A journalist’s van was set on fire in Sagay, Camiguin, at around 2 a.m. on Saturday, just two days before the midterm elections, according to a statement from the Cagayan de Oro Press Club.
The van belongs to former COPC president Manuel Jaudian. He said he and fire officials “found a plastic container and a makeshift torch for ignition, emitting flammable vapor/odor.”
Jaudian, also known for hosting a podcast on the Mindanao Daily News based in Cagayan de Oro, has his van clearly marked as a media vehicle.
The current COPC president, Froilan Gallardo, has informed the Philippine National Police Region 10 and Malacañang about the incident via the Presidential Task Force on Media Security.
“This act of terrorism will not cow us against the free press. We shall continue to do our duty in informing the people and our mandate as the fourth estate,” Gallardo said.
Gallardo urged all reporters in Camiguin to exercise extra caution while covering the elections.
In another statement, the Cagayan de Oro chapter of the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines highlighted that Jaudian had been “discussing the impacts of political dynasties and vote-buying, among others” on his show.
“This incident only shows that harassment against the media, which is one of the country’s most documented press freedom violations, has been continuing,” it also said.
The Philippines improved to 116th in the World Press Freedom Index released this month. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) noted a decrease in both the frequency and violence of attacks against journalists under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
However, Arthur Rochereau, advocacy officer for RSF’s Asia-Pacific Bureau, pointed out that despite the positive shift in the index, the Philippine press still faces significant challenges.
“The Philippines is the deadliest country for journalists in Asia Pacific with almost 200 journalists killed in the last 40 years,” Rochereau stated.
In response to the persistent threats media professionals face, media and press freedom groups unveiled a media electoral agenda in April, urging candidates to prioritize accountability for attacks on journalists.
