Police arrest suspect in 2019 slay of broadcaster Eduardo Dizon

Eduardo “Kabrigada Ed” Dizon (File photo courtesy of Brigada Group)

MANILA, Philippines — A suspect in the 2019 killing of broadcaster Eduardo Dizon has been arrested by the authorities, according to the Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS) on Friday.

Citing a report from Special Investigation Team (SIT) Dizon, the PTFoMS said suspect Junell Jane Andagkit Poten was apprehended on Thursday.

READ: DOJ OKs new special investigation team for Kidapawan broadcaster’s slay

“Junell Jane Andagkit Poten, alias, ‘Junell Gerozaga,’ 33, was arrested past 8:00 pm on May 2, 2024, by combined elements from the Police Regional Office 12 and the Makilala Municipal Police Station headed by P/LtCol. John Miridel Racho Calinga, while at the house of a barangay kagawad in Barangay Saguing, Makilala, Cotabato,” said PTFoMS in a statement.

An informant provided authorities with information on Poten’s whereabouts, said the PTFoMS.

READ: Brigada Group: ‘We won’t be intimidated by Dizon’s murder’

Dizon was killed in Kidawapan City on July 10, 2019 after being gunned down by two armed suspects.

The PTFoMS said witnesses identified Poten as one of the suspects.

Mindanao-based broadcaster Dizon sustained five gunshot wounds and instantly died.

Tbe local police also slapped murder complaints against broadcasters Dante Encarnacion Tabusares, also known as “Bong Encarnacion,” alleged leader of the Kabus Padatuon (Kapa) Community Ministry International Inc. in Cotabato and  Sotero “Jun” Jacolbe Jr., who were both implicated in the killing.

Jacolbe posted bail bond and underwent full-blown trial before the Davao City Regional Trial Court Branch 16, under presiding Judge Emmanuel Carpio. But due to the failure of state prosecutors to present their evidence that would implicate Jacolbe in Dizon’s murde, the court acquitted him on March 8 this year.

In a 22-page decision the court ruled that lone witness Hilario Lape Jr., placed under the Witness Protection Program (WPP) of the Department of Justice (DOJ), failed to prove before the court the participation of Jacolbe in the broadcaster’s killing.

Following the issuance of a warrant for his arrest, Tabusares went into hiding in the past five years. But after Jacolbe was acquitted in March, Tabusares presented himself to the police in Davao City and through his counsel Lawyer Israelito Torreon applied for a bail bond.

Undersecretary Paul Gutierrez earlier ordered the PTFoMS to create an inter-agency team to conduct a 48-hour manhunt against Gerozaga.

Lawyer Jyro Go, PTFoMS chief of staff, said during the April 25 hearing that the prosecution was now holding a new witness and had asked the RTC Branch presiding Judge to transfer the venue of the case from Davao City to Metro Manila.

But Torreon objected to the move. He said the motion to transfer the venue could not be decided by the RTC but had to be brought before the Supreme Court.  (with a report from Williamor Magbanua)