Armed men wreck Surigao radio station’s equipment

TANDAG, Surigao del Sur — At least three men wearing ski masks and brandishing caliber .45 pistols and an Armalite rifle, raided a local radio station owned and operated by the Manila Broadcasting Co. and destroyed all its equipment before dawn yesterday, police said.

Not contented, the masked men even poured muriatic acid on all equipment of dxRM Radyo Natin located on the third floor of the Fely Mart building here.

Investigation showed the armed men walked up unnoticed to the radio station and once inside, tied up anchorman Aguinaldo Jaluag, reporter Exiquel Cacafranca and technician John Calamba.

They then proceeded to destroy the station’s equipment, hammering them with blunt instruments, and then sprayed muriatic acid all over the place, including on CDs and tapes.

One of the building’s occupants, alarmed by the commotion at the radio station, called up the police. But the armed men had already fled when the lawmen arrived.

The radio station has been airing a hard-hitting daily morning program hosted by former provincial board member Mario Lumanao and Joebert Gilvosa.

Manny Lumanao, president of the Surigao del Sur Radio and Press Club, expressed suspicions that dxRM Radyo Natin might have earned the ire of certain government officials.

Lumanao appealed to media groups like the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas, the National Press Club and the Federation of Provincial Press Clubs to seek protection for local newsmen who, he said, face real danger.

Caraga police deputy director for administration Reinerio Camins gave assurance that probers "will leave no stone unturned in this latest attempt to suppress press freedom and the right to information by the public."

Recently, dxRM manager Ar—vin Malaza survived an attack by two unidentified gunmen. He sustained three gunshot wounds.