A wake-up call

EDITORIAL

The investigation as ordered by Interior and Local Government Secretary Jessie Robredo on the alleged harassment of a broadcaster in Kalinga by the provincial governor should be objective and impartial.

This, considering that the alleged attack on a media member, an anchorman of a government-run radio station at that, allegedly by Gov. Jocel Baac is a stark example of the daily threats provincial journalists are facing.

For “attacking” Jerome Tabanganay of dzRK-Radyo ng Bayan in Tabuk City, is now in hot water with various media clubs all over the country condemning him and his actions against the former.

Baac faces criminal and administrative charges for allegedly threatening to kill Tabanganay after breaking into the announcer’s booth past noon on Tuesday and whacking the broadcaster with a microphone.

Baac was earlier mum about the incident after he allegedly threatened to kill Tabanganay. The broadcaster in turn said he is determined to file criminal and administrative complaints against the governor.

The broadcaster said Baac stormed into the announcer’s booth with fully armed bodyguards as he was ending his “Agenda II” radio program. Baac allegedly grabbed the guest’s microphone and smashed it on Tabanganay’s forehead, saying, “Sobra kan (You are already too much).”

Policemen detailed at the radio station following a failed arson try there last May 24, reportedly pacified the governor.

Before he left, Baac reportedly said, “Agsao ka pay ta patayen ka (You talk more and I will kill you).” In protest, dzRK-Tabuk has gone off air since Tuesday afternoon to demonstrate its condemnation.

The management of the government-run Radyo ng Bayan has summoned dzRK-Tabuk manager Basilio Baluyan to a meeting in Manila for the filing of charges against Baac.

A day before the incident on June 6, Baluyan was also reportedly berated by Baac during the government-initiated “Kapihan sa Kapitol” forum.

This after the May 24 attempt to burn down the radio station drew “international and national attention.” Baac said the international furor over the incident would negatively impact on the image of the province.

Tabanganay, who survived a slay attempt right at the radio station in September last year, appealed to authorities to help him in his quest for justice over the incident saying, “It will also be a quest against impunity.”

The broadcaster linked Baac’s action to criticisms on the resurgence of jueteng in the province and reports implicating one of his relatives to illegal logging.

Last May 24, men believed to be employed by jueteng operators tried to burn the radio station by lobbing Molotov cocktails in one of its rooms, but alert security guards foiled the arson attempt. After the attack on dzRK-Tabuk, jueteng operations stopped and have not resumed since then.

The incident mirrors the situation between media members and government officials in provinces, where most often, the latter run remote areas like medieval fiefdoms.

The incident should also serve as a wake-up call to officials and media members to do their jobs with integrity for the benefit of the masses they purport to serve.