NUJP urges probe of attack; NPC to file raps
MANILA, Philippines – The governor of Kalinga province is in hot water after being caught on camera attacking a radio commentator inside the announcer's booth of the government-owned DZRK Radyo ng Bayan-Kalinga Tuesday morning.
Radio announcer Jerome Tabanganay said he was hosting his show "Agenda ng Bayan" on Tuesday when Governor Jocel Baac barged into the announcer's booth and started pointing at Tabanganay's monitor. The governor then grabbed a microphone and hit the radio announcer on the lip.
Two security guards then went inside the booth and tried to pacify Baac, who was clearly angry with the announcer.
An Agence France-Presse report said Baac even threatened the announcer before leaving: "Go on. Keep talking. I will kill you."
The entire incident was caught on camera by the radio station. However, the part about the governor hitting Tabanganay was not seen because the cameraman accidentally bumped the camera.
In an interview with ABS-CBN's "Umagang Kay Ganda", Baac denied intentionally hitting Tabanganay. He said he hit the radio announcer by accident after grabbing the microphone.
"Hindi ko hinampas si Jerome...Pagkakuha ko ng microphone yun ang tumama sa bibig ni Jerome. Ang intensyon ko sa pagpunta duon ay hindi para saktan si Jerome. My intention to go there was to get leverage over radio to answer allegation niya," he told Punto por Punto host Anthony Taberna.
He said he rushed to the radio station because Tabanganay was reporting about the governor's order to the DZRK station manager that they should censor his show.
Baac said that on Monday, he had told the dzRK station manager Basilio Baluyan to inform Tabanganay to take a vacation and put his show on hold because it was making a lot of government officials angry.
He said Tabanganay would often read unverified text messages on his show about alleged anomalies of government agencies.
"Maraming nagrereklamo. As a leader of the province, obligasyon ko to take action," the governor said, adding that Tabanganay was "wild" because he refused to listen.
He also told the station manager to rectify an allegedly erroneous report on the arson attempt on the radio station last month. The report was aired on ABS-CBN and radio dzMM.
The governor noted that Tabanganay had already survived a homicide attempt last year. He said he even sent 2 policemen to the radio station to guard the announcer after the incident.
'Governor a protector of jueteng, illegal logging'
Tabanganay refuted the governor's account of the events. "Nagsisinungaling si governor (The governor is lying)," he said, adding that he has the medical certificate to prove his injuries.
He said the video clearly shows that the governor had no intention of explaining his side in a peaceful manner.
"I have a medical certificate. Hayaan na yung critical aspect, injuries but yung ginawa ni governor na paghablot, pagsira sa istasyon. Tingnan mo yung goons niya. Armado yan ng M-16. May armed men pa sa labas ng station na hindi authorized na humawak ng baril," he told ABS-CBN.
Tabanganay accused the governor of being a protector of illegal gambling and logging in the province. He said Baac wants to dictate to the media because of the various exposés on his show.
"Galit sa akin yan dahil ayaw niya magbantay ng korapsyon. Pati nga ang Philippine Army pinapagalitan niya pag naghuhuli ng nangangahoy," he said.
The radio announcer said that he is actually the 5th person to be attacked by the governor. He said Baac also attacked 2 engineers and 2 women previously.
Tabanganay said he is just doing his job of exposing the truth.
The governor, meanwhile, said the announcer does not want to listen to his advice.
"These allegations are sour graping.Hindi niya kinukuha ang advice para sa kapakanan niya e. Ayaw namin mangyari sa kanya e...kaya we want him to cool off. Imbes na magcool off ang sitwasyon, masama ang pagtanggap niya sa advice sa kanya," he said. DILG probes attack
The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP), meanwhile, urged the national government to investigate the incident and stop the escalation of violence against journalists.
In an interview, NUJP Secretary General Rowena Paraan said Tabanganay's plight shows the difficulties faced by journalists in far-off places such as Kalinga. She noted that Tabanganay already survived a murder attempt last year.
"The fact that he continues with his work shows his commitment and is commendable," she said.
Paraan said one problem faced by Tabanganay is the lack of protection provided by government. She said the regional state prosecutor has admitted that the Witness Protection Program (WPP) has no funds to provide him security.
She said she has already received a report that the governor is issuing a petition that would effectively bar Tabanganay from continuing his profession.
Paraan said the Aquino administration should step in to show that violence against journalists by elected officials is not tolerated. "The government must show that the governor's actions are not being tolerated. Hindi dapat pinapabayaan ang mga elected officials na gawin ito. They must be sanctioned," she said.
Paraan said she does not believe the governor's explanation that he was merely trying to explain his side to Tabanganay. She said the video only proves who between the two was being wild.
"Bakit (siya) kailangang awatin? (Why do they need to pacify him?)" she said, referring to Baac.
Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo said he has ordered an investigation of the governor, and directed the police to provide security for Tabanganay.
"If the result of the investigation will show there is evidence against Baac and his bodyguards, then appropriate criminal and administrative charges should be filed against him soon," Robredo said.
Presidential Communications Secretary Sonny Coloma said that "appropriate procedures" would be taken against the governor.
"We reaffirm our commitment to protect the responsible exercise of freedom of expression by broadcasters and journalists," he added. Gov to face sedition, administrative raps
The National Press Club, meanwhile, said it will file administrative, civil and criminal cases against the governor.
In a statement, the NPC said it will sue Baac for conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service and for oppression, both punishable with dismissal from the service.
It said Baac will also be charged with violating Article 32 of the Civil Code of the Philippines that calls for free exercise of the press. Finally, the NPC will also file a criminal case for sedition against the governor.
"In the eyes of the NPC, the acts done by the governor is an act of hate or revenge against all in the class of journalists to preserve his political power...Rest assured that the NPC will always take the cudgels for all or any member of the press because it was created for the purpose of upholding the freedom of the press," the group said. Media and rights groups say the Philippines is one of the world's most dangerous places for journalists.
They say a culture of impunity pervades the country, where powerful figures often act above the law and firearms proliferate.
At least 142 journalists have been killed since the fall of dictator Ferdinand Marcos and the restoration of democracy in 1986, according to the Philippine journalists' union.
Most infamously, 30 journalists were among 57 people murdered in the southern Philippines in 2009, allegedly by members of a powerful clan who wanted to eliminate a rival's political challenge. With a report from Agence France-Presse
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