Radio Broadcaster Shot Dead in North Cotabato
CMFR/PHILIPPINES — A news anchor and former station manager of dxKE 97.5 Brigada News FM was shot dead in Kidapawan City, North Cotabato 10 July 2019. Kidapawan is 1583 kilometers south of Manila.
DxKE anchor Eduardo Dizon was driving along Maharlika Highway on his way home from the broadcast station at around 10:30 p.m. when two gunmen aboard a motorcycle fired several shots at his vehicle. Dizon managed to drive his car to the side of the road but eventually died from five gunshot wounds.
Dizon hosted the commentary programs “Banat Brigada” and “Tira Brigada” and the entertainment program “Brigada Couple’s Lane,” all of which were aired from Monday to Saturday, 6:00 to 7:00 a.m., 8:00 to 9:30 a.m. and 8:00 to 10:00 p.m. respectively. Before joining the station, he anchored a public affairs program on dxND Radyo Bida and was also a DJ for dxDM FM. Dizon was a former councilor of Makilala town but lost in the 2019 elections.
The police has created a Task Force Dizon to investigate the case and are looking at several “persons of interest” in the murder of the broadcaster.
The Brigada Group of Companies condemned the killing of their radio anchor and said that the attack on Mr. Dizon was an attempt “to silence Brigada media and its personalities from their exposes and position on prevailing issues.” The group also vowed that the incident will not deter Brigada from serving “the best interest of the public” through news and information.
If proven work-related, the killing of Dizon will be the 13th under the Duterte administration and the 165th since 1986.