Task force urges arrested suspect in Kidapawan broadcaster's slay to confess

The Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS) has called on the arrested suspect in the 2019 murder of broadcaster Eduardo "Ed" Dizon in Kidapawan City, North Cotabato to cooperate with authorities and admit to shooting the victim.

Paul Gutierrez, executive director of the PTFoMS, said Wednesday that the suspect, Junell Jane Andagkit Poten or "Junell Gerozaga," only has two choices: cooperate through confession in exchange for a potential shorter jail term; or remain silent, exonerate his co-accused, and face lifetime imprisonment.

"We have new witnesses, including members of the local police, who can identify Gerozaga as the gunman who shot dead Dizon that fateful night of July 10, 2019," Gutierrez said in a statement.

"If Gerozaga thinks it would be best for him to just remain silent, he is utterly mistaken," he added.

Gerozaga was arrested in Barangay Saguing in Makilala, Cotabato on May 2 night after authorities received information on his whereabouts.

According to PTFoMS, the suspect has a standing arrest warrant for the 2019 murder of Dizon, a Brigada FM radio anchor.

The media task force has also turned over to the informant a P200,000 initial reward put up by the local government of Kidapawan City.

Upon meeting with members of the Special Investigation Team (SIT) Dizon at the Police Regional Office 11 headquarters on Monday, May 13, Gutierrez expressed hope that the case of Dizon would prosper in court.

To bolster the case further, he said that the SIT also decided to transfer another witness to Manila under the witness protection program.

It was last month when Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla ordered the creation of a special investigation team that would probe the killing of Dizon.

This was after the task force learned that the co-accused and alleged mastermind of the crime, Dante Encarnacion Tabusares or "Bong Encarnacion," was granted bail by a Davao court on March 12.

Meanwhile, another suspect, Sotero "Jun" Jacolbe, was also granted bail by a Kidapawan court in late 2019 and was acquitted on March 8 when the venue of the trial was transferred to Davao.

Gutierrez said that Davao Regional Trial Court Branch 16 presiding judge Emmanuel Carpio, who was the one who acquitted Jacolbe and granted bail to Encarnacion, has already inhibited himself from further hearing the case of Encarnacion upon the motion of SIT Dizon.

He also said that they are eyeing to have the venue of the hearing transferred hopefully in Metro Manila.

Gutierrez said they are also looking into past and current activities of Encarnacion that may help strengthen the case against him and Gerozaga.

"We are also validating reports that Encarnacion has revived the modus of KAPPA using another name and his ongoing recruitment of so-called members, coordinators or investors especially targeting local officials and the members of the police," the PTFoMS said, referring to the Kapa Community Ministry International Inc.

"If warranted, he may also face separate cases for them," he added.

The Regional Trial Court of Butuan City-Branch 33 had earlier convicted the Kapa masterminds to life imprisonment over charges of estafa, the Securities and Exchange Commission announced last December. — VDV, GMA Integrated News