Catholic Radio Station Torched in Philippines

Manila – A Roman Catholic Church-run radio station was set on fire in the central Philippines on Wednesday in the latest attack on the press in the country, police said.

No group has claimed responsibility for the destruction of the DZVT radio station on Mindoro island, and there was no evidence communist rebels in the area were involved, regional police chief Superintendent Gregorio Olaguer said.

“No one saw the suspects and reports linking armed communist rebel groups were negative,” he told reporters.

The unknown suspects doused the premises with petrol and set it alight before dawn, Olaguer said.

The station was not known to report on controversial issues that could have earned it enemies, but the authorities were looking into a previous unsuccessful attempt to set fire to the building, he added.

The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines in Manila declined to comment when reached by AFP.

The Philippines is one of the world’s most dangerous places for journalists due to a “culture of impunity” where firearms are common and powerful figures believe they are above the law.

Attacks against the press are common, and in the most infamous incident, 32 journalists were among 57 murdered in the southern Philippines in 2009 allegedly by a powerful clan.

Communist guerrillas are known to attack establishments that refuse to submit to extortion.

Source:  Asia One