Radioman gets threat messages after discussing car smuggling

Cagayan de Oro City—A broadcaster here has reported receiving a threatening text message on Saturday morning, while anchoring his early morning commentary program over Magnum Radyo 99.9 FM.

Jun Albino, a veteran community journalist and radio commentator, said yesterday he received the text message warning him about tackling further the alleged smuggling activities involving Lynard Allan Bigcas.

The allegations against Bigcas came following the seizure by agents of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) of 25 luxury cars and motorcycles, including one allegedly stolen from Hollywood writer Skip Woods, from warehouses here and in Talakag, Bukidnon.

Bigcas remains free, with the NBI admitting that no warrant has been issued yet for his arrest.

Albino, also general manager of Magnum Radyo, said he was doing a commentary on the surfacing of Bigcas the previous day when he received the text message coming from an unknown number.

The text message reads: “Mr. Albino undangi ng pg mbstga ky Bigkas kng gsto kpa mo abt sa pista Ibulag namo imng ulo sa imng LAWAS. (Mr. Albino, stop investigating Bigcas if you want to live to see the city fiesta. We will cut your head off).” The message was sent from mobile number 0933-3203705.

Albino said he based his commentary on the claim of Bigcas’ lawyer, Alejandro Jose Pallugna, that the car dealer was a victim of false accusations. Pallugna also maintained that Bigcas did not smuggle the cars and motorcycles seized in the two warehouses two weeks ago.

The NBI had said that it has in its possession a “black book” seized from the twin raids. The black book allegedly contains a list of Bigcas’ contacts and clients and supposedly includes a governor, a congressman, a mayor and a police official.

Pallugna also said Bigcas bought the seized cars and motorcycles in the country and, hence, owes the government not a single centavo in import duties.

“A person who did not import anything naturally does not have to pay import duties,” Pallugna told the Inquirer on Saturday.