Gunmen attack, try to burn North Cotabato radio station

COTABATO CITY—Unidentified men attacked and tried but failed to set fire to a community radio station inside the state-run University of Southern Mindanao in Kabacan, North Cotabato, on Tuesday, according to police yesterday.

Supt. Joseph Semillano, Kabacan police chief, said the armed men lit a tarpaulin hanging at the back of the station past 4 a.m. after firing shots.

Semillano said the guard on duty later noticed smoke billowing from the transmitter room and alerted the Bureau of Fire Protection.

Malu Manar, of the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) in North Cotabato, said police found a bullet slug in the announcer’s booth in the station.

Quoting witnesses, Manar said gunfire was heard past 1 a.m., about four hours before the attempted arson.

Rhoderick Beñez, dxVL Radyo ng Bayan news chief, said radio station officials have not received any threats prior to the attack.

But Beñez said the station’s reporters and anchors had been airing commentaries and reports on illegal drugs and logging.

“The attempted arson could have something to do with controversial issues discussed over the radio station,” Semillano said.

In General Santos City, the NUJP urged Sarangani Rep. Manny Pacquiao to surrender William Bael, one of his former security escorts, who was tagged in the 2004 murder of broadcaster Jonathan Abayon.

“We would like to remind the congressman that he is still morally obliged to effect the surrender of William Bael,” said Edwin Espejo of NUJP in General Santos. Charlie Señase, Edwin Fernandez and Aquiles Zonio, Inquirer Mindanao