In  a press statement dated February 8, the NUJP said the threats were sent to Ms Manar by text message from a cell phone with the number 09301186508 immediately after she interviewed on Kidapawan’s radio dxND North Cotabato police director, Senior Superintendent Norberto Batislaong last week about the unsolved series of motorcycle thefts in the city.

Batislaong told Manar’s program, Lakad Bayan, that they know the suspects behind the motorcycle thefts in the city and neighboring towns in North Cotabato and that the Philippine National Police is continuing its operations against these syndicates.

Shortly thereafter,  Manar received a text message using her personal mobile number. The message read “Masaket ka magsolte Malo maghulat ka kay kame ang magdurog at magwasak sa imo (You speak harshly, Malu, you wait because we will crush and destroy you).”

 “Kilala ka namo.  Baga imo glasses (We know you.  You have thick glasses), the texter said.

“The tone of the messages indicate not only a clear intent to silence Ms Manar, either through fear or outright assault, but also an utter contempt of authority, one of the hallmarks of the culture of impunity that has flourished under this administration because of its inaction on the media killings that have reached record proportions under its watch,” the NUJP statement read.

Manar immediately reported the threat to the PNP and sought security assistance from authorities. She also informed the NUJP about the threat.

 Since December last year, around 22 motorcycle have been stolen in North Cotabato with Kidapawan having the highest number at 12, Kabacan with nine and Matalam with one case.

Of the victims whose motorcycles were stolen, two were killed by the suspects, including a woman, Lyzza Jan Cadi of Kabacan.

Sa mga biktima sa kawat sa motorsiklo, duha niini gi;pusil og gipatay sa mga suspect -- one a female identified as Lyzza Jan Cadi of Kabacan.    Nahitabo kini last Dec 31 sa Poblacion, Kabacan.

Only one of the stolen motorcycles was recovered – the motorcycle owned by former Police Officer Porferio Enoc of Kidapawan City.   It was recovered along the Pagalungan-Pagagawan highway in Maguindanao, a few hours after it was stolen in Kidapawan City on January 9.

Police officials in North Cotabato said the stolen vehicles are usually brought to Datu Paglas in Maguindanao and Pikit in North Cotabto and other neighboring areas where the parts are taken and reassembled and the reassembled motorcycles are then sold in South Cotabato, Davao del Sur and Maguindanao.  (MindaNews)

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