By Joyce Ann L. Rocamora
The European Union Delegation in Manila on Tuesday condemned the killing of Davao del Sur journalist Orlando “Dondon” Dinoy, who was gunned down last Saturday inside his apartment.
In a statement, the delegation also commended the government for its prompt action to ensure that justice will be served to those responsible for the reporter’s death.
“Free media is at the heart of democracy. We condemn the killing of journalist Orlando Dinoy and commend (the) government’s prompt action to bring justice. EU stands by & protects journalists,” it said.
Aside from the EU, the Commission on Human Rights also condemned the killing.
Spokesperson Jacqueline Ann de Guia said “the commission stands with the media community in denouncing this recent killing. It is especially disappointing that such incident occurs as we
commemorate today, Nov. 2, the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists.”
De Guia said “killings perpetrated against the media fosters a chilling effect and helps breed a climate of impunity. A silenced media hampers the free flow of information and deprives the Filipino citizenry of much-needed information critical for discernment in national affairs,”
She said there is impunity when there is no accountability for crimes committed.
According to De Guia, the CHR in the past six months has also taken cognizance and investigated other media killings, including as those involving lawyer Gilda Mahinay-Sipay, her husband Muhaimen Mohammed Sapie and Renante Cortes.
“We are hopeful that with the quick assembly of the Presidential Task Force on Media Security, those responsible for this crime will be held to account. CHR for its part will continue to work with local authorities in investigating all potential leads,” she stressed.
The Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS) on Sunday said the police is currently investigating the incident.
Undersecretary Joel Sy Egco, PTFoMS executive director, said the task force has mobilized its agents, through lawyer Perry Solis and investigation head Col. Rechie Duldulao, as soon as the case was reported to them.
“Regardless of the motive, we will work doubly hard to get the killer of Dondon Dinoy, a member of the Mindanao Independent Press Council that’s an active partner of PTFoMS,” he said.
“Rest assured, whether official or personal in nature, we will leave no stone unturned in punishing her killer. Dondon is a member of the LGBT community and was not hard-hitting. In fact, he had no known enemies,” he added.
Dinoy was a reporter for Newsline Philippines in Davao City and a volunteer anchor of Digos City-based Energy FM that did weather reports from Mondays to Fridays.
He was also a former correspondent of the Philippine Daily Inquirer and SunStar SuperBalita.
Dinoy’s assailant barged into his rented apartment along Mother Ignacia St., Poblacion Uno, Bansalan at around 6 p.m. on Saturday. The reporter died of gunshot wounds to the head and body.
