In a statement Wednesday, the Palace condemned Cornelio’s killing, calling it a “cowardly” act and directed the Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office and the Dumaguete City Police Office to “leave no stone unturned” in finding out who did the act,
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 6) – Community radio reporter Cornelio Pepino, popularly known as Rex Cornelio, was shot dead on Tuesday night in Dumaguete City.
Authorities said the 48-year old radio reporter of DYMD Energy 93.7 FM was gunned down by two unidentified men aboard a motorcycle at around 8:45 in the evening yesterday at Barangay Daro.
Cornelio was rushed to the Siliman University Medical Center, but was pronounced dead on arrival.
Cornelio is the third radio media personality who has been murdered in Dumaguete within the past two years.
Radio anchor Edmund Sestoso, former chairman of the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines chapter in Dumaguete City, was shot on April 30, 2018 and died the next day.
Last November 7, Dindo Generoso of DYEM Bai Radio was shot dead on his way to work. Three suspects, two of them policemen, were arrested and charged with his murder.
If Cornelio’s killing is proven to be work-related, he would be the 16th journalist slain under President Rodrigo Duterte and the 188th since 1986.
Last April 22, the Philippines fell two places in the World Press Freedom Index by international media organization Reporters Without Borders.
READ: Philippines falls two places in press freedom index
The country slipped into the 136th place out of 180 countries in the yearly tally.
In its report, the group cited the Philippines for having “state troll armies [that] use the weapon of disinformation on social media,” like Russia, India and Vietnam.
It also noted that Filipino journalists have been attacked by pro-government activists, with the group citing similar incidents in Bangladesh and India.
Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary and Presidential Task Force on Media Security Co-Chair Martin Andanar said, “We are deeply saddened by his untimely death and extend our sincerest condolences to his family. Believe me when I say that our president has absolutely zero-tolerance in this kind of barbarism. The government will extend all the necessary assistance and support to serve justice for the Pepino family. I have directed PTFoMS Executive Director Undersecretary Joel Sy Egco to personally handle this matter and to give regular updates on the same.”
Egco, meanwhile, said they were looking at all angles to determine the motive behind the killing.
“This cowardly killing in the midst of a pandemic is unforgivable. We will get to the bottom of this and will stop at nothing in identifying and hunting down the people behind this despicable crime. It will be just a matter of time before these murderers will be brought to justice,” he said.
