Geneva: A radio professional was shot dead in the Philippines (Filipino) last Friday, sparking concern and fear among the media fraternity in the island nation.
The victim, identified as Julio Calo (49), was gunned down by an unidentified assailant in front of his residence in Barangay Robles, under the La Castellana locality, on 20 March 2026. Calo, who worked as a community radio block-timer for 88.3 DNN News FM, died on the spot after sustaining a serious head injury. The gunman reportedly fled the scene in a white sport utility vehicle (SUV).
The Press Emblem Campaign (PEC), a global media safety and rights organization, strongly condemned the killing and demanded justice for the victim.
PEC president Blaise Lempen stated that the Philippines continues to be a dangerous country for journalists and media workers.
“The island nation has lost a significant number of media employees in recent years. Shockingly, most of the cases remain unresolved, allowing perpetrators to enjoy impunity within a corrupt system. PEC urges an impartial probe into the incident and stringent punishment for the murderer under the law,” Lempen said.
PEC’s South and Southeast Asia representative Nava Thakuria explained that a block-timer—recognized as a broadcaster in the Philippines—typically purchases airtime from a radio station to independently host community programmes. Calo hosted such a programme on a community radio station based in Himamaylan City.
With this incident, Calo becomes the 14th journalist killed worldwide in 2026 and the first in the Philippines this year. In 2025, the country recorded four journalist killings—Juan Johny Dayang, Erwin Labitad Segovia, Noel Bellen Samar, and Gerry Campos.
