Military offers protection for wounded radio anchor

CAGAYAN de Oro City – The military has offered protection for dxIF radio anchor Michael James Licuanan, who was wounded in an ambush here last week, amid reports that his assailants wanted him dead.

Maj. Eugenio Julio Osias IV, spokesperson for the Army’s 4th Infantry Division (ID) said they are willing to have Licuanan confined at a medical facility inside the Camp Edilberto Evangelista in Barangay Patag here until he is fully recovered.

Osias said the radio anchor would be safe and secure inside the 4th ID camp.

The Army’s offer was in reaction to a report that one of the suspects in the ambush of Licuanan went to the dxIF-Bombo Radyo station in Corrales Avenue Saturday night and asked in which hospital the victim was confined.

Senior Inspector Elmer Robas said the radio station’s security guard was able to identify the suspect, who was one of the two men at the dxIF, hours before Licuanan was shot.

Meanwhile, various media groups and civil society organizations are set to hold an indignation rally today in front of the Press Freedom Monument here to demand for the early resolution of the shooting of Licuanan.

The Cagayan de Oro Press Club and this city’s local chapter of the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines will issue a manifesto calling on Chief Superintendent Jufel Adriatico, director of the Philippine National Police in Region 10 to solve the case within 30 days.