Broadcaster survives ambush in Davao del Norte, Palace orders probe
Credit to Author: The Manila Times| Date: Sat, 12 Oct 2019 07:08:00 +0000
AN owner of a radio station in Davao del Norte survived an ambush on Friday morning, a police report said.
Lt. Col. Ariel Acala, Tagum City Police Station (CPS) chief, identified the victim as Peterno Lucero Pacquiao, 54.
Pacquiao, owner of 99.9 RP FM, was on board his white Ford Eco Sport at Purok White Dove Barangay Visaya when an unidentified assailant shot him at 8:06 a.m. He sustained a gunshot wound on the right upper back of his body.
The gunman then fled toward an unknown direction onboard a white Yamaha XTZ motorcycle after the shooting.
Recovered from the crime scene were two fired cartridge cases, one cartridge, and one deformed bullet – all believed to be from a caliber .45.
Pacquiao, who is also a provincial information officer, is undergoing treatment at an undisclosed hospital.
Malacañang, through Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar, condemned the ambush and immediately ordered a “special investigation to build a solid case, and eventually attain justice for Mr. Pacquiao.”
“The PCOO (Presidential Communications Operations Office) condemns any act that threatens the well-being of media practitioners simply for doing their job of informing the public,” said Andanar, co-chairman of the Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS).
The Palace official said they would closely monitor this development, and “are prepared to give necessary legal assistance” to Pacquiao.
“We hope for Mr. Pacquiao’s quick recovery and the speedy resolution of the incident… Our office is dedicated to creating an environment that fosters press freedom and where the media can work free of harm,” Andanar said.
“Moving forward, we in the PTFoMS will ensure the protection of the life, liberty, and security of all media workers in the Philippines,” he added.
The attack on Pacquiao comes after Dennis Denora, publisher of Trends and Times in Panabo City and former contributor of SunStar Davao, was shot dead while on board his vehicle together with his driver in Barangay New Pandan, Panabo City by motorcycle-riding assailants on June 7, 2018. CATHERINE VALENTE, DARWIN PESCO