NUJP assails Baguio journalist’s slay try

By Mar T. Supnad

BAGUIO CITY — The National Union of Journalists here and Benguet condemned the slay attempt Tuesday on Aldwin Quitasol, president of the Baguio Correspondents and Broadcasters Club, the biggest media organization in Cordillera. 
    Quitasol, who traces his roots in Tadian, Mountain Province, is also correspondent of the Daily Tribune, a national daily.
    Unidentified individuals aboard a motorcycle shot Quitasol Tuesday around 10 p.m. while traversing an unlit portion of the 2nd Road Quezon Hill here.
    Quitasol threw himself to the ground when he heard gunfire and the assailant sped past him.
     “This is vile act of violence and cowardice. An attack on one is an attack on all of us and an assault to press freedom and the people’s right to know everywhere,” said the NUJP in a statement. “We call on authorities of Baguio City to immediately probe the incident and ensure the safety of Quitasol and his family.”
    “We also urge city officials, the police, and the national government to safeguard press freedom by protecting journalists and media workers from any form of attack,” it added.

The group said attacks against journalists in Baguio and Benguet continue to intensify.

The regional Commission on Human is set to look into the incident even as Quitasol earlier blottered the incident at the city police station where he talked with city police director Col. Glenn Lonogan about the matter.

City police are reportedly investigating the incident.

Quitasol and his wife Kimberlie, who writes for the Philippines Daily Inquirer have reportedly been “red-tagged” by the regional police office under then regional police director Brig. Gen. R’win Pagkalinawan, the husband of CNN Philippines news anchor Pia Hontiveros.