Armed man threatens Bulacan journalists

MALOLOS, Philippines — A group of journalists was reportedly threatened by a motorcycle-riding man in San Jose del Monte, Bulacan on Friday.

Erick Silverio, president of the Bulacan Press Club (BPC), condemned the incident, saying it was an attack on press freedom.

Silverio questioned the alleged presence of armed men in the province despite the continuous anti-crime operations being conducted by the police. 

He said they have been receiving reports that armed men are roaming around the city.

A report submitted yesterday by former BPC president Carmela Reyes-Estrope to the Presidential Task Force on Media Security detailed how the armed man intimidated her group.

Estrope also filed the same report to the  Criminal Investigation and Detection Group of the provincial police on Saturday.

She said that she was with fellow journalists Eloisa Silverio, Louie Angeles, Isagani Navarro, Rommel Ramos and Silverio in a government vehicle when the suspect flagged them down on Igay Road in Barangay Paradise 3.

The group came from Barangay San Mateo in Norzagaray town, where they covered the inspection and environmental assessment of a sanitary landfill.

Federico Rivas, driver of the vehicle, and Angeles said the man openly displayed his firearm.