PHILIPPINE National Police (PNP) Chief Guillermo Eleazar ordered on Sunday, October 31, 2021, a thorough investigation on the killing of a journalist in Davao del Sur on Saturday, October 30.

Eleazar said the PNP is coordinating with the Presidential Task Force on Media Security to swiftly resolve and identify the suspects behind the death of Orlando “Dondon” Dinoy.

“Ipinapaabot ko ang taus-pusong pakikiramay sa mga naulila at kasamahan ni Orlando Dinoy at bilang aksyon ay inatasan ko na ang RD, PRO-11 na tutukan ang kasong ito upang mapanagot kung sino man ang may gawa ng krimeng ito,” said Eleazar.

(I express my condolences to the family of Orlando Dinoy, and in response, I tasked the Police Regional Office-Davao director to look into this case and punish whoever is responsible for the crime.)

“We will look into all the possible angles on this case and we are also asking the help of our kababayan to provide us with any information that could lead to the resolution of this case... Bilang isang demokrasyang bansa, hindi katanggap-tanggap ang mga ganitong uri ng karahasan dahil maliwanag na ito ay pag-atake sa kalayaan sa pamamahayag na ginagarantiya sa ating Saligang Batas (As a democratic country, this is not acceptable as this kind of violence is a clear attack on the freedom of the press, which is guaranteed in our Constitution),” he added.

Dinoy, a reporter for Newsline Philippines in Davao City and a volunteer anchor of the Energy FM in Digos City, was gunned down at close range by unidentified gunmen in his rented apartment in Bansalan on October 30.

He was also a former correspondent of SunStar Superbalita Davao.

Eleazar also vowed to protect all members of the media from any form of attack and harassment as he urged them to immediately report to authorities if they are under threat. (SunStar Philippines)