Police, NBI agents probing broadcaster’s death being harassed, threatened: task force

June 16, 2020

Investigators tasked on the recent killing of a Dumaguete City-based radio anchor are being subjected to serious threats and intimidation in Negros Oriental, the Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS) said on Monday.

The PTFoMS has expressed alarm over the reports from  the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on reported obstruction by some local officials and the recent harassment on agents of the bureau.

The two agencies were tasked to investigate the death of Cornelio “Rex” Pepino last May 5.

 “We were informed that NBI agents who are onto the case are being surveilled and are facing grave threats,” Undersecretary Joel Sy Egco, PTFoMS executive director said.

“We are also in close contact with the victim’s family and colleagues in the media. We cannot be cowed by anyone or anything into abandoning this probe. As I have said before, we will follow where the evidence leads us,” Egco added.

According to local media reports, three NBI agents experienced serious threats separately following the investigation of Pepino’s murder while two NBI officials were subjected to surveillance by unknown people who took photos of their houses and vehicles.

“The NBI is making great strides in solving the case. Rex Cornelio was killed to silence him. The PTFoMS will not stop in finding out the truth and putting behind bars those responsible for this gruesome act,” said Egco.

Egco said he will formally relay these pieces of information  to President Rodrigo Duterte, PTFoMS chair and Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra and co-chair Secretary Martin Andanar of the Presidential Communications Operations Office.

Egco reiterated his warning to local officials not to block the official inquiry into the murder of Pepino.

“We have already alerted the DOJ and the PNP about this to ensure the safety of our NBI agents handling the case,” he said.

Meanwhile, intelligence reports indicated that some former rebels and unscrupulous active and former uniformed personnel have connived to form an army of sorts for a powerful local politician,  reminiscent of the period prior to the infamous Ampatuan Massacre in 2009.

“We cannot afford a repeat of the Ampatuan massacre. The PNP and the Armed Forces of the Philippines should look into such reports and nip it in the bud, so to speak,” Egco said. Ella Dionisio/ DMS