Tarlac-based journalists received death threats over corruption stories
CMFR/PHILIPPINES – Three journalists said they received death threats after reporting alleged corruption in the construction of an expressway in Tarlac. Tarlac is a province approximately 107 kilometers from Manila.
In a letter to the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines last 9 February 2011, George Hubierna, Nelson Bolos and Paul Gonzales said they had been receiving death threats since January 2011 after they reported alleged irregularities in the Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway (TPLEX) project.
The journalists said in their letter that although they were “committed to continue our crusade against abuse of authority, corruption and environmental degradation, despite work-related hazards, prudence dictates that we seriously take the numerous ‘warnings’ and ‘death threats’ we have been receiving recently.”
Hubierna, a reporter for the Manila-based tabloids People’s Journal and People’s Tonight said he first received a threatening message on his mobile phone on 8 January 2011, the same day the People’s Journal and People’s Tonight published his story on the resignation of then Gerona town police chief Supt. Calixto Bamba. Bamba allegedly resigned over a conflict with the town mayor on the implementation of Republic Act No. 8794 against overloaded delivery trucks carrying quarry materials through TPLEX. (“Top cop quits”, 8 January 2011, People’s Journal; “Bamba steps down as Gerona top cop”, 8 January 2011, People’s Tonight) RA 8794 penalizes “trucks and trailers for loading beyond their prescribed gross vehicle weight.”
“Kung ikaw si Gorge Hubierna mag-ingat kana di mo kilala tinalo mo (If you are George Hubierna, you should be careful. You don’t know who you’re dealing with),” read a text message sent to Hubierna last 8 January through mobile number +639997430975. Hubierna received other threatening messages as the People’s Journal and People’s Tonight published his stories on the alleged scam.
Bolos, who was the researcher of Hubierna for his stories on the alleged “quarry scam”, also received a message from a former Gerona municipal official last 10 January 2011: “Pare identify na… kasama ka sa pagpapadyario (sa quarry). Usapan mga bata nonoy. (You’ve been identified with those publishing stories about the quarry.)” Bolos also wrote about the controversies in the construction of the TPLEX in his Tarlac Headline News columns.
The publisher and editor in chief of Tarlac Headline News, Paul Gonzales, also received death threats on 24 and 26 January 2011 warning him to stop publishing stories with Bolos. “PAUL GONZALES TIGNAN NATIN TAPANG NYO NI BOLOS GAGO KAU (Let’s see how brave you and Bolos are. You’re both fools.),” read the 24 January 2011 message to Gonzales. The number used to send this threat (+639497759315) was also used on 22 and 27 January 2011 to threaten Hubierna.
The 27 January 2011 threat sent to Hubierna read: “GAGO KA TALAGA! TIGNAN NATIN KUNG MAY MAGAGAWA SI BAMBA SA IYO. (You’re really a fool. Let’s see if Bamba can do anything for you.)”
On 7 February 2011, Bolos received a report that “two shady characters” were looking for him and Hubierna. The two unidentified men allegedly also carried photos of Bolos and Hubierna.
Hubierna, Bolos and Gonzales have also reported the incident to the police.
Journalists and media practitioners reporting on corruption in the provinces continue to be threatened despite the new national government’s promise to respect and protect freedom of the press in the Philippines. In January 2011, broadcaster Gerardo Ortega was killed allegedly over his reports on mining and alleged irregularities in the collection of returns from the Malampaya natural gas project in Palawan province.
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sino maniniwala sa tatlong bayarang media na ito. mangongotong kau eh