The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) is shocked by the latest violent attack on the media in the Philippines, which involved a Molotov bomb strike on a radio station in the early hours of Tuesday morning.
According to IFJ affiliate, the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP), at around 2am on March 13 a lone motorcycle rider lobbed a Molotov bomb (also known as a petrol bomb) at dxCC radio station in Cagayan de Oro City, before speeding off.
�This is an alarming twist in the targeted violence against the media in the Philippines,� IFJ President Christopher Warren said.
Only the news director, who was preparing for the early morning broadcast, and a guard were in the station at the time of the explosion, which destroyed the station’s L-300 van, and damaged the station�s signboard and staff vehicles. No one was injured.
�Thankfully no one was hurt, however this could have been so much worse,� Warren said.
�Daily life for a journalist in the Philippines continues to be a hazardous business, and the government and authorities must do more to develop a safe environment for media workers,� said the president of the IFJ, the organisation representing more than 500,000 journalists in over 115 countries.
Police reportedly found fragments at the scene which indicated that a homemade Molotov bomb was use, however they have no suspects.
The NUJP reports the perpetrator was riding an XTRM motorcycle with no plate number.
�The IFJ demands a full investigation into the attack,� Warren said.
