MANILA — The Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas on Friday condemned "in strongest terms" threats that La Paz, Abra Mayor Joseph "JB" Bernos reportedly made against reporter Romeo Gonzales, a provincial correspondent of radio station DZRH.

According to reports and to DZRH owner MBC Media Group, Bernos had taken exception to Gonzales' report on a shooting incident in the province, which the mayor said was "irresponsible reporting."

Bernos, who is running for congressman of Abra, allegedly harassed Gonzales over online messenger and a video call, saying "babalikan kita” (I’ll get back at you) for what the mayor called his "irresponsible reporting."

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"Without necessarily claiming that he will carry out such threat, the fact that he brazenly and openly intimidated a media reporter while in the line of duty certainly sends a chilling effect and contributes to a culture of impunity that emboldens perpetrators to violently silence journalists," nationwide broadcast media organization KBP said.

Election violence in Abra has prompted the Philippine National Police to reactivate a task force there that will focus on ensuring peace and order during the election period.

KBP called on the PNP, the Presidential Task Force on Media Security and other stakeholders to work together to address the incident.

"By providing a safe space for media practitioners, we are also providing a conducive environment that protects and promotes free speech," KBP also said.

The National Press Club earlier also condemned the reported threats and said that PTFoMS, which earlier this month reactivated its Media Vanguard program with the PNP, has already launched an investigation into the incident. 

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A broad coalition of nearly 40 media and human rights organizations as well as the UP College of Media and Communication earlier this month launched their electoral agenda "to highlight our issues and propose possible solutions" to the press freedom and media safety situation in the Philippines."

They said the policy recommendations, which include "[ending] the culture of impunity and [ending] the normalization of repression and censorship" would help the media do its work more effectively and help it serve the public better.