Bonnet wearing motorcycle man threatens local TV reporter
ROXAS CITY – A motorcycle man in a bonnet threatened a local TV reporter while on his way home with his elementary grade son. The victim was Harold Feliciano, a 26-year-old reporter and cameraman of Abri-Aga, a morning and afternoon (Monday through Friday) news and public affairs program at Filvision ALTO Cable TV.
In an interview, Feliciano said that while his motorcycle is threading San Roque Street (this city), shortly before he has to turn to Mc Kinley Street, an unidentified man wearing a bonnet and riding a skeleton type motorcycle threatened him that his life will end within 24 hours.
“His head is covered by bonnet up to the nose, but I can see his mustache and beard. He had a long hair. His motorcycle is painted black with shades of orange and has no plate number,” Feliciano added.
Feliciano tried to catch with the perpetrator, however, fearing he might endanger his elementary grade son he just fetched from school, he decided to turn back home.
“I believe that the harassment stemmed back from the issues we tackle in our program, especially issues on mining and corruption in the government,” he said. Feliciano and other staff of Abri-Aga have been receiving death threats through text messages since last year.
Feliciano and Abri-Aga Productions are seeking for the help of the local authorities especially from SSupt. Josephus Angan, Police Provincial Director, in identifying the perpetrators and in putting a stop to their evil intentions not only against Feliciano but against all journalists and media practitioners in the province.
It must be remembered that Martin Roxas, RMN radio commentator was killed last year, after tackling corruption controversies in the government. A few days later, two bonnet-wearing, motorcycle-riding men shot him while he too, was riding on his motorcycle. It happened after receiving death threats and experiencing physical assaults.
Then, Gerry Pagharion (The Capiz Times Editor-in-Chief), Eduardo Basilonia (Provincial Press Bureau Chief), this writer, and Ipe Celino (PDI Correspondent), also received death threats via cellphone text. All except Celino, are NUJP officers who are active in the movement that seeks justice to the death of Roxas.
The National Union of Journalist of the Philippines (NUJP-Capiz) denounces the act in a strongest possible term. Such act is one of the many forms of harassments against the media in order to silence and stop them from pursuing truthful and objective reporting.