Press Release
March 6, 2009

Villar condemns shooting of CDO broadcaster

Nacionalista Party President Sen. Manny Villar today condemned the shooting of a broadcaster in Cagayan de Oro City and urged authorities to act swiftly and resolve the latest attack on another member of the press.

Nilo Labares, anchor of DXCC-Radio Mindanao Network was ambushed Thursday night by unidentified men in a motorcycle. Labares sustained two gunshot wounds in the body. He was rushed to the Maria Reyna Hospital where he was in critical condition.

"The rising number of cases of assaults against members of the press is alarming. We cannot afford to let this case go down as another unresolved case and send the signal that media practitioners are easy targets of attack in this country," Villar said, adding that Dennis Cuesta of DXMD-RMN General Santos City was ambushed and killed last year.

Villar said violent attack against members of the press is an affront on the Constitutional right to free speech and reflects the deplorable condition of journalists and the state of human rights in the country today. Labares is known for tackling commentaries on the issue of illegal gambling and "video karera" operation in Cagayan de Oro City. "We join the family and colleagues of Labares in praying for his speedy recovery and the immediate arrest of those responsible for this gruesome attack," he said.

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