Slain Negros broadcaster received death threats

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — Radio broadcaster Cornelio Pepino, who was killed in a gun attack in Dumaguete City on Tuesday night, had received death threats, his station manager bared yesterday.

Florence Baesa, station manager of dyMD Energy FM, where Pepino worked as a reporter and anchorman, said he shares the belief of the victim’s wife, Colleen, that the death threats were work-related.

In an interview during Baesa’s radio program, Colleen said a hired gunman could have perpetrated the killing.

Pepino, who hosted a two-hour commentary radio program “Pukpokin mo Baby,” was with Colleen on their way home when he was shot several times by motorcycle-riding men.

He is the third media practitioner killed in Negros Oriental since 2018.

P1 million reward

The Dumaguete City council approved a resolution on Wednesday asking Mayor Felipe Remollo to offer a reward of P1 million for information leading to the arrest of the gunmen and masterminds in the murder of Pepino and two other media practitioners in the province.

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said he instructed the Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS) to investigate the incident.

Guevarra, who is also PTFoMS chairman, said he might order the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to conduct a separate probe.

“We let the NBI step in whenever the PNP (Philippine National Police) faces a blank wall or when there is reasonable basis to believe that law enforcers may be involved,” he said. 

PTFoMS head Joel Sy Egco gave assurance on a thorough investigation into the killing.

“As in the past cases we handled, we will leave no stone unturned,” Egco said. – Evelyn Macairan