NUJP-Negros Island Region challenges the government and security agencies to end the culture of impunity that has allowed this crime to continue without justice.
NEGROS OCCIDENTAL, Philippines – Police in the Negros Island Province (NIR) are still facing a blank wall for motives and suspects in the controversial killing of a Negrense radio host in La Castellana town on Friday, March 20.
The Regional Police Office (PRO) in NIR has a Special Investigation Group (SITG) that is now leading the investigation into the murder of Julito “Jaz” Calo.
Calo was blocktimer for “Waswasay in the Fifth District” (Calling in the Fifth District) at DNN community radio station in Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental.
While watering the plants in front of their house, a white sports utility vehicle (SUV) suddenly arrived near him.
The victim also approached the car, but a man got out, and shot him near the face, the police report revealed.
The suspect then returned to the vehicle which immediately fled the scene of the crime.
Calo was rushed to the Rural Health Unit of La Castellana, but did not make it.
He was pronounced dead on arrival.
Captain Jose Michael Nunez, deputy police chief of La Castellana, said the victim may have known the suspect.
Lieutenant Colonel Joem Malong, spokesman for the Regional Police Office of Negros Island, said the newly activated SITG is focusing its investigation on a large-scale CCTV reverse operation in La Castellana, La Carlota City, and nearby areas. This can help determine the movement, entry, and escape routes of the suspect.
The Vice Mayor of La Castellana Alme Rhummyla Nicor-Manguilimutan asked the Police Office of La Castellana to dig deeper into Calo’s murder.
Brigadier General Arnold Thomas Ibay, regional police director of Negros Island, ordered the Negros Occidental Regional Police Office (NOcPPO) to increase their investigation into the killing of the broadcaster.
Ibay wants Calo’s murder to be solved as soon as possible.
Calo’s killing is the latest violence against Negro journalists in Negros Island since the killing of the journalist Kind Dindo of Bai Radio in Dumaguete City in 2019.
In its statement, the Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFOMS) has condemned the killing of Calo.
“Such an attack on a journalist is a serious threat to the freedom of the press and the safety of journalists in our country,” read part of the PTFOMS statement.
“We send our deepest condolences to the family, friends, and colleagues of Mr. Calo. His death serves as a reminder of the dangers media practitioners face on the job,” it added.
PTFOMS said it is fully committed to ensuring that justice is done.
“We have already coordinated with local law enforcement agencies to prioritize and expedite the investigation of this case.”
The National Union of Journalists in the Philippines-Negros Island Region (NUJP-NIR) identified Calo’s killing as a senseless act of violence, and not an isolated case.
Instead, NUJP-NIR sees it as part of a disturbing pattern of attacks on media workers in the Philippines.
NUJP-NIR said too many journalists have already been killed on the job. (BY NUMBERS: Filipino journalists killed since 1986)
Worse, a large number of these cases remain unsolved, with the perpetrators and masterminds evading justice.
“Every killing of a media worker strikes fear into the hearts of those who strive to report the truth, and erodes the foundation of our democracy,” NUJP-NIR said. “We urgently call on the authorities to take decisive, swift and immediate action: to conduct a thorough, impartial and swift investigation to identify the perpetrator and his accomplices and bring them to justice.”
The local Negros press group also reiterated its challenge to the government and security forces to end the culture of impunity that has allowed these crimes to continue without justice.
“Yet, we will not be silenced,” NUJP-NIR vowed.
At the same time, apart from being a part-time radio host, Calo also worked as a job ordering worker in the City of Himamaylan, and was imprisoned for a drug overdose in 2018.
He was released on probation after pleading guilty to violating the Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. – Rappler.com
