A blocktime radio program host in Iloilo City was mauled by four unkown men after his program on Friday morning, Oct. 7.
The incident, according to the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP-Iloilo Chapter), happened outside the DYRI RMN Iloilo station in La Paz district.
“Hervias had just exited the building where the radio station is located when the men who were wearing hoodies stopped him before beating him up,” NUJP-Iloilo Chapter said in a statement.
“They were apparently waiting for the broadcaster to come down from the building and pretended to be garbage collectors,” it added.
Hervias, who hosts the program ‘Banwa Binag-binaga’, sustained injuries in his mouth and near his eyes.
NUJP-Iloilo Chapter condemned the daylight attack, which came just three days after veteran radio broadcaster Percival “Percy” Mabasa was gunned down in Metro Manila.
“[It] shows how assaults against Filipino media workers have become more brazen.”
The group called on the Philippine National Police (PNP) to act on its assurance of protecting journalists and upholding the freedom of the press by swiftly and decisively apprehending the assailants and all others involved and filing the appropriate charges.
“We call on colleagues to continue to stand together in defending the freedom of the press and standing by our sworn duty to hold power to account,” it added.
City Mayor Jerry Treñas also condemned in the strongest possible term the incident.
“This kind of attack has no place in a civilized society specially in a highly urbanized city like Iloilo City. Persons who perpetuate these kinds of actions should be condemned by all,” he said in a statement.
“I call on our PNP to immediately hunt down these perpetrators and bring them to the answer for their acts to justice,” the mayor added.IMT
Photo by DYRI RMN-Iloilo
