Dear friends,
The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) is pleased to inform you that a broadcast journalist whom we reported earlier to have been threatened for exposing corrupt practices, illegal logging and trafficking in his community in Bukidnon, Mindanao, has now been provided with security for himself and his family to ensure their safety.
UPDATED INFORMATION:
In our appeal on 4 February 2014 (AHRC-UAC-014-2014), we reported that Arthur “Jun” Sapanghari, Jr., a radio broadcaster of dxDB Bandilyo Bukidnon – Radio Veritas, in Valencia City, Bukidnon has received death threats from unidentified persons via an SMS on December 7, 2013.
Photo: His profile photo at plus.google.com
Following that, Arthur’s friend, Randie Makipotin, also a media practitioner, also received text messages on January 21, 2014. The person making threats said that they would kill him once they had killed Sapanghari.
In a letter dated March 27, 2014 received recently by Ms. Liliana Corrieri, program assistant of the AHRC’s Urgent Appeals programme, Police Chief Supt. Augusto Marquez, Jr., officer in charge, Directorate for Investigation and Detective Management (DIDM) of the Philippine National Police (PNP), said:
“This pertains to your letter dated February 4, 2014…regarding the ongoing threats against Arthur “Jun” Sapanghari and Randie Makipotin, broadcasters and journalists in Valencia City, Bukidnon.
Please be informed that we have already detailed police personnel to provide protective security to Mr. Sapanghari and his family in order to ensure their safety against possible threats while Mr. Sapanghari actively participates in the peace and order campaigns in Valencia City.
Moreover, a discreet investigation is ongoing to identify the personalities involved in the alleged threats against the lives of Mr. Sapanghari and Mr. Randie Makipotin.”
The AHRC welcomes the action taken by the PNP in providing security personnel to ensure the safety of Arthur and his family. In line with this, we also expect that the “discreet investigation” that the PNP has announced that it is undertaking to identify the persons involved in making such threats will produce results and that the PNP will take appropriate action on those results.
Thank you.
Urgent Appeals Desk
Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) (ua@ahrc.asia)
