Two Radio Journalists Receive Death Threats in the Philippines

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) calls for the immediate protection of two journalists in the Philippines who have reportedly received a series of death threats after broadcasting allegations of local council extortion.

According to the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP), an IFJ affiliate, the Davao City-based journalists Erin Lumosbog, anchor of Radyo Ronda on the RPN9-dxKT network, and James Pala, of Radyo Rapido, both reported receiving text messages warning their lives were at risk.

Lumosbog receives threats each time he goes on air since he reported allegations that a group of councillors had demanded 1.2 million Philippine pesos from a businessman in exchange for a council permit, the NUJP said.

One text message reportedly said, “If you will not stop from doing commentaries on the Sta Cruz issues, bullets might force you to stop.”

Pala also reported receiving at least three similar threatening messages since he began discussing the same allegations on his program in late September.

Requests by both journalists to the councillors involved in the allegations to give their side of the story have been ignored, the NUJP said.

“It is deplorable that threats are made against journalists in an effort to quell unfavourable reporting,” IFJ Asia-Pacific said.

“Acts of intimidation of this kind only highlight the strength and professional integrity of journalists in the Philippines who continue to do their jobs, and to do them well, despite contending with one of the worst cultures of violence against the media in the Asia-Pacific region.”

In the wake of the murder of two Radio Mindanao journalists in August, the IFJ joins the NUJP in calling on the Philippines authorities to act immediately to provide Lumosbog, Pala and their families protection until the perpetrators of the threats are located and brought to justice.