IFJ Condemns Death Threats Against Philippenes Journalist

January 18, 2012

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 week.

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.”

The IFJ represents more than 600,000 journalists in 131 countries

Find the IFJ on Twitter: @ifjasiapacific

Find the IFJ on Facebook: www.facebook.com/IFJAsiaPacific

ENDS

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