Task force gathering evidence in broadcaster's slay

CAMP OLIVAS, Pampanga, Philippines – Police authorities yesterday said Special Investigation Task Force (SITF) Cruz is still gathering evidence that will lead to the arrest of the killer of the Nueva Ecija local newspaper publisher.

In a text message from Senior Superintendent Ricardo Marquez, Nueva Ecija provincial director, said, “We have very very good leads in the killing of Cruz and just documenting them.”

Marquez said that SITF-Cruz is still interviewing witnesses and gathering more evidences that could lead to the immediate arrest of the gunman.

He said to date, the motive in the killing of Edilberto Cruz, publisher of a local tabloid Salida “is very personal.”

“As soon as possible, we will know the identity of the suspect and the real motive in the killing,” Marquez said. 

On Sunday, Cruz was on board his motorcycle on his way home when he was ambushed along Maharlika Highway in Barangay San Juan Accfa, Cabanatuan City.

Cruz was immediately taken to the MV Gallego Cabanatuan City Hospital but died while undergoing treatment. 

Marquez said medico legal personnel extracted the slug still embedded on the victim’s head for ballistics and caliber identification for comparison of other slugs/evidence recovered from the crime scene. 

According to police investigators, Regina, wife of the victim, alleged that she did not know that her husband was a publisher of Salida. 

The victim’s wife also told police that her husband has allegedly had an affair with a former freelance local radio host.