PNP vows to protect journalists after radioman’s death in Oriental Mindoro
Police line. Stock Photo
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Thursday assured the safety of media practitioners nationwide following the May 31 killing of radio broadcaster Cresenciano Aldovino Bunduquin in Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro.
“The police force is exerting every possible effort to solve this case and at the same time ensure the safety and security of all working journalists in the country through our network of regional PTFoMS (Presidential Task Force on Media Security) focal persons,” the PNP said in a statement.
“[We extend our] sincerest condolences to the family and media colleagues of the late broadcaster Cresenciano Aldovino Bunduquin of DWXR 101.7 Kalahi FM MUX Online Radio,” it added.
Based on a report by the Oriental Mindoro Police Provincial Office (PPO), two unidentified men on a motorcycle shot Bunduquin early Wednesday in front of a store he owned along C5 road in Barangay Santa Isabela.
One of the men approached Bunduquin and shot him several times in different parts of his body before fleeing. Bunduquin’s son, however, chased them and accidentally bumped the assailants’ motorcycle, which led to the death of suspect Narciso Ignacio Guntan, while the other one escaped.
READ: A suspect in killing of Oriental Mindoro radio broadcaster dead
The Oriental Mindoro PPO said its Special Investigation Task Group (SITG) “Bunduquin” would launch a follow-up operation to track down the other suspect.
“A thorough investigation is underway to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident. Investigators of the Calapan City Police Station are assisted in the effort by regional units of national support offices stationed in Mimaropa (Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, and Palawan), including the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, Forensic Group, and Intelligence Group,” the PNP said.
The police force also said PTFoMS had offered a monetary reward for information leading to the arrest of the other gunman while the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission assisted in the ongoing investigation.
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