Gold Dagal, comedian, shot dead in Pampanga

Jocelyn Cruz, the mother of stand-up comedian Gold Dagal, is mourning the loss of her son, who was shot dead on March 15 in Pampanga. Dagal was known for his humor that tackled serious subjects and often drew criticism for his edgy performances. Cruz believes the people responsible for her son's death are those he offended with his jokes about a particular religious group. She expressed her pain on Facebook, saying a "hired killer" took her son's life. She mentioned that Dagal had received threats from individuals angered by his comedy. Cruz described her son as a good and smart person who always tried to entertain while addressing tough topics. She criticized the attackers, saying they were "cowards" who couldn't defend their beliefs against his humor. The non-profit organization Project Jade honored Dagal and demanded justice for him. They highlighted that he stood against human rights violations through his comedy. Comedian Edward Chico also expressed his sadness over Dagal's death. He noted the challenges comedians face in today's climate of social media and the pressure to censor their views. Chico called for justice while reflecting on the importance of free speech in comedy. He concluded by saying that Dagal would be greatly missed.