PNP News Releases 2006

CALDERON COMMENDS TASK FORCE USIG FOR SPEEDY ARREST OF BROADCASTER'S KILLER; ASSURES AIR-TIGHT CASE

PNP Chief, Director General Oscar C Calderon today commended the PNP Task Force USIG and the Police Regional Office-11 for the swift action in the case of slain broadcaster Armando "Racman" Pace in Digos City last Tuesday.

The alleged gunman, Joy ANTICAMARA y Enggao alias Tongol was arrested at 5:00 PM yesterday at the Junsay Subdivision in Digos City by operatives of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Team.

Calderon instructed Task Force USIG to closely monitor the developments in the investigation and establish an air-tight case against the suspect. Anticamara was presented today before the Office of the Provincial Prosecutor for inquest proceedings.

Moments after news of Pace’s murder broke out, Calderon immediately directed Task Force USIG commander, Deputy Director General Avelino I Razon Jr. to send Chief Superintendent Pedro Tango of Task Force Newsmen to Digos City on Wednesday to coordinate all investigative efforts and extend technical, forensic and legal assistance to local PNP units in the investigation of the assassination of the DXDS Radyo-Ukay blocktime broadcaster.

On orders of the Chief PNP, Deputy Director General Isidro S Lapeña, Deputy Chief for Operations, flew to Digos City today to assure the victim’s family of police assistance for a successful prosecution, and to extend financial support.

Pace was gunned down by suspects riding in tandem on a motorbike on Tuesday afternoon in downtown Digos City. Pace, who is a hard-hitting radio commentator, has survived previous assassination attempts and is known to be the subject of numerous libel cases filed against him.

A suspect earlier arrested by Digos City Police has been released from custody. But, Crime Laboratory forensic examiners are still conducting further tests on the motorcycle recovered earlier from Jesus Saraum after initial tests indicated that blood stains found in the motorbike matched that of the victim’s.

In his report to the Chief PNP, PRO-11 Regional Director, Chief Superintendent Ricardo Quinto said a major breakthrough in the investigation of the Pace Case came when a witness told police that their neighbor was involved in the shooting of the broadcaster.

The witness, a 16-year old girl, told investigators that she was just 5-10 meters away from the gunman when the incident happened. She positively identified Anticamara from a police line-up as the gunman.

Quinto said the suspect has a long history of brushes with the law. Calderon said the arrest of the suspected gunman, just over 48 hours after the murder, manifests the keen resolve of the PNP in serving the ends of justice for victims of heinous crime.

"The speedy solution of the Pace Case is the result of good police work which should be the hallmark of professional law enforcers," Calderon said.