THE National Press Club of the Philippines (NPC) said the Aquino government’s “utter lack of resolve and sincerity” in stamping out the “culture of impunity” is to be blamed for the grenade attack at a radio station in Bukidnon last Wednesday.
“Even as large sections of the media continues to ‘play favourite’ with Pres. Benigno Aquino III by downplaying many of his policy blunders and shortcomings in governance, the administration, in return, continues to demonstrate utter lack of sincerity in combatting the culture of impunity and protecting the welfare of the media,” NPC president Benny Antiporda said.
Authorities said two motorcycle-riding suspects on Wednesday, June 26, threw a fragmentation grenade at the station of ‘Radyo Abante’ in Maramag that injured one radio utility worker.
They managed to escape while the incident is still “under investigation.”
Antiporda bewailed that with the ‘Ampatuan Massacre’ case that killed 32 journalists in 2009 seemingly headed into a compromise thru the government’s “waning interest” on the case, “the situation of the country’s members of the press can only get worse.”
“The situation of the members of the Philippine press can only get worse if the authorities continue with its ‘laid-back’ attitude in resolving attacks against the media,” Antiporda said.
“Giving justice to the Ampatuan massacre victims is among Pres. Aquino’s campaign pledge in the 2010 elections and now, it is headed for a ‘compromise.’
“As a result, groups and individuals with axe to grind against media practitioners are emboldened knowing the government lacks seriousness in going after them.
“The grenade attack in Bukidnon certainly will not be the last in the remaining years of this administration,” Antiporda warned further.
The post Lack of gov’t resolve to stamp out ‘culture of impunity’ showing in Bukidnon radio station grenade attack – National Press Club appeared first on Remate.