The Commission on Human Rights on Thursday called on the Duterte administration to dig deeper into the killing of a broadcast journalist from Kidapawan City in Cotabato, deal accordingly with the perpetrator of the crime and safeguard the lives of the members of media.
“CHR strongly urges the government to act on this case and bring the perpetrators to account, and to ensure that steps will be taken to ensure the further safety of our country’s journalists and media professionals,” the agency said.
“A media that can operate without fear of violence and suppression is a sign of a healthy, functioning democracy. The continuous rise of media killings and harassment is alarming and needs to be addressed before more lives are lost.”
In the Senate, Senator Grace Poe demanded swift action from law enforcers to arrest Dizon’s killers.
“Nakikiramay din tayo sa pamilya at mahal sa buhay ni Eduardo, at nananawagan tayo sa kinauukulang mga ahensya ng gobyerno ng karampatang tulong,” Poe said.
She urged the police to make a report to the public on the progress of its investigation on the deaths of journalists.
“We have to know how the cases are moving and what support the families of the victims need in pursuing justice,” she said.
Eduardo Dizon, a commentator of 97.5 Brigada News FM-Kidapawan radio station, was driving his car when two men on a motorbike shot him at 10:35 p.m. on Wednesday.
CHR said Dizon’s murder was “another incident in the growing trend of harassment and violence against the country’s media.
“Freedom of the press”•which includes freedom to do their work without fearing for their lives”•is essentially in the expression of a people’s human rights,” the commission said.
Its Region XII office has already sent a team to investigate the incident and to coordinate with local authorities to help bring the perpetrators to justice.
“CHR would also like to extend its deepest condolences to Dizon’s family and friends, and hopes that in the end justice will prevail,” the agency said. With Macon Ramos-Araneta