Palace assures probe on shooting of ‘Daily Tribune’ reporter

MANILA, Philippines—Malacañang on Monday assured that the police were now conducting an investigation to determine who was behind the shooting on Sunday night of a Daily Tribune reporter now fighting for his life in the hospital.

“We are deeply shocked and concerned over the shooting of Malacañang Press Corps and Daily Tribune reporter Fernan Angeles,” Edwin Lacierda, President Aquino’s spokesman, said in a statement, assuring that Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo had ordered a “thorough investigation” into the shooting of Angeles.

Angeles was shot near his home in Pasig City by a lone assailant late Sunday night. He sustained at least six bullet wounds from a .45-cal. revolver.

Lacierda said the Palace had contacted Angeles’ wife, Gemma, to offer the family assistance “in their hour of need.”

Lacierda hoped for Angeles’ “speedy recovery.”

In a separate statement, the MPC strongly condemned the attack on Angeles as it asked the government to get to the bottom of the crime.

MPC president Joyce Panares of Standard Today, quoting Gemma, said Angeles knew his attacker and that “he was afraid because someone influential was behind it.”

“We want to know if this is work-related. We are outraged and demand a thorough probe on this dastardly act,” Panares said.

“We hold the Aquino administration to its word that there will be no sacred cows in cases of wrongdoings, and that it gives a primacy to press freedom and protection of media practitioners in the country,” she said.