(CMFR/IFEX) – On 22 May 2002, Radyo Natin, a radio station in Bangaga, Davao Oriental, in Southern Philippines, was set on fire by unidentified men. The exact time of the fire has not been confirmed. One report said the incident occurred at around 2:00 a.m. (local time) on 22 May, while another said that the […]
(CMFR/IFEX) – On 22 May 2002, Radyo Natin, a radio station in Bangaga, Davao Oriental, in Southern Philippines, was set on fire by unidentified men.
The exact time of the fire has not been confirmed. One report said the incident occurred at around 2:00 a.m. (local time) on 22 May, while another said that the fire occurred in the evening on 22 May.
The Davao Oriental police director, Superintendent Catalino Cuy, was quoted in a report as saying that the unidentified men threw a Molotov cocktail at the radio station.
According to a newspaper report, about 1 million pesos (approx. US$20,100) worth of property and equipment from the Manila Broadcasting Station Radyo Natin were destroyed.
The police are still investigating the incident.
According to Cuy, it is possible that communist rebels were involved in the attack. On the other hand, one report stated that some municipality officials could be behind the fire since the station had been criticising Baganga town mayor Jerry Morales. In 2001, Morales ordered the radio station be closed for six months.
