ARMM governor orders deeper probe into ambush on ABS-CBN news team
ILIGAN CITY, Philippines – Governor Mujiv Hataman of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) has ordered the police to probe deeper into the ambush on a television news crew in Marawi City on Saturday afternoon.
“We agree that the attack underscores the brazenness of armed groups to target even the media who are only out to do their duty as members of the fourth estate and perform their profession in the name of press freedom,” Hataman said in a statement Saturday night.
“The Marawi Police is ordered to investigate this attack and ensure that the perpetrators are brought to justice,” the ARMM governor added.
Unidentified armed men attacked a news team from the ABS-CBN station in Barangay Banggolo in Marawi City past noontime on Saturday.
Ronnie Enderes, the news team’s reporter, told the Philippine Daily Inquirer by phone that they had just followed up a story on another bomb attack on a power pylon in Barangay Lanao Ramain – also in Marawi City – when they noticed armed men on two motorcycles tailing them.
Enderes said he and his companions – cameraman Emelito Balansag and driver Garry Montecillo – were on their way back to Iligan City when the attack took place. He said Montecillo stepped on the gas pedal in a bid to lose the men but they too sped up.
Enderes said that upon reaching Banggolo, the armed men fired shots at them – hitting the driver’s side of their vehicle.
“None of us was hurt but we could not describe the fear we felt,” he said.
The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines Iligan- Lanao del Norte chapter strongly condemned the attack.
The NUJP also urged the military and the police to take serious action against lawless elements in Marawi City.
Police said they have not hit upon clues on the motives and identities of the perpetrators.
Hataman said the ARMM government “joins those who are calling to end media violence in the country as we stand with journalists and media organizations against these unacceptable attacks.” SFM
