NPA joins press groups condemning assault of mediaman

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — The Leonardo Panaligan Command of the New People’s Army joined two press organizations in condemning the assault of local radio station anchorman Ranie Azue on Friday last week in Talisay City, Negros Occidental.

Azue, also former Negros Press Club (NPC) president, claimed that he was assaulted by a certain Nino Alcala, while he was fixing the mechanical trouble of his motorcycle in front of Vaflor Building, where 104.7 FM Muews Radio holds office in Talisay City.

Azue, an anchorman of Muews Radio, claimed that Alcala is a blogger of a politician in Talisay City. Alcala, in a television interview, however claimed that what had happened was a fistfight between him and Azue, who had lambasted him over the radio.

The NPC and National Union of Journalist in the Philippines-Bacolod chapter condemned the mauling of Azue. “This violent act, we believe, is a form of ‘attack’ on journalists whose primary job is to serve as watchdogs of the society,” NPC president Renato Duran said in a public statement.

Duran and Marchel Espina, NUJP-Bacolod head, then called on authorities to conduct a thorough investigation on the incident.

On the other hand, Ka JB Regalado, spokesperson of the NPA’s Leonardo Panaligan Command, also issued a statement condemning the mauling of Azue, saying it was a form of media repression. (FREEMAN)