CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (MindaNews/15 May) — Prominent radio journalist Albino Quinlog Jr., popularly known as Jun Albino has received death threats purportedly for his station’s coverage of the smuggling of high end cars and motorcycles from the United States.
Albino received the threat through text message while having his news program at 6:51 a.m. Saturday. The text message which came from 09333203705 read: “Mr. Albino, undangi na ang pag imbistigar kang Bigcas kung gusto ka pa maka-abot sa Fiesta. Ibulag namo imong ulo sa imong lawas” (Mr.
Albino, stop your investigation of Bigcas if you still want to be alive to celebrate the fiesta.
We will separate your head from your body.”
The city celebrates its feast on August 28.
Albino, General Manager of Magnum Music and News Radio (99.9 FM) said the threat could come from prankster but he is not taking it lightly amid reports that Lynard Allan Bigcas, suspect in the car and motorcycle smuggling which was discovered by the National Bureau of Investigation and the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), may have connections with powerful persons.
“Magbantay lang sa kanunay (We will just be alert always) but we will not stop our coverage of this important public issue,” Albino told Mindanews.
Albino shared this concern with MindaNews which in turn referred his case to the National Union of Journalist of the Philippines (NUJP) Safety Office in Mindanao based here. The NUJP Safety Office in Mindanao is now looking into the matter. “We have issued an alert on this case,” said JB Deveza, NUJP Mindanao Safety Officer.
The smuggling ring captured worldwide attention after one of the motorcycles recovered in an NBI raid in Talakag, Bukidnon and Kauswagan, Cagayan de Oro turned out to be the lost U$80,000 Martin Brothers chopper of Hollywood writer Skip Woods (X-men, Swordfish). Woods lost his custom made motorcycle in Houston, Texas four years ago.
Authorities recovered a total of 43 luxury cars that included a Corvette and big bikes, and assorted firearms and ammunition in the twin raids last May 4, 2011.
Bigcas came into the open Friday to air his side. He denied any involvement in smuggling and claimed he bought the expensive cars and motorcycles here in the Philippines. (BenCyrus G. Ellorin/MindaNews)
