Filipino journalist Mark Joshua Lansangan received a death threat via text messages. Some days later, an unidentified man on a motorcycle was seen in front of his house, which frightened his relatives.
This story was published on cmfr-phil.org on 3 December 2015.
A television news broadcaster in Pampanga received a death threat through text messages last November 11, 2015.
Pampanga province is approximately 81 kilometers north of Manila.
CLTV36 broadcaster Mark Joshua Lansangan told CMFR that he received the threat from the unidentified owner of mobile number +639068111961. The message said, “Magandang gabi eleksyon na naman kaibigan masyado kang maraming nalalaman hindi mo alam kung sino na ang nasasagasaan mong tao mainit na mainit na ang kamay ko sayo marami nakong alam sa buhay mo kilalang kilala na kita wag kang masyadong nangaabuso manahimik ka nalang iisipin mo nga sinasabi mo isa pang pagkakamali mo walang lugar ang tulad mo pati ang walang hiyang tatay mo dito… RIP (Good evening. It’s election time again my friend. You seem to know a lot. You do not know who you are messing with. My hands are already on fire to hit you. I already know a lot about you. I know who you are now. Don’t be too abusive, keep your mouth shut and think about what you are saying. One more mistake and you’ll be gone, you and your shameless father. RIP)”
Lansangan is the host of CLTV36 news and commentary program Hamon ng Bayan (People’s Challenge) aired every Monday 8:00 to 9:00 p.m. The program provides commentaries on local issues and politics in the province. He is also a police beat reporter of the news program Spot Report aired every Thursday from 5:30 to 6:00 p.m.
Following the incident, Lansangan said that an unidentified man on a motorcycle was seen in front of his house on November 22, which frightened his relatives. The broadcaster was at work that time. The unidentified man left only when some barangay officials confronted him.
Lansangan reported the incident to the police and the Commission on Human Rights-Region 3. As of press time, he has been temporarily re-assigned to the news desk as a precaution.
