‘Analysis’ anchor survives slay attempt

JIMENEZ,MisOc- An unidentified assailant lobbed a grenade at the house of a local TV journalist Sunday night, injuring one person.

Analysis anchor of Misamis Cable channel 6 Danny Pilar was feeding his chickens at the back of his house when the blast tore through his house on Barangay Tabo-o at around 7 p.m., December 20.

Pilar's father-in-law was injured in the blast and was immediately rushed to Medina General Hospital in Ozamiz City.

The blast also blew out the windows of the Pilar family's house.

In an interview over dxDD-AM, Pilar said he did not receive a death threat before the attack and he believes the attack seems to be related to his work as a TV journalist.

Pilar also believed the attack is politically motivated.

“Nagtuo ko nga adunay kalabutan sa politika ang nahitabo nako. Kay kana man gud ako programa magtuki man sa mga isyu may labot sa mga nahimo sa mga opisyal pero wala man sad ko nuon mamira,” Pilar added.

Sources said Pilar was doing research on a politician and that person may have been tipped off about Danny's inquiries.

The NUJP-Ozamiz City chapter released a statement expresses views with concern over the attack of a fellow journalist.

“Bisan paman nga ang usa ka halalom nga imbestigasyon ang kamulo’ng gipahigayon kalabot niini, among gipasalamatan ang Philippine National Police (PNP), ilalom sa liderato ni Supt. Leonilo Cabug, provincial director sa Misamis Occidental, sa paspas nga pagresponde sa panghitabo. Hinaut nga masustenir kining paningkamot sa pagsulbad sa kaso aron makaangkon og hingpit nga hustisya si Danny Pilar,” Ryan Rosauro, NUJP chapter president said in a statement.

The NUJP urge the politician in Misamis Occidental to assure to the public not to use violence to pursue a political interest.

“Tungod niini, among gihangyo nga unta malinawon nga pamaagi ang ipatuman sa mga pulitiko subay sa ilang personal nga interes nga maagni ang katawhan sa pagdapig sa ilang tagsa-tagsa ka kandidatura,” Rosauro added.

The New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists earlier identified the Philippines as the deadliest nation in the world for journalists after registering 34 media deaths for this year alone. At least 31 Philippine journalists were killed in the November 23 massacre in Ampatuan, Maguindanao, which is the worst election-related killing in the country's history.

"The killings in the Philippines are a shocking but not entirely surprising product of a long-term reality: The government has allowed unpunished violence against journalists, most of it politically motivated, to become part of the culture," CPJ Asia program coordinator Bob Dietz said in a statement.