PNP vows to run after killers of Negros Occidental broadcast journalist
Police are now conducting a thorough investigation to determine the motive behind the killing of a broadcast journalist in La Castellana, Negros Occidental over the weekend.
Gen. Jose Melencio C. Nartatez, Jr., chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP), said
tracker teams were already mobilized on the ground to hunt down those behind the attack on 49-year old Julito “Jaz” Diamante Calo.Calo, a radio announcer and host of the program “Waswasanay sa Quinto Distrito” on 88.3 DNN News FM, was shot dead on March 20 in Sitio Lapak Kawayanan, Barangay Robles.
Calo, who was also a job order employee of the local government, was standing outside his home when a white SUV approached and one of its occupants shot him in the head, killing him instantly.
The PNP has directed the Police Regional Office in Negros Island Region (PRO-NIR) and Negros Occidental Provincial Police Office (NOPPO) to immediately identify and arrest those responsible behind the killing.
Nartatez vowed to pursue more proactive measures to ensure stronger protection for media workers.
“The Philippine National Police condemns in the strongest terms the killing of a broadcast journalist in Negros Occidental. We assure the public and the media community that we will look closely into this case to arrest and charged all those involved in this senseless killing,” said Nartatez.
“The investigation is ongoing and progressing. We are validating all leads to ensure a solid case will be filed,” he added.
Nartatez said they will also coordinate with the Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFOMS) to assess existing threats to other media workers in the area.
He also urged the public and media community to continue reporting threats, promising that police resources will be fully mobilized to protect journalists.