PTFoMS condemns killing of Negros Occidental broadcaster

On March 20, 2026, 49-year-old community radio announcer Julio Calo (also known as Julito 'Jaz' Diamante Calo) was shot and killed outside his residence in Sitio Lapak Kawayanan, Barangay Robles, La Castellana, Negros Occidental. Calo was a broadcaster for 88.3 DNN News FM, hosting the program 'Waswasay sa Dist,' and also worked as a job order employee for the Himamaylan City local government. The shooting occurred in the afternoon when a white SUV traveling from La Carlota City stopped in front of his house, and an unidentified assailant inside the vehicle shot him in the head, killing him instantly.

According to police reports, the gunman fled toward the center of La Castellana after the attack. Police Major Romulo Gepilango, La Castellana police chief, confirmed that authorities established checkpoints and launched a manhunt operation in response to the killing. Reports indicate that Calo had previously been assaulted by a local councilor, though specific details about this prior incident were not provided in available information.

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While the original summary mentioned that the Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS) condemned the killing as a 'significant threat' to press freedom, current search results do not show any official PTFoMS statement regarding this specific case. The PTFoMS is a government body established in 2016 to investigate violence against media workers, including killings, enforced disappearances, and torture, involving agencies like the Philippine National Police, National Bureau of Investigation, and Commission on Human Rights.

The killing of Calo represents another incident in the ongoing concerns about journalist safety in the Philippines. As of the latest reports, police investigations are ongoing to determine the motive behind the shooting and identify the perpetrators. No arrests have been reported in connection with the case, and authorities continue their manhunt operations in the La Castellana area.