The recent murder of the 97.5 Brigada News FM-Kidapawan radio station manager is another incident in the growing trend of harassment and violence against the country’s media. Eduardo “Ed” Dizon was reportedly shot dead by two motorcycle-riding gunmen while driving home on Wednesday along Maharlika Highway.

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. 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.

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.

CHR Regional Office of Region XII has sent a team to investigate the incident, and will 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. ###