Manhunt launched vs alleged brains in news anchor killing

COTABATO CITY – Police have launched a provincewide manhunt against the alleged mastermind in the murder of Kidapawan City broadcast journalist Eduardo “Ed” Dizon in July last year.

Col. Maximo Layugan, North Cotabato police provincial director, has ordered all police units in the province to help locate the now wanted Dante Encarnacion Tabosares alias Bong Encarnacion, spokesperson of “Kabus Padatuon” (KAPA) ministry for Kidapawan City.

Judge Henelinda Molina-Diaz of the Kidapawan Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 61 issued the warrant against Tabosares.

“The warrant was dated January 15 but only released to the police and local media on Saturday,” Layugan said.

Tabosares was charged along with Junell Gerozaga and Sotelo Jacolbe Jr. for the murder of Dizon.

Tabosares and Gerozaga questioned the warrant of arrest issued by the local court in October last year, claiming there was no “prima facie” evidence against them.

Jacolbe, for his part, went to the police office here after learning of the arrest warrant. He later posted bail.

Dizon was driving his car heading home from his nightly program at Brigada

News FM-Kidapawan when ambushed by two gunmen on a motorbike on July 10, 2019.

Undersecretary Joel Egco, executive director of the Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS) has been helping Dizon’s family in finding justice for the slain broadcast journalist.

Egco lauded the issuance of arrest orders against Encarnacion and two others and vowed to push for the prosecution of the brains behind Dizon’s murder.

Layugan said the North Cotabato police is coordinating with other police units in Region-12 to help locate the wanted persons. (PNA)