Palace Vows Justice in Negros Occidental Broadcaster's Slay
The Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS) has condemned the killing of Negros Occidental radio broadcaster Julito "Jaz" Diamante Calo, vowing to ensure justice is served and calling the murder a "significant threat to press freedom."
Julito 'Jaz' Diamante Calo, a 49-year-old radio broadcaster from Negros Occidental, was fatally shot on March 20, 2026, outside his home in La Castellana town. The incident occurred around 2:30 p.m. in Sitio Lapak Kawayanan, Barangay Robles, when a white sport utility vehicle arrived from the direction of La Carlota City and stopped in front of Calo's house. An unidentified assailant inside the vehicle opened fire, shooting Calo in the head, and the suspect fled toward La Castellana town proper. Calo died at the scene, marking the 8th media worker killed under the Ferdinand Marcos Jr. administration.
Calo was the anchor of the program 'Waswasanay sa Quinto Distrito' on 88.3 DNN News FM, a community radio station based in Himamaylan City. He also worked as a job order employee for the local government of Himamaylan City. According to police records, Calo had been arrested and incarcerated in 2018 for allegedly violating Republic Act 9165 (the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002) and was later released after pleading guilty to the charges.
The Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS) strongly condemned the killing, describing it as a 'significant threat to press freedom' and journalist safety. PTFoMS Executive Director Paul Gutierrez stated that the task force is coordinating with local law enforcement to expedite the investigation and vowed to ensure justice is served. The task force extended condolences to Calo's family and committed to providing necessary assistance throughout the investigation.
The La Castellana Municipal Police Station is conducting an ongoing investigation to identify the suspect and determine the motive for the killing. As of March 22, 2026, police have established checkpoints and launched a manhunt but have no identified leads on either the assailant's identity or the reason behind the attack. Authorities noted that Calo had a prior assault incident involving a local councilor, but it remains unclear if this is connected to the fatal shooting. The case highlights ongoing concerns about journalist safety in the Philippines, with PTFoMS urging media organizations, civil society, and the public to protect journalists and share information to help solve the crime.
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