Threats continue against national TV broadcaster

CMFR/Philippines – A television broadcaster in Manila continued to receive threatening text messages, most recently on 2 August 2013. The threats are linked to a report she made on a tax evasion case filed by the Philippine government against a lawyer of the Ampatuan clan who reportedly bought property owned by his client.

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Several members of the clan are under trial for allegedly masterminding and carrying out the November 2009 election-related massacre in Ampatuan town which killed 58 men and women of whom 32 were journalists and media workers.

Cecilia “Ces” Oreña-Drilon of ABS-CBN Network received more threatening messages in the morning of August 2, Friday, after receiving threats via SMS last month, on July 24, 27 and 29. The broadcaster immediately tweeted screen grabs of the threatening text messages.  She alleged that it was Ampatuan lawyer Arnel Manaloto who had sent the threats.

 

“I will use my connections to make you get you’re looking for woman! Since you already ruined our lives, your family’s now involved! All of you will be erased,” the first of four text messages said in Filipino.

“You will not be the one to ruin our name. You pretend to be clean (when) you’re only after money hahaha pity of you (sic) do you lack attention? Be careful, you might suddenly disappear from this world,” the second text message said.

“I know your dirty secrets so don’t dare me! Let’s ruin each other, I know the people who paid you they will talk against you,” the sender added.

The text messages were sent from mobile number +639981715664, the same number used to send Drilon threats on July 27 and 29.

CMFR tried to call the number but received a message that it was out of service.

At least 10 minutes after the first three messages, the sender sent another text message asking Drilon to meet with him.

“Let’s meet in Malate, you know the place, I have something for you,” the text message said in Filipino.

On 27 July 2013, the unknown person using mobile number +639981715664 already tried to meet with Drilon by posing as her informant on the Ampatuan-related report.

“My only weapon is to publicize what these people are up to,” Drilon said in a tweet.

“I am sharing the threats (with) you to unmask and shame them. Thanks for the concern.” Drilon added.

On 24 July 2013, Drilon reported a tax evasion case filed by the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) against Arnel Manaloto, a lawyer of massacre suspect Andal Ampatuan Jr. on primetime news program TV Patrol.  The report claimed that Manaloto is  a “dummy” of  the Ampatuans in the purchase of some properties of his client.

Drilon received a threatening text message from the +639476343722 immediately after the report was aired.