NBI may probe Dumaguete radio anchor’s killing: DOJ

FILE: Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra in Malacañang. TOTO LOZANO/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

MANILA – The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) may look into the killing of Dumaguete City radio broadcaster Cornelio Pepino, the Department of Justice (DOJ) said Thursday.

“If necessary, I will also direct the NBI (National Bureau of Investigation) to render assistance to the task force or conduct a parallel investigation. We let the NBI step in whenever the PNP faces a blank wall or when there is a reasonable basis to believe that other law enforcers may be involved,” Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said in a message to reporters.

Guevarra added that the Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS), whom he chairs, will look closely into the death of Pepino.

Pepino, 48, an announcer at DYMD Energy 93.7 FM was gunned down by assailants riding motorcycles along North Road in Barangay Daro, Dumaguete City on Tuesday night.

He was declared dead on arrival at the Silliman University Medical Center.

Two other newsmen have been gunned down in the city — Edmund Sestoso in May 2018 and Dindo Generoso in November 2019.