DAVAO CITY -- Death threats have been sent by text to two editors of Sun.Star Davao, accusing them of bias for Davao City Hall in the presentation of news stories.

The accusation was blanket and did not specify the stories or the instances the perceived bias came to fore.

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The two text messages from an unlisted number were received by an editor of Sun.Star Davao. It carried the threat of "isang bala lang kayo."

A text message from cellphone number 09179125620 was first received at 7:20 p.m. of August 20 by news editor Gigie A. Agtay, accusing the newspaper of being biased and its editor-in-chief Stella A. Estremera of being in the payroll of City Hall.

The message, while sent to Agtay, was addressed to Estremera. It read:

"Hi stella, we knw na kasali ka payrol ng city hall. Pero huwag mong kalimotan puede kang isang bala kalang. Sayang lang galing mo. Nabulag ka sa katotohanan. BE FAIR NAMAN IN REPORTING. Maybe u knw what i mean. Dont be bias. Ang panahun baya ay weather2 lang."

The second message was received at 9:07 p.m. of the same day, this time addressed to Agtay. It read:

"Ikaw din Gigi pagsabihan mo yan kaibigan mo si Stela. Be fair in ur reporting hindi bias. Naging most outstanding kayo hndi lahat panahon kayo nasa ibabaw. isang bala lang kayo."

Estremera denied being in the City Hall payroll and that the newspaper reports are biased.

"The stories can speak for themselves," she said. "We take our job seriously."

She said this is the first time they have been accused of biased reporting and being paid hacks.

But she recalled that one other person made similar accusations to two people in two occasions two months ago. The accusation of being biased was said to a high officer of Sun.Star Davao in Cebu, while the accusation of being in the payroll along with several media practitioners was said to a reporter in Davao who was also told that the information about media members in Davao City was a "bombshell."

Still Estremera refused to put two and two together.

"It's unfair to make accusations. I should know, I'm being accused now," she said. (Sun.Star Davao/Sunnex)