Murder charges have been filed against the motorcycle-riding gunmen who shot and killed Dumaguete City-based radio broadcaster Edmund Sestoso last April 30.

Lourdes Sestoso, wife of the slain 50-year-old broadcaster, appeared before the City Prosecutor’s Office last Friday to file charges against John and Peter Doe, also known by the aliases ‘Ka Mokong’ and ‘Ka Sherwin,’ whom the Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office (NOrPPO) suspect are linked with the New People’s Army (NPA).

She also appealed for the suspects, who are reportedly from Barangay Baguid, Guihulngan City, to come forward in order to shed light on her husband’s case.

The radio personality was shot by riding-in-tandem gunmen in Barangay Daro, Dumaguete City last month after completing his daily morning news and public affairs program “Tug-anan sa Power 91,” which airs on dyGB 91.7 FM.

He succumbed to his injuries the following day.

The complaint was originally scheduled to be filed once the Dumaguete City Hall of Justice opened, however, one of the three witnesses had yet to file their sworn statement, which was submitted later that morning after being encouraged by police.

The witness, whose name is being withheld, claimed Sestoso was shot immediately after exiting a tricycle.

A man wearing a maroon shirt then reportedly got off a black motorcycle and approached the bullet-ridden Sestoso, and fired more shots.

The witness claimed to have helped Sestoso, who was carried onto another tricycle as the initial vehicle had a flat tire and rushed to the nearby Silliman University Medical Center.

With the formal complaint filed and the sworn witness statements consolidated, Assistant City Prosecutor Angela Charina Cortes-Garces said the case will enter a preliminary investigation.

She noted, the case still has a “long process” to go through.

Meanwhile, NOrPPO believes the suspects may have links to the New People’s Army (NPA).

According to NOrPPO director, Police Senior Superintendent Raul Tacaca, an investigation revealed the suspects are related to a certain Rene Bustamante, who goes by the aliases ‘Ka Pediong,’ ‘Ka Jade Hervias,’ and ‘Ka Jury Mercado.

Tacaca said a vital witness claimed the suspects are Bustamante’s nephews.

According to the witness, Bustamante was arrested at a Tanjay City checkpoint in 2014. He believes Sestoso revealed his location to police.

Members of the Dumaguete City media, however, doubt the NPA connection as Sestoso himself was being monitored for suspected connections with regard to the way he treated the “Mabinay 6” and Guihulngan City ambush stories.

In addition, earlier this month, the NPA Leonardo Panaligan Command, through spokesperson JB Regalado, condemned Sestoso’s killing, calling it a suppression of press freedom.

The statement further called for justice and an end to media killings and repression.

However, Tacaca further pointed out, the said witness statement was corroborated by another witness, who is a member of the press. In their affidavit, the witness said Sestoso was a close friend of Bustamante and, days before his arrest in Tanjay City, they had a talk.

A third witness said, Sestoso’s “perception of Bustamante” made him appear responsible for the arrest./DGB, WDJ