Gunmen shot and killed a radio technician for a Cotabato-based broadcasting station Tuesday afternoon in a daylight ambush along the national highway in Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao del Norte, police said.
The police identified the victim as Dennis Daborbor Pido, 56, a longtime radio technician for DXMS Radyo Bida of the Notre Dame Broadcasting Corporation (NDBC). He is a resident of Pigcawayan, Cotabato.
Unidentified men riding another motorcycle followed Pido, who was on his way to work between 3 p.m. and 3:40 p.m. aboard a Honda CRF 300, according to an initial police investigation.
Investigators said the gunmen pulled alongside Pido and opened fire multiple times before fleeing in an unknown direction.
Responders took Pido to a nearby hospital, but he later died from three gunshot wounds, police said.
Crime scene investigators recovered four spent cartridge cases and one fired bullet.
Police have launched a hot pursuit operation to identify and arrest the suspects. Authorities said they are also investigating the motive behind the killing.
In a statement, NDBC condemned the attack and expressed grief over the death of one of its longtime employees.
“Dennis was a dedicated radio technician whose work behind the scenes ensured that our mission of delivering information and public service continued without interruption,” the network said.
NDBC described Pido as a valued colleague whose commitment to public service left a lasting impact on the organization.
The broadcaster urged the local government, the Philippine National Police and other authorities to conduct a swift, impartial and thorough investigation, identify those responsible and hold them accountable under the law.
The network also appealed to anyone with information about the shooting to cooperate with investigators and called on media organizations, civil society groups and community leaders to reject violence and uphold peace and justice.
“Justice for Dennis Pido. Let the truth prevail, and let justice be done,” the statement said.
The killing adds to concerns over attacks involving firearms in parts of Mindanao and highlights ongoing security risks faced by workers in the media sector, including technical personnel who support broadcast operations behind the scenes. Police have not linked Pidoโs work to the attack.
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