Eleazar orders creation of task group to probe killing of Cebu radio commentator Cortes

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Police General Guillermo Eleazar on Friday said he directed for the creation of a special investigation task group to look into the killing of radio commentator Reynante “Rey” Cortes.

In a statement, Eleazar said he ordered the Cebu Provincial Police Office to conduct a thorough investigation on the incident.

“All angles will be investigated to determine the motive in the crime, especially if this was related to his [Cortes] profession,” Eleazar said. “The local police will also investigate if there were threats to his life prior to the incident.”

Eleazar underscored that threats, attacks, and killings of journalist have no space in a democratic country.

The PNP chief joined the call for justice in the killing of the radio commentator.

According to Eleazar, police investigators are coordinating with Cortes’ family, friends, and colleagues for information that could help the probe.

On Thursday morning, Cortes was killed by an unidentified armed man who shot him in front of DYRB Radyo Pilipino station after his radio program, the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) said.

CCPO deputy chief for operations Lieutenant Colonel Wilbert Parilla said Cortes was shot at around 9 a.m. The victim was rushed to the hospital but was declared dead on arrival.

Parilla said the witnesses only heard a gunshot but did not see the perpetrator.

He said the police will request the family of Cortes for an autopsy on the remains of the victim.

In a statement, the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines - Cebu condemned the killing and called for a swift and impartial investigation into the incident.

According to the group, attacks against journalists and media workers keep rising and are being normalized simply for fulfilling their duties as watchdogs of society.

“We further condemn the culture of impunity that emboldens these perpetrators to commit these crimes,” the group said.

“We resist all threats and attempts to silence the media, to gag the fourth estate from bringing truth to power. We recognize that not forwarding truth only emboldens more of these senseless killings.” — Joviland Rita/RSJ, GMA News