhile, Egco lauded the Philippine National Police (PNP), especially the Special Investigation Task Group Dinoy, for “speedily” solving the crime while calling for an extensive lookout to arrest Campaner.

“We are very grateful for your dedication in investigating and solving this heinous crime,” he said.

Dinoy, who worked for a local publication and a broadcast station and a former correspondent of the Philippine Daily Inquirer, was gunned down in his residence in Bansalan, Davao del Sur on October 30.

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JPV