Cops have artist sketch of radio broadcaster’s gunman

CAMP OLIVAS, Pampanga, Philippines – Police already have a cartographic sketch of the killer of Cabanatuan City broadcaster Julius Caesar Cauzo.

Superintendent Walter Castillejos yesterday told The STAR three witnesses are helping police identify the killer.

“They are now giving a description of the gunman, who was riding a motorcycle when he shot Cauzo, who was also driving his motorcycle,” he said. “We hope to identify the gunman and eventually the mastermind, if there is one.”

Castillejos said Special Investigation Task Group Cauzo under Cabanatuan City police director Superintendent Eli Depra has asked the Philippine National Police Crime Laboratory in Central Luzon for a sketch of the suspect.

Castillejos said the task force is still investigating the real motive in the killing of Cauzo last Thursday.

“The motive of the killing could be work related or personal,” he said.

Castillejos said he has instructed the task force to go to the crime scene and look for any witness that could lead to the early solution of the case.

Castillejos will ask Depra to get an update on the investigation.

On Thursday, Cauzo, 52, of Talavera, Nueva Ecija, was on his motorcycle on his way to work when a gunman on another motorcycle waylaid and shot him upon reaching Barangay Aduas Centro in Cabanatuan.

Cauzo suffered three gunshot wounds in the body.

Doctors declared him dead on arrival at Good Samaritan Hospital in Cabanatuan City.

After learning of the killing, Central Luzon police director Chief Superintendent Edgardo Ladao ordered Castillejos to form a task group to identify and arrest the killer of Cauzo.

Journalists in Central Luzon have expressed concern for their safety during next year’s election following the killing of Cauzo.

In a statement, the Bulacan chapter of the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) said the election appeared to be a dangerous time for journalists and reminded fellow journalists to stick to ethical and responsible reporting.

The NUJP said since 1987 a total of 13 journalists have been killed in Central Luzon, except Bulacan, the only province in the region that has no record of journalists being killed. – Ric Sapnu, Cecille Suerte Felipe, Dino Balabo