2 mediamen get threats

Two mediamen claimed yesterday that they are receiving death threats through text messages from unknown sources.

Larry Trinidad, reporter of the Radio Mindanao Network, said he received a text message Monday that reads “Tumba ka na sa Sabado. Ikaw Himuon Esample sg media killing (You will be dead by Saturday, you will be an example of the media killing)”.

Trinidad said that, before he received the threat, several text messages were sent to his friend asking him to stop implicating the army in the death of Bayan Muna member Benjamin Bayles, who was gunned down by two assassins in Himamaylan town, Negros Occidental last month.

Trinidad said he believes those who sent text messages to his friends asking him to stop implicating the army in the death of Bayles and those who sent him the death threat are the same persons.

He said he was advised by their program director to report the incident to the police for recording.

Jaime Lim, 41, and the Negros Bureau chief of a regional newspaper, also reported to Police Station 1 yesterday that he got a death threat also through a text message from an unknown sender.

Lim said that he was at their office at Rosario-Jasmin streets at about 4:29 p.m. Monday when he received the text message that reads “Tumba ka na, ikaw himuin sample sa media killing (You will be dead, you will be an example of the media killing)”.

Alarmed over the death threat reports to mediamen in Bacolod, Negros Press Club president Julius Mariveles said he will meet with other officers of the club to discuss the matter.

These mediamen should not take the threats they received for granted and be extra careful, he said. The officers of NPC will have a dialog with the Philippine National Police Saturday on the reported death threats to the two mediamen

Bacolod City Police officer-in-charge Senior Supt. Celestino Guara yesterday emphasized that there is nothing to worry about as mediamen in Bacolod are assured of their safety.

But Guara advised those who have death threats not to be complacent and go home directly after work in order not to give opportunities to those who have bad intentions against them.

Guara last week recommended the arming of mediamen because of the successive killings of their colleagues, especially those who are under threat. He added that although he wants to form a group that would secure mediamen in Bacolod, they lack policemen. (Adrian Nemes III - Daily Star)


Link:http://www.visayandailystar.com/2010/July/14/topstory2.htm