Another Mindanao broadcaster receives threats
CMFR/PHILIPPINES – A radio broadcaster in Cagayan de Oro City has been receiving threatening text messages (SMS) and calls since 14 July 2011. Cagayan de Oro City is approximately 789 kilometers south of Manila.
The latest threat, Ronnie Waniwan, anchor and program director of dxCO Radyo Asenso, told the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility (CMFR), was a call on 20 July 2011 he received from an unidentified person telling him “(his) time will come.”
Most of the threats were sent during his news and commentary programs “Lampornas” (morning) and “Bulgaranay” (noontime). The unidentified perpetrators used the mobile numbers +639497516667 and +639393192981 to send the threats.
One of the text messages read: “Putang ina m ikaw d i c waniwan ayaw nlng og gawas sab lay nu ky gkuhaan kna namo og datos. (You’re a son of a bitch, Waniwan. Watch out if you ever go out of your house. We already gathered information about you.) ”
Another message said: “Akon g gipalihok ang mga krml sa datos mo (I have released your data to criminals.)”
CMFR tried calling the mobile numbers but was unable to speak to anyone. One appeared to be already disconnected. CMFR’s calls to +639393192981 were not answered.
In a phone interview with CMFR last 21 July 2011, Waniwan said he was unsure who are sending the threats, but that he believes these to be connected to local political issues he has been discussing over his two programs.
But, said Waniwan, “It would be unfair to name certain politicians as I really don’t know who have been threatening me. ”
The number of journalists killed has declined, but there has been an increase in the number of threats against Filipino broadcasters and journalists in 2011. One hundred and twenty Filipino journalists and media workers have been killed in the line of duty since 1986. Death threats are taken seriously in the Philippines. Most of the journalists/broadcasters killed since 1986 received threatening messages before they were killed.
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