Iloilo officials ‘blacklist’ 3 commentators

ILOILO CITY — The Iloilo provincial government has "blacklisted" three commentators of dyFM Bombo Radyo-Iloilo, the flagship station of Bombo Radyo Philippines, provincial administrator Manuel Mejorada confirmed yesterday.

Mejorada said the Capitol will no longer grant interviews to Bombo Radyo-Iloilo assistant station manager Novie Guazo, chief of reporters Rhoderick Tecson, and Capitol beat reporter and evening commentator Roger Gencianeo.

The three are also barred from attending official press functions of the Capitol.

"The Capitol no longer recognizes them to be members of the Capitol press corps," said Mejorada, hours after he prevented Gencianeo from entering his office yesterday morning for an interview.

Mejorada said Gov. Niel Tupas decided to "blacklist" the three radiomen after having had enough of what he described was their "unprofessional, unethical, and (disrespectful) behavior."

Last Monday, Tupas berated Gencianeo during a press conference on the audit report of the Commission on Audit on the Capitol’s "extravagant, excessive and unconscionable" food and catering expenses over the past year.

Gencianeo, Mejorada claimed, insisted on his own personal opinion during the press conference.

"This is a sad day for me. This is the last thing I should do, but they went over the line... We have been tolerating their personal attacks against me and the governor," said Mejorada, himself a former radio anchorman and editor of a community newspaper.

Mejorada, however, denied that they decided to blacklist the three because of their harsh comments regarding the COA report.

The STAR tried to reach dyFM Bombo Radyo-Iloilo station manager Warren French for comment, but he was out of his office.

"We still have to talk it over (with French)," Guazo said. "I will continue my commentary as long as there is valid basis and it is well-documented."