Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 7) — A court has issued an arrest warrant against the alleged gunman in the killing of a radio journalist in Oriental Mindoro, although it came a week after the suspect turned himself in to authorities.
The Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS) said the Regional Trial Court in Calapan City issued the warrant for murder and attempted murder against suspect Isabelo Lopez Bautista on Thursday, July 6.
Bautista voluntarily submitted himself to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) office in Manila on June 27 and asked for protective custody, according to the task force.
However, Bautista maintained he did not kill radio blocktimer Cresenciano “Cris” Bundoquin on May 31.
\”With the issuance of the warrant of arrest, the process of rendering justice to Bundoquin and extracting the truth behind his death can now begin,\” said PTFoMS Executive Director Paul Gutierrez.
\”This would also give an opportunity for Bautista to prove his innocence as he claims before the proper channel, which is our court of law,\” he added.
Bautista was earlier positively identified by at least three witnesses as the man who shot Bundoquin in Barangay Sta. Isabel, Calapan City.
His alleged accomplice, Narciso Ignacio Guntan, died when their getaway motorcycle crashed and hit a metal barrier while being chased by Bundoquin’ s son.
The task force said the slain journalist’s son claimed he was also shot at by Bautista, hence the charge for frustrated murder.
The court set a bail bond of ₱120,000 for the attempted murder charge, while no bail was recommended for the murder accusation.
Gutierrez said authorities will continue to gather more evidence that could lead to the identification of other possible suspects.
\”We continue to maintain that the killing of Bundoquin cannot be simply explained by the alleged ‘personal grudge’ against him by his attackers,\” the official said. \”There may be a deeper motive that can only be explained by more evidence.\”
