Escudero dismayed over unsolved mediaman slay

LEGAZPI CITY --- Sorsogon Gov. Francis “Chiz” Escudero on Wednesday, Oct. 7, has expressed dismay as police investigators continue to face a “blank wall” in finding the killers and mastermind of the murder of online broadcaster Jobert Bercasio who was shot and killed on Sept. 14 this year.

Escudero said “At this moment ongoing pa ang kaso wala pang natutumbok ang mga police kung sino ang may kagagawan ng krimin na ito.”

The Sorsgon governor said he has directed the Philippine National Police (PNP) to conduct a full investigation of the killing of mediaman Jobert “Polpog” Bercasio.

“My directive was to look into the real motive of the killing whether it was personal, or media-related,” he said

He expressed hope that the Bercasio case would move on following the assignment of Col Arturo Brual Jr., as the new police provincial director. Brual replaced Col. Roque Bausa.

The governor lamented about the new modus operandi where armed suspects are now using M-16 armalite rifle in shooting down their subjects. “ang pinagtatakahan ko lamang ang ginamit sa pag paslang ay armalite rifle, ito ay nangunguna sa kasaysayan ng Pilipinas,” he said.

He wondered that with the long firearms, how did the suspects pass through police checkpoint considering that there are many that have been established in the area due to strict implementation of the COVID-19 community quarantine.

A special investigation team (SIT) was formed composed of a 10-man task group to conduct a full investigation as to the possible motive behind the killing of Bercasio.

The creation of SIT was in line with Escudero’s directive to conduct a thorough investigation on the incident and to relentlessly pursue the perpetrators.