Following the recent death of DZGB-FM Dumaguete broadcaster Edmund Sestoso, who succumbed to three gunshot wounds after being shot by unidentified gunmen earlier this week, the Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS) released a statement officially declaring the incident a “media killing.”

A sub-group, called the Special Investigation Task Group Sestoso (SITG Sestoso), has since been established. In addition, PTFoMS officials are expected to visit Dumaguete City to meet with the family of the deceased.

The group also called on local media to practice vigilance, particularly with the upcoming May 14 barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections approaching.

According to the release, Sestoso was a personal friend of Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar.

Sestoso was also a former National Union of Journalists in the Philippines chapter chairman in Negros Oriental./WDJ