A radio broadcaster in Kalibo town, the capital of Aklan province, has been receiving threatening text messages since February 2014 when he began criticising the town mayor for alleged corruption, the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility has reported.
Jodel Rentillo said he started receiving threatening text messages in late February after he started discussing in his radio programme issues involving Kalibo mayor William Lachica. Rentillo hosts the morning radio program Todo Birada which airs on Radyo Todo 88.5 FM.
One of the text messages warned Rentillo to stop criticising the mayor or his "brains will be scattered" in the river behind the radio station building. On March 20, Rentillo said he received four more threatening text messages during his radio programme.
In a report from the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ), the mayor denied involvement in corruption and said he would not comment on the threats against Rentillo. "I cannot say anything about it," Lachica said. "Instead look "into (Rentillo's) personality," adding that his rival politicians could be behind Rentillo.
Kalibo, in the Visayas group of islands, is some 400km south of Manila.
