Alleged militia leader threatens journalists

From ABS-CBN (Dec 25): Alleged militia leader threatens journalists

An alleged leader of the Magahat-Bagani paramilitary forces warned members of the media against attending the anniversary celebration of the Communist Party of the Philippines.

A certain Bobby Tejero threatened to ambush journalists who will cover the celebration of the founding anniversary of CPP on December 26, Saturday.

''Walang media na dadalo upang hindi madamay sa bakbakan sa pagitan ng [New People's Army] at armadong lumad magahat… ipakalat sa buong mindanao at surigao del sur. Walang kinalaman ang kasundaluhan at mga pulis kasi away lang ito ng lumad at NPA,'' the text message read.

The Magahat-Bagani forces were blamed for the September 1 killings of community leader Dionel Campos and his cousin Bello Sinzo, and of Emerito Samarca, executive director of a school catering to indigenous peoples in Lianga town - people accused of being members or sympathizers of the communist New People’s Army (NPA).

The paramilitary forces have been linked to the military, but the latter has denied sanctioning the group's actions.

In a statement, militant group Bayan Muna slammed the alleged threat.

"That these barefaced threats are issued while a mutual ceasefire and suspension of military operations were declared by the government and the rebels, smack of brazen impunity and disrespect of civilian authorities," Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Isagani Zarate said.

Bayan Muna also slammed the police and the military for allegedly doing nothing to neutralize the forces despite the standing warrants of arrests against them.

"While the police and the military in the area appears to be inutile in stopping the atrocities of Tejeros group, the already growing humanitarian crisis in Surigao del Sur is ironically responded by the government with the deployment of even more soldiers in the province," Zarate said.

The death of Samarca, Campos and Sinzo highlighted the plight of the thousands of Lumad in Mindanao, who claim they were being ejected from their ancestral homeland by mining and agribusiness firms.

http://news.abs-cbn.com/nation/regions/12/25/15/alleged-militia-leader-threatens-journalists