Ben Serrano, a correspondent of The Star, emerged unscathed from the attack, which he said was intended to stop him from doing articles on illegal gambling, logging, and drugs in the said city and nearby.
According to Serrano, the men started shouting invectives and throwing stones at his residence at around 12:30 a.m., which prompted him to go out of the house and accost the suspects.
Serrano later filed a formal complaint at the city police’s main headquarters, and afterwards sought the help of The STAR, the Freedom Fund for Filipino Journalists Inc. (FFFJ), and other media organizations.
Prior to this incident, Serrano said he had been the subject of continuous harassment after he alerted the Philippine National Police (PNP), and other concerned government agencies about illegal drug activities in Butuan City.
"As a result of the attack, my wife suffered a nervous breakdown, while my children went into [trauma]," Serrano said in his letter to the FFFJ.