MPD probes threats against Manila Times reporter

Canlas met MPD director Chief Superintendent Joel Coronel on Monday afternoon to report the incident. (Photo: PTV/Facebook)

MANILA — The Manila Police District (MPD) on Monday said it will investigate the death threat received by Manila Times reporter Jomar Canlas after he testified in the impeachment proceedings against Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno at the House of Representatives.

Canlas, a veteran print journalist, said he got two identical text messages on December 1, apparently telling him to say his last wishes to his wife and children.

“P****** mo Jomar Canlas, 3 kami ang papatay syo, marami ka na kasalanan sa amin, magbilin ka na sa asawa mo at anak mo, bago ka mamatay. Hindi to pananakot, ds time, talagang patay ka jomar (sic),” the text message sent to Canlas read.

Canlas believes the threats may have something to do with his testimony at the House justice committee on November 27 when he talked about the story he had written regarding the allegation that Sereno falsified a court resolution in 2013.

Canlas met MPD director Chief Superintendent Joel Coronel on Monday afternoon to report the incident.

Coronel said the threat should be addressed immediately and that he might consider giving a security detail.

“We’re taking the threat seriously because of the ongoing impeachment proceedings. The threat should be addressed immediately. We can also consider giving you security detail,” Coronel said.

Canlas is expected to report the threat to the National Bureau of Investigation.

Lawyer Larry Gadon, impeachment complainant, claimed that he received information against Sereno from Manila Times reporter Jomar Canlas, who supposedly got the same from Associate Justice Teresita De Castro.

De Castro denied Gadon’s claim, saying that she has “never released to Jomar Canlas any information, report, or document regarding the work of the Supreme Court.

Canlas said he does not and has not revealed his sources. He covers the judiciary and has written exclusive stories about the Supreme Court, citing anonymous sources and insiders.

“I have never revealed to anyone my sources. I deny De Castro was my source,” Canlas testified last Monday, referring to the associate justice.