Armed men barge into Abante printing plant, set equipment on fire

The printing plant of tabloid newspaper Abante in Barangay San Isidro, Parañaque City was set on fire early Monday morning.

Initial report from the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) indicated that unidentified armed men wearing helmets and masks forced their way into the facility at 1:57 a.m. and set fire newspapers located in the production area of the establishment.

Parañaque firemen responded to the emergency and later recovered two plastic gallons which supposedly contained gasoline, two tin cans containing ash and one lighter. The estimated cost of damage was at P50,000.

Authorities said fire out was declared at 2:10 a.m.

The Presidential Task Force on Media Security on its Facebook page said the suspects overpowered the unarmed security guard, doused the place with gasoline and set fire before fleeing on motorcycles.

“(Abante president) Rey Marfil called me and he was very concerned with what happened”, said Undersecretary Joel Sy Egco, PTFoMS executive director.

“He told me that they are not critical of the present administration and does not know any individual or group that may carry out such a dastardly act against the publication," he added.

Egco has ordered the Task Force's Chief of Investigation, Police Lieutenant Colonel Eder Collantes, to form a team that will look into the attack.

"I will assure you that we will leave no stone unturned in pursuing this case and we will get to the bottom of this," Egco said.

The tabloid immediately condemned the attack which, according to Managing Editor Fernando Jadulco, also resulted in injuries to at least two employees.

“The management and staff of Abante  and Tonite condemn this dastardly attack, the first violent act against our group and its facilities since 1987," Jadulco said in a statement.

"We will not be cowed by this attempt to strike fear into our reporters, editors and staff. Our commitment to hard-hitting journalism remains unshaken,” he added.

Jadulco said the prompt response of the Parañaque Fire Station prevented worse damage to the machines and printing supplies.

“We thank the Parañaque Fire Station for its immediate response and preventing further damage to our machines and supplies," Jadulco said.

"We also thank the Philippine National Police, led by NCRPO Chief Guillermo Eleazar, for sending his men immediately to the scene of the crime and allowing us to continue our operation uninterrupted,” he added. —NB, GMA News