Broadcaster slay suspects nabbed
Appropriate charges, he said, are being readied by authorities against the suspects
The Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS) Friday announced the arrest of two suspects in the killing of a radio broadcaster in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental on Thursday.
Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary and PTFoMS co-chairman Martin Andanar, said the two suspects in the killing of Radio Broadcaster and Blocktimer Dindo Generoso were arrested following a follow-up operation by the police at around 5 p.m., the same day.
Andanar said follow-up police operations led to the capture of former Police Corporal Glenn Corsame, a retired personnel of the Negros Oriental Provincial Police Office (NORPPO), and Teddy Reyes Salaw, 44, married, and a resident of Batinguel, Dumaguete City.
Appropriate charges, he said, are being readied by authorities against the suspects.
Andanar commended the PTFoMS Secretariat led by Executive Director and Undersecretary Joel Sy Egco and the Police Regional Office (PRO-7) in Central Visayas under Brig. Gen. Valerianio de Leon for the tight coordination and dedication that resulted in the immediate capture of the two.
“We would like to congratulate the swift and successful operations of the (PTFoMS) led by Undersecretary Egco, Brig. Gen. De Leon and the Dumaguete City Police Station under Police Major Jesus B. Mesahon Jr., which led to the immediate arrest of the suspects behind the killing of dyEM 96.7 Bai Radio broadcaster Dindo Generoso,” Andanar said.
At the same time, Andanar said the arrest of the suspects is just the beginning of their quest to bring justice for Generoso and his family.
“This also shows the relentless determination of President Rodrigo Duterte and the PTFoMS, as well as the entire administration in addressing the threats to our media professionals and to solving all forms of violence against media, especially, killings,” Andanar said.
The Philippine National Police (PNP) likewise lauded the arrest.
In a statement, PRO 7 acting director PBGen. Val de Leon relayed the elation of PNP officer-in-charge PLt. Gen. Archie Gamboa over his command’s quick move to shed light on the murder of broadcaster Dindo Generoso.
“The OIC-PNP was elated with the positive development on the case of the late Mr. Generoso with the arrest of two suspects,” he said.
Egco said the arrest of Corsame and Salaw were made possible by the team led by Police Lt. Jose Edrohil Cimafranca and through the assistance of the Highway Patrol Group (HPG) and Mitsubishi Motors in identifying the vehicle of the suspects.
He said a follow-up investigation in the killing of Generoso revealed the vehicle registration was under the name of one Tomas Alegro. Authorities used the CCTV footages they gathered around the time of the killing to track down the vehicle used, which led them to the driver of the motorcycle.
According to Egco, the search led the team to Batinguel, Dumaguete City, where they chanced upon Salaw. He said when the authorities approached Salaw, who was then sitting on his parked motorcycle and holding his cellphone, the suspect tried to draw a firearm that was later identified as a .45 Cal NORINCO Pistol with eight rounds of live ammunition.
“Both the firearm and the phone were seized. Probers found out that Salaw was then exchanging text messages about the killing with Corsame, who was later traced and nabbed by investigator,” he said.
Egco said following Salaw’s arrest, a helmet was found in his custody which matched the description of the one worn by the gunmen as caught on CCTV.
“Reports reaching the PTFoMS indicated that the suspects are in the employ of a powerful politician in the province,” Egco said.
“While the mastermind and the motive for Generoso’s killing are still the subject of ongoing follow-up operations, appropriate charges are being prepared against Salaw and Corsame,” he added.
Egco, at the same time, praised the PNP officers and colleagues from the media for providing useful information that led to this “major breakthrough”.
“We will continue to actively protect the rights and lives of our media professionals, and constantly seek justice for those who have been affected by these senseless acts,” he assured.