MANILA – Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr., acting chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP), on Tuesday ordered a Special Investigation Task Group (SITG) to conduct a thorough investigation into the shooting of a radio reporter in Guinobatan, Albay.
In a statement, Nartatez strongly condemned the shooting of Noel Bellen Samar, 54, a journalist affiliated with Kadunong iTV and DWIZ in Legazpi City.
Nartatez said a pursuit operation was launched to apprehend the gunman, while the SITG “Samar” was also created to focus on case build-up, evidence gathering, and coordination with other law enforcement units to bring the gunman to justice.
“This kind of violence has no place in our society. I have already instructed the Regional Director, PRO (Police Regional Office) 5 (Bicol), to look into all the angles to identify all those behind this attack and arrest them in the soonest possible time,” he said.
Based on the initial investigation, Samar was shot in the chest and abdomen by an unidentified gunman along Maharlika Highway at Purok 3, Barangay Morera in Guinobatan, Albay at about 9:05 a.m. on Monday.
He was rushed to the Bicol Regional Training and Teaching Hospital (BRTTH) in Legazpi City while the assailant immediately fled the scene.
Investigators have already gathered initial evidence and are reviewing CCTV footage to identify the perpetrator.
Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS) Executive Director, Undersecretary Jose Torres Jr., said PTFoMS has deployed a team on the ground to assist investigators and monitor Samar’s condition.
“The climate of fear and intimidation that threatens the lives of our journalists must end. We stand unwaveringly with the media community, and we will do all we can to ensure their safety,” he said.
The National Press Club of the Philippines (NPC) also condemned the "cowardly" shooting, urging the PNP to exhaust all efforts in identifying, tracking down, and arresting the perpetrator at the soonest possible time.
“We call on the government, law enforcement agencies, and our fellow journalists to unite in ensuring that justice is served swiftly. Every attack on a journalist is an attack on press freedom itself,” NPC president Leonel Abasola said in a statement.
Several local media organizations likewise condemned the shooting.
His station, DWIZ Legazpi, said the attack was a direct assault on press freedom.
"This violence was a clear attack not only on him but on the freedom of expression regarding issues that the public has a right to know," it said.
Such attacks on media members pose a threat to a healthy democracy, the Albay Legazpi City Online Broadcasters Association said.
Albay Mainstream Media-Online Organization called for justice, saying such violence has no place in the community.
Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP) Albay urged media members to remain calm and called for the protection and respect for media practitioners.
“We likewise appeal for calm and restraint as we allow due process to take its course, even as we renew our call for greater protection and respect for the media," the KBP said.
