Illegal log syndicates seen source of threats

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY—Threats have been hounding at least five journalists here and in Butuan City over their reporting of illegal logging in Caraga and Northern Mindanao areas.

The latest to receive the threats are Herbie Gomez, the editor in chief of the Mindanao Gold Star Daily here, and Edwin Iyo, the paper’s reporter based in Gingoog City in Misamis Oriental, according to JB Deveza, the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines’ safety officer in Mindanao.

Deveza said Gomez received a text message on Tuesday that read: “You are like your stupid correspondent in Gingoog City. We will feed all of you, including Mr. Chu, to Lolong. We will kill all of you. This is somebody from Cabantian.”

“Mr. Chu” is the paper’s publisher, Ernesto Chu, while Lolong is the more than 20-foot-long killer crocodile captured in Agusan. Cabantian is a village in Magsaysay, Misamis Oriental, a known logging territory.

Deveza said the threats came after the newspaper published a front page story on June 15 quoting Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo as saying he wanted charges filed against Roger Edma, a businessman being linked to illegal logging.

Threats are also hounding radio reporters Sasie Babar and Gerry Santos of Radyo Mo Nationwide (RMN) station in Butuan City.

RMN management said the threats came amid the station’s reporting of Edma’s supposed involvement in illegal logging.

Edma, a known wood trader in Butuan, was tagged by Butuan Mayor Ferdinand Amante Jr. as owner of P6 million worth of logs seized in the city last June 2. Edma denied owning the logs. Bobby Lagsa, Franklin Caliguid and Ramil Banguesy, Inquirer Mindanao