I’m a victim of government witch hunt, says reporter

In the wake of news reports alluding to her as the “mystery reporter,” journalist Dana Batnag came out in the open yesterday, claiming she has not been formally informed by the police that she was being accused of helping fugitive Marine Capt. Nicanor Faeldon escape during the Peninsula Manila standoff last year.

Batnag, a reporter of Tokyo-based Jiji Press, maintained she was just doing her job covering the Nov. 29 standoff led by Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV and Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim.

She claimed efforts to link her to Faeldon’s escape were part of the government’s “witch hunt against the media.”

“I have not been informed by the police that I am a suspect in the escape of Marine Capt. Nicanor Faeldon. I am honored to be one of the victims in the government’s witch hunt against the media, but my conscience is clear for I have done nothing wrong,” Batnag said in a statement.

Batnag said she will await the filing of charges against her in court to prove her innocence.

“I appeal to the authorities to file the proper charges before the courts to prove that this is a government of laws,” she said.

Reports earlier hinted at Malaya columnist Ellen Tordesillas and ABS-CBN TV anchor Ces Drilon as among the journalists who helped Faeldon escape, but this was denied by Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Avelino Razon Jr.

Razon did not identify the female reporter but other newspapers (not The STAR) went on to identify Batnag.

PNP spokesman Senior Superintendent Nicanor Bartolome did not identify the reporter but said she can decide to surface and clear her name over the accusations.

Bartolome cited the video footage and hotel closed circuit television (CCTV), as well as other witnesses who can positively identify the journalist talking to Faeldon at the height of the incident.

The report said the video purportedly showed Batnag giving Faeldon a press ID to disguise himself as journalist in order to escape.

Marigold Haber-Dunca, RPN-9 news and current affairs director, said they were constrained to submit the raw footage of the incident following the subpoena from the PNP-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG).

“Since we were named in the papers today as the network from which the PNP got its footage that may be used against the reporter who purportedly aided Capt. Faeldon escape, we reviewed our raw materials many times over,” Dunca said.

Dunca admitted the footage showed Faeldon leaning over and talking to a female reporter at one corner of the Peninsula lobby.

“We are not siding with anyone. We are not passing judgment on anyone. Let the video speak for itself. We are making this video available to anyone who needs it in the interest of transparency,” Dunca said.

A senior military intelligence official, however, pointed out the video does not prove Batnag aided Faeldon in the escape.

“All we have now are circumstantial evidence. What’s wrong with a journalist interviewing Faeldon? Is that enough reason to violate any law?” the official said.

Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez, for his part, called on the PNP to come out with the evidence to justify any charges that can be lodged against Batnag over the incident.

“I think they (PNP) should. But I will not begrudge them if there really is good reason to withhold because of ongoing operations to look for the others who are involved,” Gonzalez said. - Reinir Padua, Jaime Laude