CALAPAN CITY, Oriental Mindoro -- Illegal gambling is seen as the probable reason behind the killing of radio commentator Cresenciano "Cris" Bundoquin.
PTFoMS Executive Director Paul M. Gutierrez confers with Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla regarding the Cris Bundoquin case in a two-hour closed-door meeting in Manila on June 8. (Photo courtesy of PTFoMS/Jerry Alcayde, Manila Bulletin)
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Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS) Executive Director Paul M. Gutierrez said that investigators from the Special Investigation Task Group (SITG) formed by the Philippine National Police have identified a police major who may have link to the illegal numbers game in the province and a provincial official belonging to a prominent political clan in Mindoro as persons of interest in the case.
Bundoquin was gunned down on May 31 in front of his rented store in Barangay Santa Isabel, this city.
The third individual is a "big time" operator of "perya" (local parlor games and rides during town fiestas) with close links to the police major and local officials.
The proliferation of illegal gambling in the province was allegedly severely criticized by Bundoquin in his radio program, and putting the blame to local government and police officials for alleged incompetence and possible protection.
Gutierrez said that due to possible involvement of individuals other than the police major, the official, and gambling operator, he has sought the assistance of Department of Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla to conduct a "parallel investigation" on the killing.
“Thus, Secretary Remulla deemed it best to order the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to conduct a parallel probe for us to get a clear picture of what happened and who are the other persons who may have 'masterminded' the attack on Bundoquin,” Gutierrez said in a statement released thru social media.
“Let me emphasize that the government is determined to solve this incident and to render full justice to the victim’s family by unmasking and prosecuting all those involved,” Gutierrez added.
"No one should take this determination lightly,” Gutierrez stressed.
He also reiterated his earlier statement that the filing of murder and attempted murder charges against Bautista by the SITG Bundoquin before the city prosecutor’s office would not mean a closure to the case.
“As Secretary Remulla directed, the motive for the killing of Bundoquin must not be limited to the alleged ‘personal grudge’ of the suspects against him. All angles must be explored to the full,” the PTFoMS official said.
On Monday, June 5, the SITG referred the criminal complaints against the alleged gunman identified as Isabelo Lopez Bautista, 45, married, a resident of Barangay Alcadesma, Bansud town, this province, to the office of the city prosecutor for evaluation.
Bautista remains at-large and is now the subject of a massive police manhunt for more than a week now.
Bundoquin, a 50-year old radio blocktimer of DWXR 101.7 Kalahi FM, was shot dead at about 4:20 a.m.
One of the suspects, Narciso I. Guntan of Paclasan, Roxas, Oriental Mindoro, also died after the shooting when Bundoquin’s son chased the duo on board a car and accidentally bumped the suspects’ motorcycle resulting in the death of Guntan.
Police said Guntan was the driver of a Honda XRM 125 motorcycle with plate number DD 22153. Bautista was reportedly the backrider who fled on foot.
Based on the background investigation made by the SITG-Bundoquin, Guntan was convicted for violation of the Dangerous Drugs Law in 2015 but was released a year later after he entered a plea-bargaining agreement with the government.
Oriental Mindoro police chief Police Col. Samuel Delorino said Guntan also had a case of frustrated murder in 2016 which was filed in court in Roxas.
Police were able to get Guntan’s identity through an identification card recovered from him. Another ID, a picture and other personal belongings were also recovered from the toolbox of the motorcycle.
Meanwhile, PTFoMS said in a statement on Friday, June 9, that it is willing to intercede with the Department of Justice to consider entering the family of the suspected gunman under the government’s Witness Protection Program (WPP) if this can help in convincing him to surrender.