Authorities have made progress by identifying the person of interest in the fatal shooting of a radio broadcaster in Oriental Mindoro province.
The victim, Cresenciano Bunduquin, 50, was attacked and killed by motorcycle-riding gunmen in Calapan City on Wednesday.
However, Bunduquin's son managed to strike one of the assailants with his vehicle as they tried to escape. The impact proved fatal for the driver, while the gunman fled the scene.
"'Yung person of interest po natin ayun pa rin po 'yung kasama ng namatay na suspek natin at kasalukuyan po ngayon na mina-man hunt natin at 'yung mamaya po ay kukunan na natin ng affidavit 'yung dalawang witness kung talagang itong perso of interest natin ay ito rin 'yung gunman nung namatay na suspek," stated Oriental Mindoro Provincial police chief, Col. Samuel Delorino, in an interview with DZRH Damdaming Bayan.
"'Yung isa po meron na po tayong pangalan pero hindi pa po natin pwedeng sabihin dahil ongoing po ang manhunt natin," the officer added.
The person of interest hails from Mindoro, prompting authorities to call upon the public to provide any pertinent information.
"Taga rito po sa mindoro [ang person of interest] kaya nga po ang pinapanawagan namin sa lahat ng mga mamamayan kung meron po tayong alam doon sa ating suspect eh ipagbigay alam ninyo para mabigyan natin ng kaukulang hustisya ang pagkamatay ng kapatid natin si Cresenciano Bunduquin. O kaya ay sumurrender na lang siya [at] kung wala naman siyang alam doon ay dapat sumurrender siya," said Delorino.
Regarding the profile of the suspects, Col. Delorino revealed that no indications suggest they were hired gunmen.
"Sa profile ng mga suspek, wala namang lumalabas na [gun-for-hire], maliban dito sa isa na namatay ay dating nakasuhan sa illegal drugs at meron ding kaso ng frustrated murder," he added.
Investigators are also examining various angles to determine the motive behind the attack.
"Lahat po ay tinitingnan natin dahil ito pong ating biktima ay may personal private life din 'yan at meron din siyang kaunting business. Isa pa sa tiningnan natin ay 'yung kanyang probisyon as media representative, kaya tiningnan po natin lahat," the colonel explained.
Preliminary findings suggest that Bunduquin was known for his outspoken and hard-hitting commentaries against individuals he sought to criticize.
"Ayon po sa aming pag-iimbestiga, hard-hitting tallaga siya kung magsalita sa mnga pinapatamaan niya na gusto niyang tuligsain. At lahat po 'yan ay aming pinapaimbestigahan,' he emphasized.
The assassination of Bunduquin marks the third journalist murdered since President Ferdinand Marcos assumed office in June of last year.
This follows the incident less than a year ago where radio personality Percival Mabasa was fatally shot in Manila while en route to his studio.
