By Gabriela Baron
The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) condemned the shooting of photojournalist Joshua Abiad in Quezon City.
Abiad, a photojournalist from Remate Online, was shot by unknown assailants in Barangay Masambong in Quezon City on Thursday.
Three members of his family also sustained injuries including his four-year old brother who is still in critical condition.
According to authorities, one of the possible motives is Abiad’s testimony in some drug cases.
“There is no justification for the shooting of a media worker but we note news reports that Abiad had signed as witness in drug busts,” NUJP said.
“While agreeing to be a witness in drug operations is commendable and no doubt done out of a sense of civic duty, NUJP has long cautioned against the practice because it puts colleagues at risk,” it added.
NUJP also welcomed the Quezon City Government’s commitment to bring Abiad’s attackers to justice and called on the local government for a quick investigation and resolution of the case.
Quezon City Joy Belmonte vowed to conduct a full investigation to arrest the attackers.
“Wala pong lugar ang karahasan at pananakot sa Quezon City, maging sa mga miyembro ng media o kahit sino pa man,” Belmonte said.
“Titiyakin po namin na mananagot ang mga salarin ng krimeng ito,” she added. With a report from Gabbie Natividad
