By Gabriela Baron
Three days after journalist Percy Lapid’s fatal ambush in Las Piñas, veteran broadcaster Flo Hervias was assaulted outside the Radio Mindanao Network (RMN) in Iloilo Friday morning, Oct. 7, the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) reported.
READ MORE: Broadcast commentator Percy Lapid shot dead in Las Piñas
According to NUJP-Iloilo Chapter, Hervias was assaulted by four masked men outside the radio station just after his program “Banwa Binag-binaga” aired.
“Hervias had just exited the building where the radio station is located when the men who were wearing hoodies stopped him before beating him up,” NUJP-Iloilo said.
“They were apparently waiting for the broadcaster to come down from the building and pretended to be garbage collectors,” it added.
Hervias suffered injuries in the mouth and near his eyes.
The Philippine National Police said it ordered the Iloilo City Police Office to provide security to Hervias.
“The Iloilo City Police Office has also initiated an in-depth investigation to possibly identify and arrest the suspects, including a city-wide dragnet operation involving random checkpoints,” PNP Spokesperson Brig. Gen Roderick Alba said.
“Any assault on working journalists is being considered by the PNP as a serious case that deserves prompt and preferential action,” Alba added. “We are confident that the investigation of Hervias’ case will yield positive development in due time.” -ag
