Manhunt on for killers of Negros broadcaster
Following the fatal shooting of radio announcer Julito “Jaz” Calo, the Philippine National Police on Monday pledged a thorough investigation of the crime, and stronger protection for media workers.
Calo, the 49-year-old host of the local radio program “Waswasanay sa Quinto Distrito” on 88.3 DNN News FM, was standing outside his house along the roadside at Sitio Kawayanan in Barangay Robles, La Castellana town, when a white sport utility vehicle stopped in front of him and one of its passengers shot him in the head.
Calo is the ninth journalist killed under President Marcos’ administration, with radio workers making up most of the victims since 2022.
According to the PNP, tracker teams have been deployed to pursue the perpetrators, and authorities are working closely with local officials to gather evidence.
“The investigation is ongoing and progressing. We are validating all leads to ensure a solid case will be filed,” said PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. in a statement.
The Negros Island Region police and the Negros Occidental provincial police have been ordered to identify and apprehend those responsible immediately.
“The Philippine National Police condemns in the strongest terms the killing of a broadcast journalist in Negros Occidental,” said Nartatez.
“We assure the public and the media community that we will look closely into this case to arrest and charge all those involved in this senseless killing,” he added.
‘Significant threat’
The police are looking at three possible angles—drug-related, personal, and work- or politically motivated—in the killing of Calo.
Police Maj. Romulo Gepilango, La Castellana police chief, said Calo had been arrested in a drug bust on Oct. 5, 2018, but was later released after availing of a plea bargaining agreement.
Besides hosting his radio program, Calo was also a job order employee of the Himamaylan City government.
Nartatez said the PNP would coordinate with the Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS) to assess threats to other journalists in the area.
The PTFoMS described the killing as a “significant threat to press freedom,” adding that it is working with provincial authorities to speed up the investigation.
Difficult environment
Nartatez urged media workers and the public to report any threats, assuring that police resources will be fully mobilized to protect media workers.
“We do not ignore any threats to our journalists. We treat every report with the utmost urgency,” he said.
“To those who think they can silence the press, violence has no place in our society. The full might of the law will be brought against you. We will find you, and you will be held accountable,” he added.
The 2025 World Press Freedom Index by Reporters Without Borders ranked the Philippines 116th out of 180 countries, its best standing in 21 years.
While that ranking improved from 134th in 2024, the report said journalists continue to face a difficult environment in the country, with ongoing threats of violence and Red-tagging.
According to the 2026 Human Rights Watch World Report, the Philippines remains a “deadly place” for journalists.
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