Probe sought into strafing of broadcaster's residence

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines —  Another broadcaster was the subject of an attack Wednesday night, when his residence was fired upon by motorcycle-riding men at Carmela Valley Homes in Talisay City, Negros Occidental.

Strafed by the two unidentified attackers was the house of Rey Siason, an anchorman of 104.7 Muews FM, in Talisay City, the police said.

Fortunately, Siason, also a former president of the Negros Press Club, was not in his house at the time of the strafing. But her 16-year-old daughter, who was inside, was traumatized by the incident.

Police probers, who responded to the strafing incident, found two bullet holes at the second floor of Siason’s house, while an empty shell of a .45-caliber pistol was recovered along the subdivision road.

A night before the incident, Bambi Yngson, a colleague of Siason, was almost hit by two unidentified men, who were also riding a motorcycle.

The Negros Press Club (NPC) and the National Union of  Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP)-Negros Occidental chapter, issued separate statements condemning the attack against Siason.

"We called on the authorities to swiftly investigate the incident and bring those responsible to justice," said Marchel Espina, NUJP-Negros Occidental chapter president.

On the other hand, NPC president Renato "Boy" Duran said that, while no one was hurt, "we believe that the act is despicable and an affront to members of the Fourth Estate. It is also an assault against press freedom.”

NPC joined the call for swift resolution of the case. "We are calling on authorities to conduct a thorough investigation and bring the perpetrators to the bar of justice," Duran said.

Last February 16, the colleague of  Siason, Ranie Azue, also an anchorman at the Muews FM, was also a victim of mauling, outside of the radio station in Talisay City.

Ka JB Regalado, spokesman of the Leonardo Command of the New People’s Army, said the rebels also condemned the attacks against Siason and Azue. The police have yet to solve the killing of radio broadcaster Edmund Sestoso in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental, he said.