Filipino radio anchor
gets death threats

A Mindanao-based radio broadcaster says he has been receiving death threats since he started reporting on a controversial case involving the alleged smuggling of vehicles and firearms from the United States.

The Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility (CMFR) says Jun Albino of Magnum Music and News Radio 99.9 FM in Cagayan de Oro City in Northern Mindanao received a series of text or SMS messages warning him to stop his commentaries on the case.

“Mr. Albino, stop talking about Bigcas if you still want to attend the (local) festival, or we might cut your head off,” said one text message that was received on Albino’s cellular phone on May 14, 2011. Bigcas apparently refers to Lynard Allan Bigcas, who is accused by the National Bureau of Investigation and the Philippine National Police of smuggling luxury vehicles and high-powered firearms from Texas in the United States. The case received prominence after it was discovered that one of the vehicles was a motorcycle worth $80,000 reportedly owned by Hollywood scriptwriter Skip Woods.

Albino received another threatening SMS on May 17, saying: “Albino, you demon. We won’t let your abuse pass!” The message was allegedly signed by the “ABB,” the acronym for the Alex Boncayao Brigade, the former hit squad of the communist New People’s Army.

Albino is also the general manager of the radio station. He anchors the daily news and commentary program “Jun Albino Live” at six in the morning Monday to Friday. Albino has reported the threats to the local police, and instructed security personnel of his office to be on the alert.

Read the full story in the CMFR website here.