This photo shows the damage caused by the fire that struck Abante News Group’s printing plant in Parañaque City in the wee hours of Monday, Sept. 9, 2019. Four hooded men broke into the printing plant between 1 a.m. and 2 a.m., poured gasoline to printing machines and supplies before setting them on fire, according to Abante managing editor Fernando Jadulco. (Photo from Abante)
MANILA, Philippines — Two senators on Tuesday condemned what they called an attack on press freedom after printing machines and supplies at the Abante News Group’s printing plant in Parañaque City were set on fire by four hooded man early Monday.
READ: 4 men attack Abante News printing plant in Parañaque City
“Maliwanag na gawain ng mga kriminal ang panununog sa warehouse ng pahayagang Abante. Ito ay tahasang pag-atake at tangkang pagbusal sa kalayaan sa pamamahayag,” Senator Francis Pangilinan said in a statement.
“Mariin nating kinukundena ang lahat ng paraan ng panggigipit sa media,” he added.
For his part, Senate Pro Tempore Ralph Recto said any attempt to suppress and intimidate the press never succeeds.
“Ang pagsunog sa imprenta ng Abante ay kagagawan ng mga duwag at takot sa katotohanan. Ito ay pakana ng mga taong nangangamba na ang madilim nilang mga gawain ay mabibisto ng liwanag ng sulo ng malayang pamamahayag,” Recto said.
Both senators then urged authorities to investigate the case and called for its swift resolution.
“Anumang atake sa mga mamamayahag, saan man ito sa Pilipinas, ay dapat mabilis na maparusahan, sapagkat kung hindi, ito ay nagpapalakas loob lamang sa mga kaaway ng katotohanan na ituloy ang kanilang maitim na balak,” Recto said
“Mali ang kanilang akala na kapag naabo ang palimbagan ay makikitil na rin ang ilaw ng katotohanan,” he added.
Senator Grace Poe, who formerly chaired the Senate Committee on Public Information and Mass Media, also earlier called for a probe into the arson attack. /muf
READ: Poe seeks probe into attack at Abante printing plant