By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

The New People’s Army (NPA) Leonardo Panaligan Command released a statement over the weekend condemning the killing of Dumaguete City-broadcaster Edmund Sestoso last week.

In a statement forwarded by spokesperson Ka JB Regalado, aside from Sestoso, he also condemned the mauling of Panay News writer and Muews FM Talisay broadcaster Ranie Azue earlier this year, stating the incidents are a result of the “Marcos-like Martial Law” and counter-insurgency activities conducted by the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte.

He claimed the administration is trying to control and gag the media by “manipulating and blocking the truth.”

Regalado called on local law enforcement agencies, particularly the Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office (NOrPPO) to “seriously and thoroughly” investigate the incident and bring Sestoso’s killers to justice.

He also stated press freedom and human rights should be respected and demanded an end to media killings and repression.

Sestoso was killed while on his way home last Monday, after concluding his radio program at DZGB FM Dumaguete.

In response to the incident, Dumaguete City Mayor Felipe Antonio Remollo, Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo, and Special Assistant to the President Christopher Lawrence ‘Bong’ Go contributed a bounty offer of P400,000 for the arrest of the suspects.

NOrPPO, meanwhile, was instructed by Go to provide security to Sestoso’s family as they reportedly received threats.

Sestoso was a former Negros Oriental chapter chairman for the National Union of Journalists in the Philippines (NUJP)./DGB, WDJ