NBI TO CONDUCT PARALLEL PROBE ON MINDORO RADIO BLOCK TIMER’S SLAY

June 10, 2023 Provincial

CALAPAN CITY

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla ordered the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to conduct a ‘parallel investigation’ on the killing of radio block timer, Cresenciano ‘Cris’ Aldivino
Bundoquin in Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro on May 31. Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS) Executive Director Paul Gutierrez said the decision to let the NBI conduct a parallel probe was made to further fasttrack the resolution of the case and investigate the alleged
involvement of other personalities in Mindoro potentially linked to the killing of Bundoquin and prevent a potential ‘whitewash’ of the case.

PTFoMS earlier said that aside from the identified gunman, Isabelo Lopez Bautista, a resident of Bansud, three other personalities in Mindoro, one of them a police major assigned at the PRO4-B
(MIMAROPA) Police Office, were allegedly involved in the killing. Another suspect is a provincial official from a prominent political clan in Mindoro, while the third is a long-time, ‘big-time’ operator of ‘perya’ (local parlor games and rides during town fiestas) with close ties to some local officials and a close association with the police major according to PTFoMS.

Gutierrez stated that PTFoMS has been getting a stream of information from other reliable sources that other persons may be involved. Gutierrez claimed, “thus, Secretary Remulla deemed it best to order the NBI to conduct a parallel probe for us get a clear picture of what happened and who are the other persons or ‘mastermind’ behind the attack on Bundoquin.” The PTOFoMS chief emphasized that the government is committed to resolve the case and to give justice to the victim’s family. “No one should take this determination lightly.” Gutierrez stressed.

The official reiterated that the filing of murder and attempted murder charges against Bautista by the SITG Bundoquin does not mean the case is closed. Gutierrez said, as directed by Secretary Remulla, that the motive for Bundoquin’s murder should be explored from all angles and must not
be limited to the ‘personal grudge’ of the suspects against Bundoquin. “The emerging motive is the proliferation of illegal gambling in the province using ‘perya’ as a cover and politics as both were severely criticized by Bundoquin in his radio program,” Gutierrez explained.

Bundoquin from the local radio Kalahi News FM, 50, was shot to death by two motorcycleriding armed men around 4:20 am in front of his rented store in Brgy. Sta. Isabel, Calapan City. The gunman was later identified as Bautista, and his accomplice, Narciso Ignacio Guntan from Roxas, died when their motorcycle crashed into a metal road barrier while fleeing. Bautista had also worked as a driver and doing other odd jobs for some influential individuals in the province while the other suspects were alleged workers in the local peryahan scene in Mindoro.

Artemio A. Dumlao/ABN