Magahat-Bagani threatens Mindanao journalists
DAVAO CITY—The president of a journalists’ group in southern Mindanao on Friday expressed alarm over a threatening text message sent to reporters planning to cover today’s (Saturday) 47th founding anniversary of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) by a leader of the anticommunist militia, Magahat-Bagani.
A militant lawmaker said the threat “smacked of brazen impunity and disrespect of civilian authority.”
Ben Tesiorna of the Armed Forces of the Philippines-Philippine National Police Press Corps in Southern Mindanao said Bobby Tejero, one of those tagged in the Sept. 1 murder of Lianga, Surigao del Sur, alternative school director Emerito Samarca and two others, had warned journalists of being targeted if they cover the CPP’s anniversary celebrations in Caraga.
Quoting the supposed text message, Tesiorna said Tejero had said that “covering the CPP anniversary is an implied admission that the journalists are supporters of the communist group and thus are enemies of the Magahat-Bagani.”
“We will ambush whoever attends the anniversary of the CPP/NPA/NDF,” Tesiorna quoted the alleged text message.
He said the text message also tried to dissuade members of the media from attending the CPP anniversary celebrations “so that you won’t be dragged into the war.”
Tesiorna described the text message as a “vile threat” and appealed to members of the press, who had planned to cover the CPP anniversary to be “very extra careful.”
“Though the text message supposedly coming from Bobby Tejero, leader of Magahat-Bagani, has not been verified (to be) true, it is of the essence that all members are enjoined to do precautionary measures,” he said.
Tesiorna said members of the press could not be restrained from doing their jobs but that they should also make sure no harm would befall them.
“We do not want a repeat of the Maguindanao massacre. Always remember, guys, that no story is worth dying for,” he added.
Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Isagani Zarate has strongly condemned what he said was “the brazenness of the military-backed Magahat-Bagani paramilitary group in Surigao del Sur for issuing direct threats against journalists covering the anniversary of the CPP.”
“That these barefaced threats are issued while a mutual ceasefire and suspension of military operations were declared by the government and the rebels, smack of brazen impunity and disrespect of civilian authorities,” Zarate said in a statement.
He said the threat from Tejero, who remains scot-free amid the charges against him for the death of Samarca and two others, “was not just an affront against freedom of the press but a clear proof of lawlessness running amuck, particularly in Mindanao.”
“This cavalier threat of Tejero and his minions reminds us of the same degree of impunity that resulted in the infamous 2009 Ampatuan massacre in Maguindanao,” Zarate added.
He repeated the challenge from militant groups for President Aquino “to immediately issue an order to disband and disarm these paramilitary groups and to use the full force of the law to bring these criminals to the bar of justice.”
“Otherwise, we will hold the Aquino government, particularly the police and the AFP that created this Magahat-Bagani group, if any harm is inflicted on any journalist performing his duty or to any person vilified by the said groups.”
In Ozamiz City, the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) expressed alarm over the death threat issued to Mindanao journalists who are set to cover the anniversary rites of the communist movement.
In a statement, the NUJP described the threat as “brazen.”
The CPP is leading one of the longest running communist insurgencies in the world.
The Magahat is an armed militia composed of Manobo indigenous peoples in the Caraga region, which has clashed with the New People’s Army, the armed wing of the CPP. Allan Nawal, Dennis Jay Santos and Ryan D. Rosauro, Inquirer Mindanao
