18 January 2012

IFJ Condemns Death Threats Against Journalist in the Philippines

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) joins its affiliate the

National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP)

in condemning the death threats made to a publisher based in General Santos

City, in the southern Philippines, on January 17.

Ronald Allan T. Mascardo, publisher and editor of Dadiangas Balita,

received a threatening text message, following his condemnation of the killing

of fellow publisher Christopher Guarin last

Guarin, the 150th journalist killed in the line of duty since 1986, was

shot dead late evening of January 5, while driving his wife and

two children home from his office.

Mascardo, president of the community media group Journalist Action Motor

Group (JAMG), has called for the arrest and prosecution of those who killed

Guarin.

According to an NUJP report,

Mascardo received a text message at around 9:00 am that read: “You are daring

the killers of Chris Guarin. You will be next.” The threat has been reported to

the local police.

“Threats against journalists are a serious matter in the Philippines,

where violent attacks on journalists and are all too common,” IFJ Asia-Pacific Director Jacqueline Park said.

“The IFJ calls on authorities in the Philippines to take all necessary

steps to ensure that all journalists are protected and secure, that all threats

are thoroughly investigated and that all perpetrators face the full force of

the law for such crimes.”

For further

information contact IFJ Asia-Pacific

on +612 9333 0950

The IFJ

represents more than 600,000 journalists in 131 countries

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