Radio anchor in Kidapawan shot dead

Citing Kidapawan chief of police Lieutenant Colonel Maria Joyce Birrey, the NUJP said Dizon was able to steer his car to the side of the road but died after sustaining five gunshot wounds to the body. (Pixabay photo)

A news anchor of Brigada News FM in Kidapawan City was shot dead on Wednesday night, the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) said on Thursday, July 11.

According to the report by the local chapter of the NUJP, the victim, identified as Eduardo “Ed” Dizon, was driving home to Tejada Subdivision in Makilala town when two unidentified men onboard a motorcycle shot him along Quezon Boulevard at around 10:35 p.

m. The incident happened after the radio anchor hosted his “Tira Brigada” program.

Citing Kidapawan chief of police Lieutenant Colonel Maria Joyce Birrey, the NUJP said Dizon was able to steer his car to the side of the road but died after sustaining five gunshot wounds to the body.

The NUJP confirmed that a few days before his death, Dizon had reported to Kidapawan police that he was allegedly challenged to a “duel” and that the station’s hotline also got a message from mobile number 09353435064 that reads, “Bantay mo Brigada mamatay unya mo bantay2 mo kay naa mupusil ninyo (Watch out Brigada because you will die, just wait someone will shoot you).”

“This would make Dizon the 13th journalist slain in the line of duty under the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte and the 186th since 1986,” the group said.

The NUJP demanded the authorities to bring justice to Dizon and the government to “do its duty and end the culture of impunity that continues to embolden those for whom violence is the preferred means to resolve disputes.

“

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief, Police General Oscar Albayalde, for his part, has ordered Police Regional Office in Soccsksargen (PRO 12) under Brigadier General Eliseo Rasco to conduct immediate investigation of the incident.

Agriculture Secretary Manny Piñol, who is also the Cabinet Officer for Regional Development and Security (CORDS) for Central Mindanao, said he would utilize all government agencies in Soccsksargen to investigate Dizon’s murder, stressing that such killing has “be solved and stopped and the victims’ family given justice.”

Dizon served as the station manager of Brigada News FM-Kidapawan until 2018. Prior to his job in Brigada, Dizon had anchored a public affairs program for Notre Dame Broadcasting Corporation’s DXND Radyo Bida and was also a disc jockey for DXDM FM.