PH gov´t continues to improve media environment
THE Philippine government continues to register success in its campaign to uphold justice and improve the country’s media landscape with the arrest of another suspected gunman involved in the 2019 killing of a Mindanao-based radio broadcaster.
Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS) Executive Director Usec. Paul M. Gutierrez, citing a report from the Special Investigation Team (SIT) DIZON, said Junell Jane Andagkit Poten, alias, ‘Junell Gerozaga,’ 33, was arrested past 8 p.m. on May 2, 2024, by combined elements from the Police Regional Office (PRO) 12 and the Makilala Municipal Police Station headed by P/LtCol. John Miridel Racho Calinga, while at the house of a barangay kagawad in Bgy. Saguing, Makilala, Cotabato.
Calinga, in his report to higher police headquarters, said an informant provided them with positive information on the whereabouts of Poten.
Poten/Gerozaga has a standing warrant of arrest for murder for the shooting last July 10, 2019, of Kiadapawan Brigada FM radio anchor, Eduardo ‘Ed’ Dizon, in Kidapawan City.
Dizon was on his way home onboard his car when he was ambushed past 10:00 pm along Quezon Boulevard corner Diversion Road Sinsuat St., Kidapawan City by two armed suspects one of whom was positively identified by witnesses as Poten. Dizon sustained five gunshot wounds and died on the spot.
The arrest of Poten was made with the cooperation of the Police Regional Office 11, the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) and the 1st Cotabato Provincial Mobile Force Company (CPMFC).
Poten’s arrest follows the arrest only four days earlier, on April 29, 2024, of Jolieto ‘Ricky’ Mangumpit, the identified gunman in the killing last November 5, 2023, of Misamis Occidental broadcaster, Juan ‘DJ Johnny Walker’ Jumalon, in Dipolog City, Zamboanga del Norte.
Mangumpit was arrested thru the unceasing effort of the SITG Johnny Walker headed by its ground commander, Misamis Occidental Provincial Police Office director, P/Col. Dwight Monato. Mangumpit’s accomplices, cousins Boboy and Renante Bongcawel, were similarly arrested by the police last March 15, 2024.
Gutierrez said the arrest of Poten, coming on the heels of the arrest of Mangumpit and his accomplices, highlights the Marcos’ administration’s continuing effort to create a safe media environment for journalists and its commitment to the rule of law and the delivery of justice to victims of violent crimes.
“We are certainly going to highlight these gains before the international community,” said Gutierrez, who is presently in Santiago, Chile, as official delegate to the World Press Freedom Day celebration sponsored by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
Accompanying Gutierrez to the global event is PTFoMS Chief of Staff Atty. Huey Jyro Go and Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Assistant Secretary Francisco P. Rodriguez III.
SIT DIZON
Gutierrez also lauded PTFoMS chairman, Department of Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla, for his decision to form the SIT DIZON with the sole mission of ensuring justice for Dizon and the arrest of Poten, who remains at large for the last 5 years.
Remulla approved the formation of SIT DIZON last April 18, headed by Malolos City Prosecutor Aldrin Evangelista, to ensure that justice would be served to Dizon’s family.
This, after the PTFoMS was belatedly informed that Poten’s co-accused and alleged mastermind, Dante Encarnacion Tabusares, aka, ‘Bong Encarnacion,’ was granted bail by the Davao City Regional Trial Court last March 12, 2024. Sotero ‘Jun’ Jacolbe, another co-accused and also suspected brains aside from Encarnacion, was also granted bail and subsequently acquitted by the court last March 8.
“These accomplishments by the government again prove that no one can escape from the long arms of the law and that thru the PTFoMS guiding its member-agencies, it has an effective and working mechanism to address all violence against the life, liberty, and security of all members of the media.
“With the arrest of Gerozaga, we are also confident this will strengthen the case against Encarnacion, the alleged mastermind,” Gutierrez said.
Information gathered by the PTFoMS at the time indicate that the suspects plotted to kill Dizon over his stringent criticism of Encarnacion and the KAPA Ministry that was ordered closed by the government in 2019 for being a front for financial scam. Encarnacion is the leader of KAPA in North Cotabato at the time.