Increase in incidence of intimidation of journalist

Manila: An international organisation of scribes has taken notice of threats made against a Central Luzon reporter, as well as the increasing incidents of intimidation of journalists across the country.

Ding Cervantes, a correspondent for the broadsheet daily Philippine Star, had been receiving threatening text messages as well as other forms of intimidation, the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) said. IFJ is the world’s largest organisation of journalists. Its Asia-Pacific chapter represents 27 affiliates and associates across the region.

“The International Federation of Journalists joins its affiliate the National Union of Journalists Philippines (NUJP) in condemning the physical intimidation and death threats made against veteran journalist Ding Cervantes from Pampanga, Mabalacat,” the federation said in a statement published on its website, asiapacific.ifj.org.

Cervantes, a member of the NUJP, first received a threatening text message one August 24. “It will only take one bullet” the message said in the vernacular.

Earlier on August 15, Cervantes was quoted in the IFJ report as saying that a man was apparently conducting surveillance on his house.

When he returned home with his brother later that evening, he saw “the same person, with his pistol bulging from his right hip”.

On Sunday August 26, he saw the same person again outside the gate of his house, talking on the mobile.

Soon after, he again began receiving threatening messages from the same number as the original message sent on August 24.

The text read: “Don’t be feisty. Someone is monitoring you in your house and wherever you go. Your life depends on us. NPA.” The caller was apparently trying to present himself as a member of the New Peoples’ Army.

Cervantes, however dismissed any involvement of the communist insurgent group. “I have been in journalism for decades and I would know what’s really from NPA and when the NPA is merely being used to intimidate,” he said.

Cervantes had experienced intimidation several times before and had actually been shot at while covering news.

He has recently written about controversial subjects such as the murder of Dutch missionary Willen Geertman in early July this year, the controversial Hacienda Luisita dispute between the family of President Benigno Aquino and farm workers, among others.

Last July, the IFJ received reports of threats made against the lives of two southern Philippines’ Butuan-based reporters for the ABS-CBN network.

Rodge Cultura and Richmond Hinayon had received the death threats after they came up with reports on illegal logging in Northern Mindanao and the Caraga Region.

IFJ had documented several other similar incidents.

IFJ Asia Pacific Director Jacqueline Park said they have noticed increasing incidents of intimidation and actual murders of journalists in the country.

“Violent attempts to intimidate journalists are increasing in the Philippines. We condemn this latest incident and call again on the Philippines’ authorities to safeguard journalists, to thoroughly investigate cases of violence and intimidation against journalists and ensure that perpetrators face the full force of the law for these crimes,” she said.