Popular television journalist Ces Oreña Drilon went off the air after receiving threatening text messages from an unknown sender. She declared during her last appearance on ABS-CBN news that she was going on a holiday but did not reveal her destination. It is understandable that information on her destination card was suppressed by immigration authorities at the airport.
Drilon said she received text messages from a person using a cell phone number +63 998 171 5664. The person initially posed as her informant on her story on Arnel Manaloto, a lawyer of prime suspect Andal Ampatuan Jr.
On July 27, the sender of the text message asked Drilon for a meeting somewhere in Bulacan. When Drilon refused to respond, the anonymous sender sent a threatening message: “SUNOD KA NA SUMABOG. DI AKO TIGIL HANGGANG DI KA NAGBAYAD SA GINAWA MO!” (You’re next to be blown up. I won’t stop until you pay for what you did.)
It was on July 24 when Drilon aired a story on lawyer Manaloto’s tax evasion case and how he could be a dummy owner of eight properties of Andal Ampatuan Jr. in Davao City. Minutes later, she received a series on threatening text message on her cell phone.
Sought for comment, lead defence counsel Sigfrid Fortun told GMA News Online in a text message: “I do not know anything about those assets or the transfer [of properties] to Manaloto. I have no dealings with the Ampatuans on properties.”
In an interview with the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility, Drilon said she posted the text threats for her own protection and “as insurance in case [the sender] made good on his threat.”
In a separate tweet, Drilon said: “If anything happens to me, this lawyer [Manaloto] is responsible. It is irrefutable.”
NUJP statement
The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) had earlier denounced the threats and urged ABS-CBN TV network to “undertake measures to ensure her safety.”
“Without ascribing any responsibility, the nature of her report and the fact that the message was sent to her personal mobile number indicates it was likely meant to intimidate her into backing off from the story she had been pursuing,” the NUJP said.
The Manaloto Tax Evasion Case
In November 2012, lawyer Arnel Manaloto was charged for his alleged failure to supply correct and accurate information in his income tax return and for his failure to file value-added tax for 2011.
Based on the investigation of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), Manaloto declared a total income of only P1.495 million in 2011, but was able to acquire a total of eight real estate properties in Davao City.
The BIR said Manaloto’s under declaration of his income was a “deliberate ploy to avoid having to register as a VAT taxpayer.”
According to the BIR, Manaloto earned P37.97 million in revenues in 2011, but failed to pay the corresponding VAT or register as a VAT taxpayer.
The BIR computed Manaloto’s deficiency income and VAT liability at P27.56 million for 2011, including surcharge and interest. — GMA News