MALOLOS CITY—A 35-year old media worker here survived an attack from an unknown person on Saturday night, alarming local journalists on the possible hostility on their ranks as the 2010 election nears.
Erwin Bunag, 35, a production assistant of broadcaster Rommel Ramos of DWSS 1494 AM Radio, had just left Ramos’ house in Barangay Bagna here on board his motorbike around 11:15 p.m. when shot on the left arm.
In a telephone interview, Bunag said he was driving slowly and sideswiped another motorbike parked on the side of the road leading to Bulakan town.
“Huminto ako para itayo yung nabuwal na motorbike, pero hindi pa ko nakakababa sa motor ay may pumutok na at naramdaman ko na lang mainit at dumudugo yung braso ko,” he said.
Wounded Bunag went back to Ramos’ house which is some 50 meters away.
Ramos rushed Bunag to the Bulacan Medical Center (BMC) for treatment. He said that when Bunag was shot, he even heard other gunshots.
“Kinabahan na agad ako na baka si Bunag binaril dahil kaaalis lang dito sa amin,” He said.
Responding police officer recovered a spent shell from a caliber .45 pistol from the crime scene and investigated a group having a drinking spree in the front yard of a certain Boy Santos.
The men claimed no knowledge on the incident as they were celebrating the birthday of Santos’ son Don Edward.
They also claimed that they don’t know who owns the motorbike that was sideswiped by Bunag. Police impounded the said motorbike as they continue the investigation.
As this developed, local journalist here expressed alarm on the shooting incident as it reminded them of the warning of the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) in 2007.
Back then, the NUJP national directorate warned fellow journalists on the possibilities of increased in hostility against journalist as elections nears.
“We have to take extra precaution because election is not an ordinary time,” said Rowena Paraan, a director of the NUJP.
The NUJP along with the Freedom Fund for Filipino Journalists (FFFJ) and the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility (CMFR) offered help and services to Bunag, while local journalists here demanded a careful and quick investigation from the police to resolve the case.
Local journalists said that the attack on Bunag was the first on a media worker in Bulacan that resulted in an injury.
Previous attacks on media workers and journalists in the province were limited to threats and legal charges.
Erwin Bunag, 35, a production assistant of broadcaster Rommel Ramos of DWSS 1494 AM Radio, had just left Ramos’ house in Barangay Bagna here on board his motorbike around 11:15 p.m. when shot on the left arm.
In a telephone interview, Bunag said he was driving slowly and sideswiped another motorbike parked on the side of the road leading to Bulakan town.
“Huminto ako para itayo yung nabuwal na motorbike, pero hindi pa ko nakakababa sa motor ay may pumutok na at naramdaman ko na lang mainit at dumudugo yung braso ko,” he said.
Wounded Bunag went back to Ramos’ house which is some 50 meters away.
Ramos rushed Bunag to the Bulacan Medical Center (BMC) for treatment. He said that when Bunag was shot, he even heard other gunshots.
“Kinabahan na agad ako na baka si Bunag binaril dahil kaaalis lang dito sa amin,” He said.
Responding police officer recovered a spent shell from a caliber .45 pistol from the crime scene and investigated a group having a drinking spree in the front yard of a certain Boy Santos.
The men claimed no knowledge on the incident as they were celebrating the birthday of Santos’ son Don Edward.
They also claimed that they don’t know who owns the motorbike that was sideswiped by Bunag. Police impounded the said motorbike as they continue the investigation.
As this developed, local journalist here expressed alarm on the shooting incident as it reminded them of the warning of the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) in 2007.
Back then, the NUJP national directorate warned fellow journalists on the possibilities of increased in hostility against journalist as elections nears.
“We have to take extra precaution because election is not an ordinary time,” said Rowena Paraan, a director of the NUJP.
The NUJP along with the Freedom Fund for Filipino Journalists (FFFJ) and the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility (CMFR) offered help and services to Bunag, while local journalists here demanded a careful and quick investigation from the police to resolve the case.
Local journalists said that the attack on Bunag was the first on a media worker in Bulacan that resulted in an injury.
Previous attacks on media workers and journalists in the province were limited to threats and legal charges.
