Alleged harassment incident reported in Abante News plant after fire attack
MANILA, Philippines — Abante News Group on Wednesday reported another alleged harassment attempt at its printing plant in Parañaque City.
Abante News Group General Manager Gil Cabacungan said three men aboard a van arrived at their plant around 8 p.m. on Tuesday and introduced themselves as members of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).
https://twitter.com/GilCabacungan/status/1174231409029984256
The men, Cabacungan said, were looking for the plant manager who was absent before asking for the whereabouts of their deputy manager.
“The 3 men asked for our plant manager but he was absent. So they asked for our deputy manager who refused to be brought to Valley 1 or Paranaque City Hall. Our deputy refused. The men did not press the issue and left after 5 mins since our guards blocked their entry,” Cabacungan said on Twitter.
https://twitter.com/GilCabacungan/status/1174231948937613316
Article continues after this advertisementPDEA Public Information Office Chief Derrick Carreon, however, denied sending any of their staff to the printing plant to investigate Abante News.
Article continues after this advertisement“[Abante News] immediately went to the police to put the intimidation incident on blotter but the police refused since there was nobody hurt,” Cabacungan said.
“We pressed our case this morning and the police agreed to put it on blotter this pm (afternoon),” he added.
https://twitter.com/GilCabacungan/status/1174232720672743425
The incident happened merely over a week after four hooded men attacked their printing plant and drenched the printing machines and supplies with gasoline before setting them on fire.
READ: 4 men attack Abante News printing plant in Parañaque City
“[Abante News] will continue to print its brand of news everyday without fail because that is not only our job but our duty as a journalist to our loyal readers. The day we stop running our plant is the day we let the enemies of free press win,” Cabacungan said.
In a separate statement, Abante Managing Editor Fernando Jadulco condemned the incident as he assured that the incident will not stop them from reporting about the truth.
“Mariing kinokondena ng pamunuan ng Abante News Group, ang nangungunang all-Filipino news website at tabloid sa bansa, ang panibagong insidente ng pananakot sa planta ng nasabing pahayagan,” Jadulco said./ac
