Press Release
August 5, 2008

KIKO CONDEMNS ATTACK ON GENSAN BROADCASTER

Senate Majority Leader and former broadcaster Kiko Pangilinan today condemned the brazen attack on General Santos City broadcast journalist Dennis Cuesta, who suffered four gunshots, including one in the head, after an attack by at least three motorcycle-riding men.

"This latest attack on a GenSan broadcaster is the second crime against media practitioners in two months. The deplorable condition of journalism practitioners in particular and of human rights in general in this country has not improved at all. Add to our already notorious record of extra-judicial killings, at least 18 journalists have been murdered in relation to their work since 2000. We should be ashamed of ourselves for extolling our 'free press' when our journalists are being gunned down left and right in broad daylight and our authorities cannot even name the culprits!" Kiko said.

Dennis Cuesta, who works for the Radio Mindanao Network (RMN), is still in critical condition at Saint Elizabeth Hospital's intensive care unit. Cuesta was shot near the Gaisano Mall.

"The buck stops with the PNP to resolve this case swiftly. This dismal reputation of our country speaks much about the competence--or lack thereof, of our police. The chilling effect that these unabated assaults on journalists create is not just an attack on our press but is also a blow on our rule of law and democracy. The PNP needs to step up its efforts fast to curb this unacceptable state of human rights in the country," Kiko added.

"We pray for Dennis Cuesta's recovery from this tragedy, and we are behind his family and friends in seeking justice for this assault," Kiko ended.

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