Mariing Kinondena ngayon ng ilang mga mamamahayag at maging ng mga kasapi ng National Union Journalist of the Philippines ang tangkang panununog sa himpilan ng DXVL Radyo ng Bayan sa Kabacan, North Cotabato.
Sa pahayag na ipinadala ng National Union Journalist of the Philippines (NUJP), kinokondena ng mga ito ang tangkang pagsunog sa radio station na pinapatakbo ng University of Southern Mindanao (USM). Ayon sa NUJP, inalerto na nila ang mga local stations habang nakatakda namang magpalabas ng pahayag ang NUJP-Kidapawan sa nangyaring insidente.
Napag-alaman na bago pa man nangyari ang masamang plano ng mga suspek, pinaputukan pa ng baril ang nasabing istasyon na tumagos ang bala sa live studio at tumama sa pintuan.
Masuwerte naman na walang sugatan o nasirang mga radio equipment sa nasabing radio station maliban na lamang sa bahagi ng pader na nasunog.
Sa ngayon, malalimang imbestigasyon ang ginagawa ng mga otoridad sa pangyayari.
NATIONAL UNION OF JOURNALISTS OF THE PHILIPPINES
Jan. 10, 2012
ALERT
Attempted arson on North Cotabato school radio station
Still unidentified men attempted to burn down the radio station of a state university in Kabacan town, North Cotabato province early Tuesday morning.
Three hours before the attempt to burn down dxVL Radyo ng Bayan 94.9 FM, operated by the University of Southern Mindanao (USM), a shot was also fired at the station.
A report on the incident posted on the station's blog said a tarpaulin sign at the back of the station was set on fire around 4:30 a.m. However, the guard on duty noticed smoke coming from the transmitter room and immediately called the local Bureau of Fire Protection.
Images from the blog (http://dxvl949.blogspot.com/2012/01/written-by-rhoderick-benez-update-sa.html) showed a portion of the wall located near the announcer’s booth blackened by fire.
At 1:40 a.m., a security guard of the nearby university hospital heard a gunshot coming from the side of dxVL. Police later recovered a slug of unknown caliber form door of the station's studio.
Rhoderick Beñez, dxVL news and information assistant, told NUJP they do not have any possible suspects in mind. The station has been discussing issues such as illegal logging, but he said, “So far, wala naman po kaming natatanggap na threat (we have not received any threat).”
Beñez added there had been no prior attempts to set the station on fire. However, in December 2011, a USM-owned vehicle exploded at the university carpool located near the station.
Reference:
Rowena C. Paraan
Executive Coordinator
NUJP-IFJ Media Safety Office