Palawan journalist gets death threats

A Palawan-based radio reporter received death threats over the weekend supposedly for "interfering" with the local military and paramilitary units in the province. Radio dzBB’s affiliate RGMA Palawan reported Monday that one of its reporters, James Viernes, has sought help from the provincial police after receiving the threats. "Huwag mong pakialaman ang militar at CAFGU (Do not interfere with the military and the Citizens Armed Forces Geographical Unit)," some of the death threats supposedly read. The threatening text messages came from prepaid cell number 0919-2882098. Viernes said he does not know the owner of the number, the report said. It added that Viernes started receiving the threatening text messages last weekend. Police are looking into the incident. Viernes' case was the latest reported threat to journalists under the one-month-old Aquino administration, and the third run-in between the media and the military. Last week, local and international media groups voiced dismay over what they called the "continuing intimidation" of media under the Aquino administration, following at least two incidents involving alleged rough treatment of media at military headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) reminded President Benigno Aquino III of its recommendation to train the military and police on how to deal with media. "The IFJ held optimism that a new political administration in the Philippines would bring an end to the mistreatment of journalists at the hands of the military," IFJ Asia-Pacific director Jacqueline Park said in an article on the IFJ website. "It is the responsibility of President Benigno Aquino to do everything within his power to end the disgraceful press freedom record of his country, which includes how military personnel interact with the media," she added. — RSJ, GMANews.TV