BY BULATLAT
A radio reporter of dxND-Notra Dame Broadcasting Corporation in Kidapawan City, North Cotabato received over the radio station’s hotline Tuesday morning threatening messages related to his reportage of alleged extortion activities of Land Transportation Office (LTO) deputized agents, the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) reported.
The first of two messages addressed to Gil Bautista from a mobile phone with the number 09236403639 read: “Mr. Gil Bautista, kung hindi mo inumpisahan ang issue hindi kami malalagay sa alanganin dito sa LTO Kabacan. Tandaan mo lang, kung maaalis kami dito, kasama kang maaalis
sa mundo. Gago! (Mr. Gil Bautista, if you did not start discussing on air the issue about LTO we will not be placed in this kind of predicament. If we would be transferred from here, you surely would be
exterminated, too. You fool!)”
The second text message said: “Isang bala ka lang, Mr. Gil Bautista. Dupang ka! (You’re only worth one bullet, Mr. Gil Bautista. You fool!)”
Upon the NUJP’s verification, the number was no longer active.
According to the NUJP, the threats to Bautista were made after North Cotabato Vice Gov. Manny Piñol proposed Monday the total revamp of the LTO’s Kabacan District over complaints received against the agency.
Bautista has been tackling the issue for three weeks since it was first mentioned during a session of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (Provincial Council), the NUJP disclosed.
The NUJP said its Kidapawan chapter has already reported the incident to Kidapawan police chief, Supt. Chino Mamburan, and sought protection for Bautista. (Bulatlat.com)
