A murder complaint has been filed against a suspect in connection with the killing of Newsline Philippines reporter Orlando “Dondon” Dinoy last October 30, 2021, the Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS) said in a statement Tuesday.
Undersecretary Joel Sy Egco, PTFoMS Executive Director, announced that a case for murder was filed against Brandie Mercado Campaner alias
“Bos-Bos”, the person identified by several eyewitnesses as the gunman who shot and killed Dinoy, at the Provincial Prosecutor’s Office in Davao del Sur under NPS Docket Number XI-04-INV-21K-00299.
Egco said that the Task Force is officially declaring the Dinoy murder case as not related to his work as a journalist.
According to Egco, there were three possible motives for the killing unearthed by investigators from the Bansalan Municipal Police Station, the strongest was a personal grudge in relation to the victim’s other endeavors outside of his work as a reporter.
Egco commended the Philippine National Police (PNP), especially the Special Investigation Task Group Dinoy, for speedily solving the crime while calling for an extensive manhunt in the entire Mindanao for the capture of Campaner.
“I salute the men and women of the PNP, especially BGen Filmore Escobal, Regional Director of PRO 11, PMaj Peter Glenn Ipong, Chief of Police of Bansalan MPS, and investigators LtCol Alan Vergiza, PCpl Michael Sorinao and PCol Giusseppe Geralde for their quick resolution of the Dinoy killing. We are very grateful for your dedication in investigating and solving this heinous crime,” Egco said.
The PNP is one of the law-enforcement agencies that comprise the PTFoMS, an inter-agency task force dedicated to protect media workers created by President Rodrigo Duterte in 2016 under Administrative Order No. 1.
Egco also said that eyewitnesses to the crime will be referred to the Witness Protection Program of the Department of Justice.
“While the case is deemed non-work related, we will continue to monitor and work double-time to catch his killers and whoever may be behind them. There is no justification for murder,” the Palace official pointed out.
“Sa mga nagpropaganda sa kasong ito, huwag kayong manahimik. Kung tutulong kayo, tumulong kayo. Ginagamit niyong media killing to hit government and for your own benefit. Pero hindi naman talaga kayo nakakatulong. Bagkus, you are helping the perpetrators by way of you muddling the case," he said.
"Tulungan natin ang mga maliliit na kasapi ng media by empowering them economically. Help them by pushing for the proposed Media Workers Welfare Act,” Egco added, referring to the bill that has been pending in the Senate for almost a year after being approved unanimously by the House of Representatives.
Dinoy, who is a member of the LGBTQ community, died after being shot several times in her apartment located at Mother Ignacia St.,
Poblacion Uno, Bansalan, Davao del Sur. Previous possible motives arising from her alleged relationships have already been ruled out by the PNP.