Radio news anchor stabbed to death in Lanao del Norte

A Lanao del Norte-based radio news anchor was found dead inside her home with multiple stab wounds on Thursday morning.

Police identified the victim as Audrey Gaid Estrada, a 59-year-old widow and a radio news anchor for 101.3 Grace Covenant FM in Bacolod.

Estrada's body was found by a motorcycle shop owner who went to her residence, according to Police Lieutenant Colonel Salman Saad of Lanao del Norte Police.

The shop owner, identified as Cis Cabalida, 59, then went to his sister, Denifer Dano, to inform her of what he saw. It was Dano who reported the incident to the police.

Police brought Estrada to the nearest hospital but the victim, who sustained 15 stab wounds, was declared dead on arrival.

Police are conducting an investigation to identify the suspect and determine the motive for the killing.

Meanwhile, the Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS) said it "strongly condemns" the killing and has asked the concerned law enforcement agencies to conduct a "swift and thorough" investigation.

"We send our deepest condolences to the family, loved ones, and colleagues of Ms. Estrada," said PTFoMS executive director Jose Joel Sy Egco in a statement on Friday.

"Rest assured that this government will not rest until the perpetrator of this heinous crime is brought to justice."

The task force said the local government of Bacolod is offering a reward to anybody who can give information that will lead to the arrest of the suspect.

Based on evidence collected so far, Police Lieutenant Colonel Michelle Olaivar of Police Regional Office (PRO) 10 public information office believes the killing was not related to the victim's work as a radio announcer, according to Egco. —Merlyn Manos/KBK, GMA News