Reporter alleges harassment by former anti-drugs chief

CMFR/PHILIPPINES – A news reporter filed a complaint against a former director of the government’s anti-drug trafficking agency in Cebu for allegedly harassing him. Cebu is a province approximately 571 kilometers south of Manila.

Rey Pasaporte, reporter of radio dyDD and correspondent of Banat (Hit) News, alleged that former Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Region 7 chief Adrian Alvarino threatened him over a report he wrote about the former director’s alleged involvement in the release of a suspected drug lord. (“Alvarino gipabawna’g P800 mil (Alvarino given P800 thousand)?”, 24 September 2011)

In an affidavit dated 6 October 2011 filed before the Office of the Ombudsman in the Visayas, Pasaporte claimed that Alvarino threatened to “get back at him” for his 24 September 2011 report. Pasaporte called Alvarino on 24 September 2011 immediately after learning from his editor at Banat News that the latter might file libel charges over his report.

Pasaporte had written in his 24 September 2011 report that a text message from a “concerned citizen” said that Alvarino was involved in a payoff for the release of suspected drug pusher Yongyong Villaceran. Villaceran was arrested by PDEA-7 agents but was later released after allegedly paying P800,000 (USD 18,522). Pasaporte said in his affidavit that he and other reporters had gone to the PDEA-7 Regional Office to interview Alvarino, but was told the latter does not want to be interviewed.

“He was furious when the report came out, but I tried to get his reaction before it was published,” Pasaporte told the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility. Pasaporte added that Alvarino asked if he believed the text message he received, saying that the alleged pay-off happened when he was no longer PDEA-7 Director.

Alvarino allegedly told him: “Ito na lang. Tandaan mo ‘yan Rey ha, babalikan kita diyan (Remember this Rey, I’ll get back at you).”  Pasaporte hanged up, but allegedly received a text message from Alvariño saying, “Pasensyahan na tayo (You will be sorry).”

Members of the Cebu Federation of Beat Journalists said in a statement that they “believe that Alvariño has violated the law on the freedom of the press, the Ethical Standards on Officials and Employees of Government and the Revised Penal Code.