It’s not a badge of honor

Once journalists boasted that one can’t call himself a real newsman unless he faces a libel case. Now, the problem is hardly any libel cases are filed anymore. They just get killed.

It is no longer a badge of honor to be called a journalist in the Philippines. Jose Katigbak, STAR Washington bureau chief, quoted the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists as saying the country is the second most dangerous for journalists in the world. Just next to Iraq.

The string of murders of journalists, mostly broadcasters, finally compelled the organization of the National Task Force Newsman. One of the major scores so far was the surrender of former policeman Guillermo Wapile. He was suspected to be the gunman in the slaying of broadcaster Edgar Damalerio. Damalerio was an anchorman of radio station dxKP in Pagadian City. He was gunned down on May 12, 2002 by one of two motorcycle-riding men.

But it seems that the setback has not discouraged the threats against journalists. A case in point was the recent attack on Dumaguete-based broadcaster Maritoni Salvoro-Austero. Last Aug. 23, a masked man, wearing a camouflage jacket and riding a motorcycle, fired M-16 bullets near Austero’s house. Later, the unidentified gunman left a live caliber .45 bullet with a note that accused Austero of having jeopardized an unknown group’s illegal activities, and stressed "Consider yourself dead!!! Dead!!!

But until yesterday, the Philippine National Police command in Negros Oriental reported no leads in their probe of the attack. That’s two weeks after the incident.

National Union of Journalists of the Philippines chairman Salvacion Espina-Varona wrote a letter to the National Task Force Newsman and the PNP Negros Oriental asking that they give priority to Austero’s case.

Carlos Conde and Jose Torres, secretary general and director, respectively, of the NUJP Commission to Protect Journalists, also said they have sent letters to Austero and Fr. Ramonito Maata, dyWC station manager, informing them that they have made strong representations with the task force.

Dumaguete and Negros Oriental journalists told NUJP officials that the threats against Austero may have been triggered by her attempts to expose the illegal activities of a still unknown group.

Provincial PNP director Marciano del Mar told the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster sa Pilipinas’ Dlynda Descuatan that they are still gathering evidence to identify the perpetrator of the Aug. 23 incident.

So far, the Bacong police has failed to convince any witness to come out in the open to give a statement on the incident.

Meanwhile, Del Mar said the Bacong police is patrolling the area where Austero resides. Correspondingly, the Sibulan police has included in its daily patrols the vicinity of the dyWC radio station.

Well, at least, something is being done to protect Austero. The problem, however, is that investigations into past assassinations of journalists are slow. Worse, very often, the suspects are identified but they are hardly caught and charged in court.

Worse, as in the case of Wapile, very often the suspects turn out to be discharged or AWOL lawmen.

Standoff in Roxas mayoralty issue

Roxas City Vice Mayor Alan Celino vented his ire on DILG officer Clyne Deocampo for "not making a stand as to who should be recognized as the true acting mayor."

Celino filed an administrative complaint against Deocampo with DILG Western Visayas director Rexdito Reyes after a meeting the vice mayor had called with Roxas City officials who, in turn. boycotted him. Only one reportedly heeded Celino’s invitation.

Ailing Mayor Antonio del Rosario, however, shortly after he collapsed last April 31, issued a written appointment of city administrator Emmanuel Losanta as OIC.

It was only on Sept. 7 when Celino took over as acting mayor, citing paragraph of the Local Government Code’s Section 46. This states that "when a mayor is temporarily incapacitated to perform his duties for physical or legal reasons such as, but not limited, to leave of absence, travel abroad, and suspension from office, the vice mayor shall automatically exercise the powers and perform the duties and functions of the local chief executive..."

Losanta refused to yield to Celino, pointing out that he had been designated in writing as the officer-in-charge of the mayor’s office.

Deocampo, on the other hand, earlier had stated that the vice mayor has the full authority to exercise the executive powers of the Roxas City local government unit.

Celino, however, said the DILG should issue a formal notice recognizing him as the lawful acting mayor.

Confusion reigns in the Roxas City Hall. Last Thursday, Mayor Del Rosario, however, held a teleconference with city officials and warned them against recognizing Celino as acting mayor.

Del Rosario also advised city officials that he was discharged from the Makati Medical Center on Wednesday and would return as the city’s chief executive soon.

He also vehemently denied that he was incapacitated and described himself as okay, adding that he may return to Roxas City on Thursday.

With Mayor Del Rosario still in Manila, Vice Mayor Celino and Losanta are calling their respective shots at City Hall. This does not augur well for the smooth operation of the city government.

Lawyers protest SC legal fees

Members of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines’ local chapter are poised to mount a protest march on Sept. 21 to manifest their stand against the hiked Supreme Court legal fees.

The march will be from the provincial capitol to the Hall of Justice. Metro Manila IBP members will also stage a similar protest action and will march to Congress.

The IBP Cebu chapter has also expressed strong objection to the recently approved hike in legal fees by the high tribunal, according to lawyer Democrito Barcenas. While the court has the inherent power to make changes, he pointed out these should be harmonized with the prevailing critical economic and social conditions of the country.

Lawyer Alfredo Geolingo, president of the local IBP chapter, asked the high tribunal to suspend the newly approved legal fees which took effect last Aug. 16.

IBP Resolutions No. 2003-2005-026 cited the numerous complaints received by the local chapter from litigants and concerned citizens noting the drastic increases in legal fees. These reportedly adversely affect the rights of litigants, especially the marginalized in the pursuit of justice.

Among the officers present during the deliberations were vice president Joe Ealdama, secretary Joy Barbasa, treasurer Erfe Caldit, auditor Aurelio Diamante Jr., PRO Mitchelle Abella, and directors Francis Omar Demonteverde, David Arevalo, Nestor Dumdumaya, Joel Dojillo and Cris Dionela.

IBI national president Anselmo Cadiz is set to hold a dialogue with Chief Justice Hilario Davide Jr. on the legal fee hike.

One of the increases cited was in marriage ceremonies, from the current P200 to P2,000. This exorbitant fee, it was pointed out, would only encourage spouses to just "live in."

P6-M dairy program

The target — to provide milk to 10,000 malnourished children in San Enrique, La Castellana and Moises Padilla. A tall order. But Negros Occidental Gov. Joseph Marañon believes this can be done.

Last weekend, he turned over 175 head of cattle to 76 farmers in these towns. The occasion: the launching of the Provincial Dairy Program jointly with the National Dairy Authority and the Provincial Veterinarian’s Office.

The cattle, imported from Australia, will definitely be able to generate enough milk for distribution by local government units to schoolchildren. This is already being done in the case of children in Pontevedra town and nearby San Enrique as well as in La Carlota City.

Marañon thanked Rep. Carlos Cojuangco for his assistance to the project.

The same day, Marañon also participated in the blessing and inauguration of the Artificial Insemination Center in La Carlota City.

Marañon said a high-breed sow could produce 10 to 20 piglets. He urged farmers to avail themselves of the project.

Swine dispersal is part of Marañon’s seven-point development agenda to attain food sufficiency and boost agricultural productivity.

Small steps eventually lead to giant strides. And what Gov. Marañon has been doing is definitely propelling Negros Occidental into diversified agri-biz.