ILOILO City – Minutes after wrapping up his radio program on Friday morning, veteran broadcaster and radio blocktime host Flo Hervias was attacked by three masked men in front of the station of DYRI Radio Mindanao Network (RMN) Iloilo in La Paz district here.
As Hervias was exiting the building where the radio station was located, three men wearing hoodies stopped him then beat him up.
The men were apparently waiting for the broadcaster. They pretended to be garbage collectors.
Hervias sustained cuts on his nose, eyebrows and lips.
“Maayo gani may helmet ‘ko kag wala gid ako natam-an,” Hervias told Panay News.
Hervias was with his program “Banwa Binag-binaga” co-host Roy Cejar exiting the building.
“Ginlagas nila si Roy pero wala nila naabtan kag dali-dali sila nalagyo,” said Hervias.
The attack came just three days after veteran radio broadcaster Percival “Percy Lapid” Mabasa was gunned down in Metro Manila.
Hervias believed the attack had something to do with an issue he discussed in his program – the repair of public markets in the city, specifically the Mandurriao public market.
“I asked…kun naka-undergo sa insakto nga proseso ang bidding. We are only asking,” he said.
The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) Iloilo chapter condemned the attack.
“The daylight attack against Hervias, right in front of the radio station, shows how assaults against Filipino media workers have become more brazen,” the NUJP statement read.
The group also called on the Philippine National Police (PNP) to protect journalists and uphold freedom of the press by swiftly apprehending the assailants and filing the appropriate charges.
“We call on colleagues to continue to stand together in defending the freedom of the press and standing by our sworn duty to hold power to account,” the NUJP further said.
Iloilo City’s Mayor Jerry P. Treñas also condemned the attack against Hervias.
“This has no place in a civilized society, especially in a highly urbanized city like Iloilo City. Persons who perpetuate these kinds of actions should be condemned by all. I call on our PNP to immediately hunt down these perpetrators and bring them to the answer for their acts to justice,” Treñas said.
The Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO) vowed to thoroughly investigate the incident.
According to ICPO director, Police Colonel Leo T. Batiles, they do not tolerate these acts.
Moreover, the ICPO ensured the protection of Hervias and other media personalities at all times.
In a separate statement released yesterday afternoon, Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6) director, Police Brigadier General Leo Francisco ordered the La Paz PNP to conduct an in-depth investigation “and file the necessary criminal charges in court.”
“Tulong-tulong po tayo tungo sa mapayapa at maunlad na Western Visayas. Ipagbigay alam po ninyo sa pinakamalapit na police station kung may impormasyon kayo na makakatulong sa pag-solve sa insidenteng ito,” said Francisco./PN
