Threats hound slain radioman's colleagues

GINGOOG CITY, Philippines - Three colleagues of slain radio broadcaster Arecio Padrigao Sr are now fearing for their lives after receiving threatening text messages and phone calls from anonymous individuals. Emmanuel Ansihagan and two other radio reporters from DXRS had separately complained to police authorities regarding calls and text messages that said that they are going to be killed. Ansihagan, anchorman for the radio program “Hustisya’t Katarungan,” complained to Gingoog City Police Director Leoney Roy Ga his fears were heightened by the death of Padrigao last Monday. Padrigao,52, was gunned down by motorcycle- riding men outside the Bukidnon State University where he dropped off one of his children. Two other radio blocktimers, Allan Pelegrino and Willie Ramos, claimed to receive threatening text messages. Pastor Victor Dela Serna, himself a former blocktimer of DXRS FM “Radio Natin,” advised former colleagues to pray and stay put. He said that they need to continue their tradition of fair and honest reporting for the sake of Gingoog City and neighboring towns. The city of Gingoog in the southern Philippine province of Misamis Oriental has only two AM radio stations: the state- owned Radyo ng Bayan DXRG and DXRS. DXRS owner and station manager Gualberto Pahunang Jr confirmed the death threats received by his blocktimers and expressed disappointment on how the Justice department’s Task Force “Usig” is handling the case. “How can they resolve the killings if they are always inside air- conditioned rooms in Metro Manila?” Pahunang said in his native dialect. The Task Force was created to investigate on death and disappearances of media men, military members and other high- risk personalities. - Alvin Guanzon, GMANews.TV