IFJ Condemns Threats Made Against Journalists in Philippines

July 31, 2012

IFJ Condemns Threats Made Against Journalists in the Philippines

The IFJ is alarmed to learn of threats made against the lives of two Butuan-based ABS-CBN reporters - the second in a series of serious threats made against journalists in the Southern Philippines this week.

According to IFJ affiliate he National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP), journalists Rodge Cultura and Richmond Hinayon received the death threats following reports they filed reports of illegal logging in Northern Mindanao and the Caraga Region.

According to the NUJP, Richmond Hinayon received a text message on July 24, 2012, warning him that his days are numbered. Hinayon said he received the text message following a tip he gave to the city’s anti-illegal logging task force a day earlier which led to the seizure of illegally logged timber. On July 29, a boy handed Rodge Cultura an envelope outside the ABS-CBN Butuan City office containing a single bullet. The two incidents are believed to be related.

The incident comes just days after Mayon Times Publisher Leonard “Leo” Balsarza,Jr received a .38 calibre bullet in a brown envelope with the words “Doronela and Balsarza Warning” on the front.

Similar threats were also made last month against the editor-in-chief and a correspondent at the Mindanao Goldstar Daily, and two journalists from the local radio station dxBC, following Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo’s visit to Butuan City; during which time he met with reporters and later ordered an investigation into the involvement of local government officials in illegal logging.

“Threats against journalists are a serious matter in the Philippines, where violent attempts to intimidate the work of reporters are all too common. These incidents require urgent action.” IFJ Asia-Pacific Director Jacqueline Park said.

“The IFJ calls on the Philippines’ authorities to take all necessary steps to ensure that the journalists are protected and secure, the threats are thoroughly investigated and the perpetrators face the full force of the law for these crimes.”

The IFJ represents more than 600,000 journalists in 131 countries

Find the IFJ on Twitter: @ifjasiapacific

Find the IFJ on Facebook: www.facebook.com/IFJAsiaPacific

ENDS

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