‘Gunman’ in radioman’s murder surrenders

CAMP VICENTE LIM, Laguna, Philippines — The alleged gunman in the killing of radio commentator Cresenciano Bundoquin in Oriental Mindoro has surrendered.

Isabelo Bautista was accompanied by his wife, brother and other relatives when he surfaced before the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on Tuesday night, Presidential Task Force on Media Security executive director Paul Gutierrez said.

Bautista claimed that he  ”was not the gunman who shot Bundoquin several times at close range” even as he vowed to cooperate with the NBI to find out the truth about the incident.

He confirmed that he and Narciso Guntan, who died when their motorcycle crashed when they escaped, are employees of a certain Felix Solis, said to be the biggest carnival financier and operator in Mindoro.

Probers had earlier said a police major and his associate in local peryahan games are behind the killing of Bundoquin.

Gutierrez said the Calapan City prosecutor’s office has yet to file charges against Bautista despite receiving a complaint for murder and frustrated murder from the police on June 9.

“We are glad that Bautista decided to turn himself in as his statements later on would help investigators establish the facts and the truth surrounding the killing of Bundoquin, and expedite our quest for justice,” Gutierrez said.

Bundoquin, a radio commentator at Kalahi News FM and MUX online radio, was shot dead as he was about to open his store in Barangay Sta. Isabel in Calapan City on May 31.

Two witnesses had identified Bautista as the gunman.

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla ordered the NBI to conduct a parallel investigation into the incident.

A special investigation task group headed by Oriental Mindoro police director Col. Samuel Delorino is conducting a separate probe. –  Artemio Dumlao