Group slams ambush of radioman

DAVAO CITY –– A media organization has condemned the ambush last Friday of Tagum City-based radio commentator Paterno Lucero Pacquiao.

In a statement, the Mindanao Independent Press Council (MIPC) said “harming any member of the press for any adverse commentary is a dastardly act not worthy of a civilized society.”

“Should any member of the media profession go out of bounds in his or her commentary, the legal remedies remain the best option to exact accountability,” the group explained.

Lucero, provincial information officer of Davao del Norte, owns and manages radio RP-FM Ang Radyo ng Masa, where he also maintains a commentary program.

Lucero was driving home from a program around 8 a.m. on Friday when the attack happened.

The MIPC has noted that Lucero recalled to media colleagues that “he had commented on several hot-button issues in his radio program before the incident.”

“We cannot, therefore, rule out the possibility that the attack may have been related to his radio commentary,” it said.

“We also would like to remind our colleagues in the media that freedom of expression has its limits, and there is no substitute for fair, objective commentary,” the group added./lzb