CMFR update on the radio station that was burned down

Here's the report from the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility on the recent burning incident of a community radio station in Cagayan.

Radio station burned down -- CMFR

A community radio station was burned down by unidentified men before dawn Sunday (02 July) in Baggao town of Cagayan province, more than 320 kilometers north of Manila.

Radyo Cagayano, operated by political group Bayan Muna (Nation First), was razed to the ground Sunday after eight armed men wearing ski masks forcibly entered the station carrying bottles of gasolines.

According to Cagayan police chief James Andres Melad, the arsonists went to the dwRC Radyo Cagayano at about 2 a.m. and set the station’s transmitter and broadcast booth on fire.

Melad said the attackers also took the cell phones of the six staff members, before tying and blindfolding them. The crew suffered minor bruises.

Radyo Cagayano, which was put up jointly by the local government and Bayan Muna, had been critical of the alleged corruption by military personnel based in Cagayan.

Local groups denounced the attack, blaming the military for the said incident. The military denied that it had a hand in the attack.

For updates about this case and other press freedom violations (aside from this blog), visit CMFR's website (http://www.cmfr-phil.org) and blog (http://www.cmfr-phil.blogspot.com). You can also join CMFR's news e-group for updates.