DAVAO CITY — Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla, has approved the creation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to handle the murder case of Kidapawan City broadcaster Eduardo “Ed” Dizon who was killed on July 10, 2019.
Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS) executive director Undersecretary Paul M. Gutierrez, requested the creation of the special team for the speedy resolution of the case.
Remulla added the formation of SIT Dizon aligns with the government’s commitment to ensure justice to all victims of violence and uphold the rule of law.
“This again shows that the government is unrelenting in pursuing justice for all victims of heinous crimes, especially the members of the press, regardless of when the crime took place,” Gutierrez said.
Malolos City Prosecutor Aldrin Evangelista, who also previously handled the successful prosecution of the suspects in the 2009 Ampatuan Massacre, has been appointed to lead the SIT Dizon.
Gutierrez requested for the immediate creation of the SIT Dizon after the PTFoMS learned that one of the suspects, Sotero ‘Jun’ Jacolbe, was granted bail and subsequently acquitted by the Davao Regional Trial Court last March 8.
The alleged mastermind, Dante Encarnacion Tabusares, aka, ‘Bong Encarnacion,’ was similarly allowed to post bail in the amount of P500,000.00 by the court last March 11, a week after his voluntary surrender at the Davao City Police Office.
The initial Special Investigation Task Group (SITG) Dizon formed by the PTFoMS and the Philippine National Police (PNP) to probe the murder of Dizon in 2019 came out with 3 suspects: Encarnacion, Jacolbe, and the identified gunman who remains at large, Junell Jane Andagkit Poten, aka, ‘Junell Gerozaga.’
In yesterday’s hearing, the prosecution panel informed the court of the creation of the SIT Dizon and Evangelista is expected to appear in court to represent the government during the next hearing scheduled on April 25.
In his directive, Remulla reminded the SIT to regularly update his office on the development of the case and to conclude its tasks and formally submit its report and recommendations within 30 days.
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.
