(CMFR/IFEX) – At least three armed men broke into a local radio station in Surigao del Sur, southern Philippines, and destroyed all its equipment before dawn on 14 March 2003, the Manila newspaper “Philippine Star” reported on 15 March. Wearing ski masks and armed with pistols and an M-16 rifle, the men arrived at the […]
(CMFR/IFEX) – At least three armed men broke into a local radio station in Surigao del Sur, southern Philippines, and destroyed all its equipment before dawn on 14 March 2003, the Manila newspaper “Philippine Star” reported on 15 March.
Wearing ski masks and armed with pistols and an M-16 rifle, the men arrived at the station, dxRM Radyo Natin (Our Radio), unobserved. They tied up three station employees, including an anchorman and reporter. Afterwards, they destroyed the station’s equipment and sprayed hydrochloric acid on it.
The men were already gone when the police arrived.
The “Star” quoted Surigao del Sur Radio and Press Club President Manny Lumanao as saying that the station might have angered certain government officials because of its critical programmes.
The paper also said it was only recently that dxRM manager Arvin Malaza “survived an attack by two unidentified gunmen, …(sustaining) three gunshot wounds.” More details on the incident are unavailable at this time.
Lumanao was quoted by the “Star” as appealing to media groups to help local newsmen who “face real danger.”
