MANILA, Philippines – Patay sa pamamaril ang isang broadcast media worker ng Catholic-run radio station sa Cotabato City.
Kinilala ang biktima na si Dennis Pido, 56, residente ng Pigcawayan, North Cotabato, at isang broadcast media technician ng Catholic-run Radio Station DXMS-AM/DXOL-FM ng Notre Dame Broadcasting Corporation (NDBC).
Ang NDBC ay pagmamay-ari ng missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate.
Ayon kay Capt. Steffi Salanguit, spokesperson para sa Police Regional Office-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region (PRO-BAR), minamaneho ni Pido ang kanyang Honda CRF 300 motorcycle papasok sa trabaho nang barilin ng hindi pa tukoy na gunman na sakay ng motorsiklo, sa Barangay Limbo, Sultan Kudarat bandang 3:50 ng hapon.
“The motive of the attack remained unknown,” saad sa pahayag ni Salanguit.
Nagpapatuloy ang imbestigasyon sa krimen.
Ayon sa imbestigasyon ay sinundan ng mga suspek na sakay ng motorsiklo si Pido.
Nang makarating sa Barangay Limbo, ay dito na siya pinaputukan ng apat na beses sa likod at ang tatlong bala ay tumagos pa sa kanyang dibdib.
Isinugod ang biktima sa Cotabato Sanitarium and General Hospital ng mga rumespondeng pulis ngunit idineklarang dead on arrival.
Kinondena naman ni Drema Quitayen Bravo, DXMS-AM/DXOL-FM station manager, ang pag-atake laban kay Pido.
“We are heartbroken that a hardworking media worker lost his life while simply on his way to work,” ani Bravo.
“This senseless act of violence has robbed a family of a beloved husband, father, son, and brother, and has deprived our station of a loyal employee who dedicated (at least) three decades of his life to broadcast media,” dagdag pa niya.
“He was more than a broadcast media technician; he was a trusted colleague, a dependable teammate, and a cherished member of the NDBC family. His loss leaves an irreplaceable void in our station and in the hearts of everyone who knew him.”
Hinimok naman ni Oblate missionary Fr. Rockmoore Saniel, NDBC chief executive officer, ang pulisya at iba pang ahensya ng pamahalaan na magsagawa ng agaran, impartial at komprehensibong imbestigasyon.
“We urge the authorities to pursue every available lead, identify all those responsible, and ensure that they are held fully accountable under the law,” ani Saniel.
“Every life is precious, and every act of violence that takes an innocent life is an assault not only on the victim and their loved ones but also on the peace and security of our communities. BARMM is our home. Let us protect each other from all forms of violence and killings,” dagdag pa niya.
Nagpaabot din ng pagkondena sa pag-atake ang ilang miyembro ng media sa Bangsamoro Region.
“I consider the murder of Dennis Pido as an attack against the press and media. Justice must be served,” ayon naman kay Bangsamoro Member of Parliament Omar Sema. RNT/JGC
