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Bu-lat-lat (boo-lat-lat) verb: to search, probe, investigate, inquire; to unearth facts Volume 2, Number 40 November 10 - 16, 2002 Quezon City, Philippines |
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Bu-lat-lat (boo-lat-lat) verb: to search, probe, investigate, inquire; to unearth facts Volume 2, Number 40 November 10 - 16, 2002 Quezon City, Philippines |
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NUJP, COBRA-ANS Condemn Attack on TV Crew The
National Union of Journalists in the Philippines (NUJP) and the COBRA-ANS
denounced the attack last week on a crew of the ABS-CBN News Channel (ANC) by
alleged goons of a landowner in Hacienda Malaga-Velez, in La Castellana town,
central Negros. By
Karl G. Ombion The National Union of Journalists in the Philippines (NUJP) and the COBRA-ANS denounced the attack last week on a crew of the ABS-CBN News Channel (ANC) by alleged goons of a landowner in Hacienda Malaga-Velez, in La Castellana town, central Negros. The
ANC crew led by Joel Saracho was in the hacienda to document agrarian reform
issues when it was attacked by the goons allegedly employed by landowner Bob
Cuenca. Aside from the journalists, farmers were also attacked. Injured
in the attack was Edmund Lasala, 29, of Tanay, Rizal, and an employee of ANC
since 1995. He
and four other ANC crewmen including Saracho had accompanied a group of farmers
from the Task Force Mapalad inside the hacienda when the attack occurred. Lasala
positioned himself at the back of the farmers' group holding his camera when he
was struck in the back with bamboo sticks. When he turned around, he saw about
15 men armed with sticks. Lasala
remonstrated, saying that he was a media man; he also showed his press card. But
he failed to convince the mob, which was already whipped up into frenzy by their
leaders. The men then took turns hitting him in the back and head with the
sticks. He tried to protect his camera but he slipped and fell to the ground. He suffered a wound on his hand, contusions on the head and bruises on his arms. Although
he managed to escape the mob, Lasala lost his camera. Two
policemen who arrived were not able to pacify the mob. A
local ABS-CBN crew later proceeded to La Castellana to retrieve Lasala's camera
after a police mobile force group sent by PNP Provincial chief Sr. Supt. Vic
Ponteras was sent to the hacienda. NUJP
and COBRA-ANS viewed this latest incident as not only a criminal assault against
a group of journalists who were only doing their job of covering and documenting
events but an assault against press freedom and the people's right to know, said
Edgar Cadagat, NUJP National chairman. This is the third such incident in Negros
in a month. NUJP called upon police authorities to arrest the men who assaulted the ANC crew after charges are filed against them, Cadagat said. NUJP and COBRA-ANS also called on their colleagues in the media nationwide to denounce the attack. Bulatlat.com We want to know what you think of this article.
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