DAVAO CITY, Philippines – A news anchor of a local radio station in Kidapawan City was shot dead on by a riding-in-tandem team last, Wednesday evening, July 10.
The National Union of Journalist of the Philippines (NUJP) identified the victim as Eduardo “Ed” Dizon of 97.5 Brigada News FM.
Two unidentified gunmen opened fire on Dizon along Quezon Boulevard, near the Colegio de Kidapawan, around 10:35 in the evening.
The victim was on his way home to Tejada Subdivision in Makilala town after hosting his radio program Tira Brigada.
He sustained five gunshot wounds.
He managed to steer his car to the side of the road but died from the gun shots, the NUJP said, quoting Kidapawan chief of police Lieutenant Colonel Maria Joyce Birrey.
NUJP confirmed that Dizon’s death is related to his work as a journalist.
Last July 4, Dizon reported to Kidapawan Police that he had allegedly been challenged to a “duel” a day before, NUJP added.
The station hotline also received a message from mobile number +639353435064 that read: “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.)
Meanwhile, Brigada Group, in a statement, condemned the killing of Dizon duirng his “relentless expose against unscrupulous individuals and organizations involved in illegal undertakings.”
“Brigada Group sees the attack on Mr. Dizon – a veteran, a seasoned broadcast journalist, and an organic employee of Brigada – as an attempt to silence Brigada media and its news personalities from their exposes and position on prevailing issues,” it added.
