Reporter to file grave threat raps vs Abra congressional bet – PNP

Abra province. File photo.

MANILA, Philippines — A reporter is set to file a grave threat complaint against an Abra congressional candidate, said the Philippine National Police (PNP).

In a press briefing at Camp Crame on Thursday, without dropping names, PNP public information chief Col. Randulf Tuaño said the case involved a “64-year-old reporter based in Baguio City” and a “politician running for a congressional seat… in Abra.”

“We’ll do the regular filing. They’ll be filing a case for grave threat,” Tuaño said in Filipino

“Their attorney will still see what other cases can be filed because the evidence is somewhat strong, according to our RPIO, the media vanguard,” he added.

Spoke critically

According to Tuaño, the reporter spoke critically of the congressional bet on a Facebook livestream last Monday, April 20.

Tuaño said the reporter then sought assistance from the Baguio City Police Office Station 3, turning over “digital evidence” of death threats against him from the candidate.

Further, the reporter filed his statement to authorities in Manila on Thursday afternoon, the PNP public information chief added.

“This was reported earlier this morning to the Presidential Task Force on Media Security, where it was acted upon by Usec. Joe Torres,” Tuaño detailed.

READ: ‘Specialized teams’ to protect journalists for 2025 polls

Earlier this April, the PTFOMS relaunched its “Media Safety Vanguards” as an initiative to deploy “specialized teams” to respond to threats against media personnel amid the 2025 national and local elections.

The PNP Public Information Office and its regional counterparts were tasked to oversee the initiative.