BUTUAN CITY(December 10) — The Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP) in Butuan City has condemned the killing of Gerry Campos, a broadcaster-turned-councilor in Marihatag, Surigao del Sur, amid calls for authorities to move beyond a quick arrest and establish whether his work or public role made him a target.
Campos was stabbed to death early Saturday while walking near a gasoline station in Barangay Sta. Cruz. Police arrested the 42-year-old suspect in a same-day pursuit, but investigators have yet to determine the motive — a gap that press groups say must be resolved to ensure the case does not join a long list of attacks with unresolved or unclear circumstances.
“The investigation must be swift and uncompromised,” the KBP Butuan chapter said, calling his killing a blow to both the media community and the public he served. Despite winning a municipal council seat this year, Campos remained widely known for his years in broadcasting, including key posts at Radio Mindanao Network–Butuan and Radyo Serbato.
Media safety advocates note that even former broadcasters retain public visibility that can expose them to risks tied to past journalism work, local politics, or community disputes — all potential angles investigators must scrutinize.
Radyo Serbato, where Campos once served as station manager, mourned his death, saying his leadership and service “left a legacy we will always remember.”
While the arrest offers an early breakthrough, rights groups stress that justice hinges on determining the motive, ensuring due process, and addressing structural failures that leave journalists and public figures vulnerable to targeted violence.
