THE media community is once again jolted by the news of yet another murder, this time in Calapan City, Mindoro.
Early Wednesday morning, two unidentified assailants gunned down Cresenciano “Cris” Bunduquin, 50, while the broadcast journalist was opening his chicken store in the city, readying it for business that day. Bunduquin was a co-host of the radio program Balita at Talakayan aired over DWXR 101.7FM and over online radio MUX, which the victim owned.
The body of Bunduquin was found along the C5 Road in Barangay Sta. Isabel, at about 4:30 a.m. on May 31, according to an initial report from the City Public Safety Department. The report said the radio broadcaster sustained four bullet wounds, including two in the chest.
Bunduquin’s murder is the third involving a journalist under the one-year-old Marcos Jr. administration, after radio commentators Renato Blanco and Percival “Percy Lapid” Mabasa.
‘… whatever happened to the Percy Lapid assassination, which was one of the more controversial media attacks in recent memory?’
The International Press Institute (IPI) reported on the killings of Renato “Rey” Blanco and Federico “Ding” Gempesaw. The IPI said Gempesaw was shot dead in broad daylight in Cagayan de Oro City on June 29, 2022 before the inauguration of President Bongbong Marcos on June 30, 2022.
Following the Gempesaw murder, Renato Blanco was fatally stabbed on Sept. 18, 2022 by his attackers in Mabinay town, Negros island. The police theorized that this case was politically motivated, as Blanco was reported planning to run for barangay chairman in the coming barangay elections this year when he was killed.
Of all the media killings, this one on Bunduquin in Calapan City should be the easiest to solve for the police because right after the assault, the victim’s son chased the attackers on board a car and bumped their motorcycle. The collision resulted in the death of one of the suspects, identified as Narciso Ignacio Guntan, who sustained head injuries when he hit a steel barrier on the road side. Guntan’s companion escaped on foot, leaving behind their Honda motorcycle with license plate DD22153 which was used in the killing.
This latest incident involving an attack on a media person occurred just a couple of days after National Press Club official Paul Gutierrez was sworn in as undersecretary in charge of media security of the Marcos administration, and many media professionals are hoping that he and his office can help the Bunduquin family seek justice for the radio broadcaster’s murder.
While we are at it, it is opportune to ask whatever happened to the Percy Lapid assassination, which was one of the more controversial media attacks in recent memory? Perhaps the Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS) can also follow this up?
