The Presidential Task Force on Media Security strongly condemns the killing of a radio broadcaster based in Mabinay, Negros Oriental who was stabbed to death at Barangay Himocdongan on Sunday night.

The PTFOMS has extended its condolences to the family of radio broadcaster Renato Blanco of POWER 102.1 DYRY RFM and assured that justice will be served against the perpetrator.

Initial report from the PNP coursed through P/Brig. Gen. Roderick Augustus Alba, Chief Media Security Vanguard and Police Regional Office 7 Vanguard P/LT. Col. Maria Aurora Rayos revealed that Blanco was killed by a certain Charles Yanoc Amada, who stabbed the victim using a 10-inch knife in the "right clavicle area."

Blanco was rushed to a nearby hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival, while the suspect is currently detained at the Mabinay Police Station.

The PTFOMS hailed PNP probers for its swift action on the incident and for immediately arresting the suspect. The PNP is one of the agencies that comprise the Presidential task force.

Veteran journalist Joel Sy Egco, who served as Executive Director of PTFOMS from 2016, previously explained that the designation of high-ranking PNP officials as Media Security Vanguards was one of the task force's many "proactive" initiatives to ensure the safety of media workers, especially during the last national and local elections. As a result, no media worker was harmed last election day.