Colleagues of slain radioman get death threats

GINGOOG CITY – Colleagues of slain broadcaster Arecio Padrigao Sr. at radio dxRS FM have complained to police that they have been getting death threats through calls and text messages in their mobile phones.

Emmanuel “Manny” Ansihagan, 28, anchorman of radio program “Hustiya’t Katarungan” aired every Monday morning told Gingoog City police director Leony Roy Ga yesterday that he had received calls and text messages from mobile phone numbers 09287089140, 09213475148 and 09061127899.

“Kamo diha mga komentarista huroton ta gyud mo, ihawon nako (All you commentators there, I will finish you all, I will kill you)” read a text message in Bisaya sent last Nov. 20 to Ansihagan.

Ansihagan said when he called the number, he heard people laughing and talking in Bisaya while drinking and singing.

Another commentator, Allan Pelegrino said he received a similar death threat through a text message last Nov. 19.

Willy Ramos, an accredited broadcaster of the Manila-based Catholic Media Network under Fr, Francis Lucas, S.J., confirmed the death threats and accompanied his colleagues to the Gingoog City police yesterday to have their complaints placed on the blotter.

“This is the risk of our job here at the frontline where threats against journalists are real… we are doing it voluntarily with a little compensation not even enough for our families… we are doing this for the public’s sake yet our lives are at stake,” he told Ga.

Gualberto Pahunang Jr., dxRS owner and station manager, confirmed the death threats of his block timers.

“Some already fear for their lives,” he said.

Some commentators said Task Force Usig investigators cannot solve the killings in Gingoog City if they are always in their air-conditioned offices in Metro Manila.

He only met once the representatives of Task Force Usig, Pahunang said.

Gingoog City has only two radio stations, the other one is state-owned Radyo ng Bayan dxRG.