The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) joins its affiliate the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) in condemning the assault of a journalist by the brother of a local Mayor in Sorsogon City, Luzon province in the Philippines on September 23.

According to NUJP reports, Sorsogon Now Editor and GMA-7 Stringer Roberto “Bobby” Labalan was punched in the face outside a local coffee shop that is frequented by journalists in Sorsogon City by Joseph "Nono" Yap III, brother of Prieto Diaz town Mayor Joeclyn Yap-Lelis.

Labalan was reportedly speaking with media personnel and government officials outside the coffee shop at 7:15 a.m. on September 23, when Yap approached him and said, “Nano kay tinira mo ko sa dyaryo (Why did you attack me in the paper?” then punched him, grazing him on the left cheek.

Yap continued to throw punches, but Labalan dodged those until onlookers pulled the attacker away.

Among those who witnessed the incident was Sorsogon Governor Raul Lee.

According to Labalan, the assault may have been related to an article published in Sorsogon Now, which raised questions about a road project in Prieto Diaz under the government’s Payapa at Masaganang Mamamamayan (Peaceful and Prosperous People/PAMANA) project, of which Yap is the contractor.

In the article, which ran on August 7, alleged irregularities about the project’s outcome were exposed when the outcome of Yap’s project, which cost Peso 300 million and yielded a 500-meter road, was compared to one in another town with the same budget that resulted in  a 700-meter road and a line canal.

Labalan, a member of NUJP’s national directorate is reported to have filed an incident report before the Philippine National Police in Sorsogon City.

“Acts of retaliation against media reporting in the public interest are of serious concern and highlight the incredibly dangerous nature of reporting in the Philippines” said IFJ Asia-Pacific Director, Jacqueline Park.

We stand with the NUJP in calling on the authorities in Sorsogon province to ensure the safety of Labalan and to immediately investigate Yap in relation to the attack.

According to the NUJP, this is the second time Yap has assaulted a journalist.

Reports state that he may also have been armed when he assaulted Labalan.

The attack came just over a week after two motorcycle-riding men went to the house of Philippine Daily Inquirer reporter Julie Alipala, also a member of the NUJP national directorate, seemingly with intent to threaten or harm her.

For further information contact IFJ Asia-Pacific on +612 9333 0918

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