Press groups condemn death threats vs reporter Jomar Canlas

MANILA, Philippines — Journalists on Wednesday condemned death threats against Manila Times reporter Jomar Canlas as "a direct attack on press freedom."

The National Press Club of the Philippines said the threats against Canlas "clearly show that much work needs to be done to address the prevailing culture of impunity in the country."

Canlas was a resource person in impeachment proceedings against Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno at the House of Representatives.

Facing the House Committee on Justice — which now calls itself the impeachment committee ?— Canlas testified on an allegedly "falsified" temporary restraining order that Sereno issued.

Lawyer Larry Gadon, who filed the impeachment complaint against Sereno, named Canlas as a "friend" whom he "trusts" and the source of his information on the supposedly falsified TRO.

Gadon claimed Canlas, who wrote about the issue, has direct communication with Associate Justice Teresita De Castro.

But Canlas, facing the House panel, categorically denied that De Castro was his source on that story.

De Castro had earlier swiftly denied that she "released to Jomar Canlas (of Manila Times) any information, report, or document regarding the work of the Supreme Court."

READ: Gadon 'cannot remember' where he got information on impeachment case

Days later, Canlas sought the assistance of the Manila Police District and the National Bureau of Investigation because of threats sent to him through SMS.

READ: Statements of JUROR and JUCRA press corps on the threats against Manila Times reporter Jomar Canlas, a resource person at the impeachment hearings. | @kristinepatag pic.twitter.com/VWf1iFfehb

— Philstar.com (@PhilstarNews) December 6, 2017

NPC President Paul Gutierrez said the Presidential Task Force on Media Security has assured the NPC that it is on top of Canlas' case.

The PTFoMS was created through Administrative Order on October 11, 2016. Members of the media may report threats to the task force, which will then monitor and, if necessary, provide assistance to journalists concerned.

Justice press corps unite

The two press corps covering the justice beat also issued statements of support for Canlas.

In a statement, the Justice Reporters Organization (JUROR) slammed the death threats against its founding member as a "direct attack on press freedom, which has no place in democracy."

The group said "[j]ournalists faithfully doing their job to keep the public well-informed, especially on matters pertaining to government affairs, should never be a target of attacks and intimidation."

The group also vowed to continue fulfilling its duty as the fourth estate of the nation: "To renege on our responsibility in upholding the truth at all times is to betray our social contract with the people. To stifle that responsibility in whatever manner, is a betrayal of truth itself."

Fourth estate, which has been used to refer to the press, 

The Justice and Courts Reporters Association (JUCRA), meanwhile, branded the threats against Canlas an "act of cowardice and attack on our constitutionally enshrined freedom of the press."

"We must never allow another case of intimidation and harassment of journalists as we stand pat on our duty as a watchdog of democracy," JUCRA also said, adding: "We call on authorities to investigate the matter and run after the person/persons responsible for this dastardly criminal act."