Attack on Tribune reporter may not be related to work — editor

The attack on its Malacañang reporter Fernan Angeles will not stop The Daily Tribune from publishing critical stories, as one of its editors believes Angeles was attacked not because of his stories in the broadsheet.   “Hindi naman siguro ‘yung mga stories n’ya sa Tribune ang dahilan, two months pa lang siya dito,” said Chito Lozada, the paper’s deputy editor, in a phone interview with GMA News Online.   Angeles started covering Malacañang for Tribune in January this year. Prior to that, he was a reporter for several newspapers like Manila Times, Daily Globe and Manila Bulletin. He was also a columnist in a community newspaper in Rizal province.   Lozada said Angeles, who was shot six times Sunday night and was still in unstable condition as of posting time, was the first Tribune reporter to be attacked since the newspaper’s inception in 2000. Tribune is known for its hard-hitting political news. No mention of threats   Lozada said Angeles has not mentioned to him any threat to his life.   “Wala namang nababanggit na threat sa kanya ‘pag nagpupunta siya dito maliban lang d’un sa ayaw siyang sagutin ng Palace spokespersons sa ibang tanong niya,” he said   Lozada said Tribune will not be cowered by the incident. “Walang dahilan para matakot dahil lalo tayong magkakaletse-letse kung papaapekto sa mga nanggugulo.”   Angeles’ friend, Fernan Marasigan of Business Mirror, believed the attack was meant to terrorize Angeles.   “Hindi fatal ‘yung mga tama sa kanya, mukhang hindi professional y’ung gumawa o tinatakot lang si Fernan at nung lumaban saka siya binaril,” he said. Really angry   Another journalist, who refused to be named, said it seemed the attacker was really angry to spend one magazine of a calibre .45 on Angeles.   Angeles, 41, also suffered a fractured bone after the attack. He was still at the intensive care unit of the Pasig City General Hospital.   Although investigators have yet to determine the motive behind the attack, Angeles’ wife, Gemma, was quoted in reports as saying that her husband was working on a story regarding the sale of illegal narcotics in Pasig.   Gemma also reportedly said before her husband lost consciousness on their way to the hospital, he mentioned that he knew his attacker and that he was afraid because someone influential was behind the attack.   Malacanang has already ensured the safety of Angeles and his family. — KBK, GMA News