Broadcaster’s slay a setup – NCRPO

MANILA, Philippines – Investigators are looking into the possibility that the killing of radio broadcaster Jose Bernardo was a setup, a police official said yesterday.

National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Director Joel Pagdilao said probers are following up several leads on the killing of Bernardo along Zabarte Road in Barangay Kaligayahan, Quezon City on Saturday.

The Special Investigation Task Group Jose is piecing together the evidence gathered in the broadcaster’s killing.

“We expect to have a case at the soonest time possible,” Pagdilao said.

He refused to disclose the developments in the case so as not to jeopardize ongoing follow-up operations.

“We are pursuing several leads including that he was set up,” Pagdilao said. “But our probe is leading to the solution of the case.”

Police investigators said it appeared that the killers of Bernardo, 44, have been waiting for him in the area prior to the attack.

Bernardo, broadcaster of dwIZ and columnist of weekly tabloid Bandera Pilipino, was disembarking from his motorcycle when he was shot.

Bernardo died on the spot from gunshot wounds in the head and the body.

An employee of a nearby fastfood restaurant was hit in the chest and listed in critical condition in the hospital.

According to witnesses, the gunman took a waiting motorcycle and sped off toward Camarin in Caloocan City after the attack.

The victim’s family turned over to the police three mobile phones showing an exchange of text messages between Bernardo and “somebody.”

Pagdilao refused to say whether one of the text messages directed Bernardo to go to the area where he was shot dead.