MANILA – The Philippine National Police (PNP) vowed to bring to justice the masterminds and killers of a 50-year-old broadcaster in Oriental Mindoro.
PNP public information office chief Brig. Gen. Redrico Maranan identified the victim as Cresenciano Aldovino Bunduquin, a commentator of DWXR 101.7 Kalahi FM MUX Online Radio, who was shot in front of a store along C5 Road, Barangay Sta. Isabel in Calapan City at around 4:20 a.m. Wednesday.
A report from the Police Regional Office 4B (Mimaropa) said two motorcycle riding gunmen pulled up to the store and one of them approached and shot the victim.
The victim was immediately rushed to the nearest hospital but was declared dead on arrival.
“PNP chief Gen. Benjamin C Acorda Jr. has directed Police Regional Office 4B (Mimaropa), and Calapan City Police Station to hasten the investigation and the identification of the perpetrators. The PNP will establish a Special Investigation Task Group to handle the investigation,” Maranan said in a statement.
Maranan said this will allow for a deeper investigation to speed up the gathering of pieces of evidence and testimonies that could shed light to Bunduquin’s killing.
“We are maximizing our efforts to get more pieces of evidence and testimonies in order to shed light on this incident and facilitate the immediate arrest of the perpetrators,” he added.
Maranan also said they are now coordinating with the family and his work colleagues for more relevant information.
“While his work as a media representative involves discussion of critical issues, we cannot fully conclude as of this time that the motive is work-related, but we are exploring all possible angles as of this time. We assure our media colleagues that the PNP prioritizes the security of those working in the media industry. The PNP Media Vanguards will directly oversee the course of investigation of this incident,” he noted.
Meanwhile, the Oriental Mindoro Media Club (OMCC) condemned the killing of Bunduquin, who had earned a reputation as a “hard-hitting” broadcaster.
“The killing of Bunduquin won’t suppress the independence and freedom of the press long practiced, nurtured and cherished by community journalists in the island of Mindoro. Bunduquin’s fall in the hands of evildoers only strengthens the resolve of the provincial press to root out the causes and activities of wickedness in society,” past and incumbent officials of OMCC said in an online statement.
“The OMMC is calling out the Philippine National Police, the National Bureau of Investigation and other available Philippine investigative bodies to make no stones unturned in flushing out perpetrators of that heinous criminal act to give justice to the killing of Cris Bundoquin, who at that time of his assassination was unarmed and helpless,” the media group added.
Bunduquin, who was employed at DWXR 101.7 Kalahi FM MUX Online Radio, tackled controversial issues such as the local government’s response to the oil spill, the local electric cooperative’s performance and illegal gambling, among others.
Brig. Gen. Joel Doria, Mimaropa regional police chief, called on anyone with information on the journalist’s killing to work with investigators.
Witnesses said the assailants quickly fled the scene onboard their white Honda XRM 125 motorcycle, with license plate DD 22153. (PNA)
