COTABATO CITY(July 16) — A veteran technician of a Catholic radio station known for promoting peace and dialogue in conflict-affected Central Mindanao was shot dead in an ambush Tuesday afternoon, July 14, in Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao del Norte, prompting a police investigation into the brazen attack.
Dennis Pido, 56, a senior technician of DXMS Radyo Bida, was riding his motorcycle toward Cotabato City for his evening shift when armed men intercepted him along the Cotabato–Davao Highway in Barangay Limbo and opened fire, according to the Police Regional Office–Bangsamoro Autonomous Region.
Pido died at the scene from multiple gunshot wounds. He was rushed to the Cotabato Sanitarium General Hospital in nearby Barangay Pinaring but was declared dead on arrival.
His attackers fled on a motorcycle and remain at large.
Police spokesperson Capt. Steffie Salanguit said investigators from the Sultan Kudarat Municipal Police Station, together with local officials, are pursuing leads to identify the gunmen and determine the motive behind the killing.
Beyond his work as a broadcast engineer, Pido was widely recognized for supporting the peacebuilding initiatives of DXMS, a Catholic radio station operated by the Oblates of Mary Immaculate that has spent decades promoting peace journalism and interfaith dialogue in Central Mindanao.
DXMS is one of six radio stations under the Notre Dame Broadcasting Corporation, a media network long known for conflict-sensitive reporting and programs that foster understanding among Christian, Muslim, and Indigenous communities.
Friends and colleagues also remembered Pido for quietly serving his community outside the newsroom. A resident of Barangay Manuangan in Pigcawayan, Cotabato, he was known for repairing broken radio sets free of charge for neighbors and friends, helping many families stay connected to news and public information.
His death has shocked colleagues and residents who knew him not only as a skilled technician but also as a man committed to community service and peace.
Authorities said the investigation remains ongoing as police work to identify and arrest those responsible for the attack.
