NPC CONDEMNS SHOOTING OF ALBAY MEDIAMAN

THE National Press Club of the Philippines (NPC) strongly condemned the shooting on Monday of a media practitioner in Albay.

Police identified the victim as Noel Bellen Samar, a local media practitioner affiliated with Kadunong ITV and DWIZ.

Samar was attacked on Monday morning on Maharlika Highway in Bgy. Morera, Guinobatan, Albay.

Initial reports showed that Samar, 54, sustained a gunshot wound and was immediately rushed to the Bicol Regional Training and Teaching Hospital (BRTTH) in Legazpi City, where he is currently undergoing medical treatment.

The motive behind the attack is still under investigation.

The NPC welcomes the immediate response of the Police Regional Office 5 (PRO5) and the Albay Police Provincial Office, which have launched a hot pursuit operation and established a Special Investigation Task Group (SITG “Samar”) to ensure a thorough probe into the incident.

“We call on the Philippine National Police (PNP), particularly Brig. Gen. Nestor C. Babagay Jr., Regional Director of PRO5, to exhaust all efforts in identifying, tracking down, and arresting the perpetrator at the soonest possible time. The Club also urges authorities to determine whether the attack was related to the victim’s journalistic work,” NPC president Leonel Abasola said.

“The NPC stands in solidarity with our colleague Noel Samar, his family, and the entire media community in Bicol. We denounce this cowardly act of violence against a member of the press,” Abasola added.

The NPC reiterated that violence and intimidation have no place in a democratic society. Journalists must be allowed to carry out their duties freely and safely, without fear of retribution or harm.

“We call on the government, law enforcement agencies, and our fellow journalists to unite in ensuring that justice is served swiftly. Every attack on a journalist is an attack on press freedom itself,” Abasola  further said.