Manila The administration of President Benigno Aquino called for an investigation following an attempt on the life of a journalist on Sunday night.
Interior and local government secretary Jesse Robredo ordered a thorough investigation into the attack on Daily Tribune reporter Fernan Angeles near his house in suburban Pasig City.
Angeles is also a member of the Malacanang Press Corps, said Edwin Lacierda, Aquino's spokesman. The presidential palace had contacted Angeles' wife Gemma Angeles and offered assistance "in their hour of need", he added.
Angeles sustained at least six bullet wounds and a fracture after being attacked by a lone assailant with a revolver, a police report said.
He was declared to be in critical condition when he was rushed to the Pasig City General Hospital.
Malacanang Press Corps president Joyce Panares, who reports for Standard Today, said, "We want to know if this is work-related. We are outraged and demand a thorough probe on this dastardly act."
Panares quoted Angeles as saying that he was afraid because he "knew his attacker… and that someone influential was behind it".
"We hold the Aquino administration to its word that there will be no sacred cows in cases of wrongdoings, and that it gives a primacy to press freedom and protection of media," he said.
Critical report
Last February, Angeles wrote a story saying the elite Presidential Security Group (PSG) had barred him from covering events at the presidential palace.
"I believe that Malacanang Presidential Communications Operations Office has effectively imposed measures to annoy reporters coming from critical newspapers," the report said, hitting out at Presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte for allegedly giving Angeles and Manila Times reporter Jaime Pilapil "selective" treatment.
