18 Addressing Inequality During the Pandemic and the Anti-Terrorism Act, which posed legitimate threats to freedoms of speech and expression, particularly in articulating political sentiments or dissent. This is an overt way of silencing criticisms toward government actions, or rather, inaction, in matters affecting public interest.61 81 Renante Cortes, a Cebu radio commentator, was shot and killed in front of the radio station where he worked on 22 July 2021. Cortes was shot by an unidentified person aboard a motorcycle after leaving DyRB station at around 9 A.M. and the Mambaling Police Station commander Major Dindo Alaras said they are looking into Cortes’ job as a commentator and his past personal conflicts as possible motives for the killing.62 CHR spokesperson, Atty. Jacqueline Ann de Guia, said in a statement dated 27 July 2021 that their counterpart in Central Visayas, the CHR-7, has started probing Cortes’ case.63 82 In a news article published by the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ) dated 03 May 2021, State agents were linked to more than half of the total 223 cases of attacks and threats against members of the Philippine media since President Rodrigo Duterte assumed office in 2016. Based on the consolidated data from the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility (CMFR) and the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP), State agents were the alleged perpetrators in 114 cases. The police and the military were linked to a combined 42 cases. Local government officials were linked to 38 cases, while national government officials were linked to 34 cases. 61 Commission on Human Rights. (2021). Statement of CHR Spokesperson, Atty Jacqueline Ann de Guia, on the worsening state of press freedom in the country. Retrieved from https://chr.gov.ph/statement-of-chr-spokesperson-atty-jacquelineann-de-guia-on-the-worsening-state-of-press-freedom-in-the-country/ 62 Ecarma, L. (2021). Cebu radio commentator shot dead after airing show. Retrieved from https://www.rappler.com/ nation/visayas/cebu-radio-commentator-shot-after-airing-show 63 Commission on Human Rights. (2021). Statement of CHR Spokesperson, Atty Jacqueline Ann de Guia, on the recent slay of a Radio Commentator in Cebu. https://chr.gov.ph/statement-of-chr-spokesperson-atty-jacqueline-ann-de-guiaon-the-recent-slay-of-a-radio-commentator-in-cebu/