DAVAO CITY – A Compostela Valley broadcaster filed charges yesterday before the Office of the Ombudsman in Mindanao against a provincial board member who attacked him inside the announcer’s booth last Oct. 24.
Roel Sembrano, a broadcaster of Radyo Natin, filed charges of serious physical injuries, grave coercion, grave threats and serious misconduct or grave abuse of authority against Sangguniang Panlalawigan member Neri Barte.
Sembrano said he was in the middle of his radio program when Barte barged in with his wife and daughter, who allegedly all took turns in physically attacking him.
Barte was reportedly irked by Sembrano’s having criticized him for promising to give out 50 sacks of cement from the provincial government if a certain Jaime Blanco, a candidate for barangay captain, would win in the Oct. 29 barangay elections.
Sembrano said he tried to stop the Barteses from attacking him but the provincial board member allegedly drew out a gun and threatened to kill him.
The Union of People’s Lawyers in Mindanao provided Sembrano with legal assistance in filing the case against Barte.
UPLM secretary-general Carlos Isagani Zarate said Barte’s actuation was a clear curtailment and violation of Sembrano’s rights as a journalist and as a person.
“What we have here is a sign of dangerous tendencies of government officials and politicians who resort to violence when they are criticized. Government officials are not supposed to be onion-skinned and resort to violence when they are criticized,” Zarate said.
The incident also drew the ire of various groups, especially those in the media.
“To attack a broadcaster right inside the announcer’s booth while he is doing his work is the height of brazenness that a government official can do. It only reflects the government official’s disrespect and ignorance of the media’s role as watchdog of democracy, a role that should always be protected,” said the Davao chapters of the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines and the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster sa Pilipinas in a joint statement.
Davao-based mediamen and UPLM members accompanied Sembrano in filing the case against Barte with the Office of the Ombudsman. – Edith Regalado, John Unson