Three of the seven journalists who were trapped in Camiguin from May 9 to May 11 after two of them were physically attacked allegedly by Governor Jurdin Jesus Romualdo and his supporters have reported receiving death threats.
Herbert Hugo Dumaguing and son Hubert Dumaguing have reported to police authorities that an Elmer Bordeus, allegedly acting as an intermediary of Romualdo, reportedly went to their residence on May 14, 2010 and tried to convince them to accept 5 million pesos in exchange for not pressing criminal charges against Romualdo. Bordeus reportedly told the elder Dumaguing to accept the offer as the governor can very well afford to hire gunmen to kill them should they continue with the filing of criminal charges.
Rene Abris, one of the seven, also reported to police that he noticed a parked van (bearing plate number JTB-896) in front of his house at about 1am on the evening of May 16. Abris said the van parked for several minutes in front of his house before leaving but came back for the second time in after about 30 minutes and again stayed for several minutes before finally leaving for good.
The three journalists said both incidents may be related to the May 9, 2010 incident in Catarman, Camiguin where the two Dumaguings, a father and son news team connected with RR Productions (a production outfit that contracts airtime from a local cable TV company), and two other crewmembers Alphyn Cabanog (not Altin as earlier reported) and Algin Lobino, were attacked and harassed allegedly by Romualdo and his supporters.
The elder Dumaguing said they were attacked after they chanced upon what they believed was vote buying by Romualdo’s supporters one day before the May 10, 2010 national and local elections.
Dumaging said they remain steadfast in their intent to file criminal charges against their attackers who have also confiscated a digital video camera, cellphones, and other personal effects.
For reference:
NUJP-IFJ Media Safety Office
Rowena Paraan, Executive Coordinator
JB Deveza, Coordinator for Mindanao
National Union of Journalists of the Philippines
4/L FSS Bldg. # 89 Sct. Castor corner
Sct. Tuason Street (near T. Morato Ave),
Bgry. Laging Handa,
Quezon City, Philippines
Tel.: (+632) 3767330
Email: nujphil@gmail.com
Web: www.nujp.org (under construction)
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