FOUR masked men armed with guns forced their way into the Abante printing plant in Paranaque City past midnight Monday and set printing machines and supplies on fire.
Two employees were hurt in the attack, according to Abante Managing Editor Fernando Jadulco.
“The management and staff of Abante-Tonite condemn this dastardly attack, the first violent act against our group and its facilities since 1987,” Jadulco said in a statement.
“We will not be cowed by this attempt to strike fear into our reporters, editors, and staff.
Our commitment to hard-hitting journalism remains unshaken,” he added.
Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS) Executive Director Joel Egco denounced the attack and ordered an investigation.
“I will assure you that we will leave no stone unturned in pursuing this case and we will get to the bottom of this,” said Egco, who directed Lt. Col. Eder Collantes, the Task Force Chief of Investigation, to assemble a team of investigators to look into the attack and assist the National Capital Region Police Office in its probe.
“I totally denounce this cowardly act against a respected news organization such as Abante. There is no room for media violence in this administration,” Communications Secretary and PTFoMS co-chairman Martin Andanar said. Andanar writes a column for Abante.
The Paranaque City Fire Station controlled the blaze at 2:06 a.m. and fire out was declared four minutes later. Damage to property was estimated at P50,000. — Rod Lagusad
