PCOO presents witnesses linking Kapa members to murder of radio broadcaster Eduardo Dizon

Two witnesses on Thursday accused certain members of Kapa Community Ministry International, Inc. of involvement in the killing of Kidapawan City radio broadcaster Eduardo Dizon last month.

The two male witnesses, who wore masks during a news conference held in Malacañang, were presented to the media by Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Martin Andanar and the Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMs) chief Joel Egco.

Andanar identified the witnesses as Renato Sardoncillo and Hilario Lape, Jr.

“The suspects, based on our witnesses’ affidavits, are Kapa members who are also media people themselves,” Andanar said.

“The reason why they are here is to assure them of government protection as they are being subjected to intimidation or other forms of threat by the suspects who, based on our information, are influential people in their province.”

Dizon was shot dead in Kidapawan City on the night of July 10.

Lape said he allegedly heard Dante Tabusares, media coordinator of Kapa for North Cotabato, in a meeting ordering the killing of Dizon, who was known for his adverse commentaries against the group.

Sardoncillo claimed he saw the actual shooting. Egco said the alleged gunman, Jonel Herosaga, was identified through CCTV footage.

Egco added that the suspects have yet to be arrested because the criminal complaint will still have go through preliminary investigation by the Department of Justice, which will determine whether to file a case in court.

“Nag-regular filing siya so we still have to wait for the warrant of arrest bago sila makuha. It’s due process pa rin talaga,” Egco said.

“But ang pinakaimportante dito, matibay na iyong mga confessions nila, iyong mga affidavits, mga witnesses accounts.”

Andanar welcomed the development in the investigation on Dizon’s murder, saying that the “culture of impunity, as some people would like to exaggerate each time a journalist is killed, is slowly becoming history as more and more incidents of media violence are being thoroughly investigated.”

“Witnesses are identified and cases are eventually solved. Ultimately, impunity will be a thing of the past. What we are committed to are results not excuses because as we have said time and again, failure is not an option,” he said.

The Securities and Exchange Commission has accused several officers of Kapa of violating the Securities Regulation Code after finding that the corporation allegedly enticed the public to donate at least P10,000 in exchange for a 30% monthly “blessing” or “love gift” for life, “without having to do anything other than invest and wait for the payout.”

The government had tagged the religious corporation as having been involved in an investment scam. President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the corporation closed last June. — BM, GMA News