Sorsogon Vice Mayor 'nanapak' ng reporter, kinastigo ng media groups

MANILA, Philippines — Humaharap sa batikos si Donsol, Sorsogon Vice Mayor Zaldy Advincula matapos paggsusuntukin ang news correspondent ng Wow Smile Radio 92.9 Pilar na si Mario Romero — ito habang nagco-cover ang huli ng Brigada Eskwela.

Ayon sa police blotter na ipinaskil ng Kasanggayan News, Miyerkules, bandang 9:10 a.m. nitong Martes nang mangyari ang karahasan laban kay Romero.

"Vice Mayor Zaldy Advincula, of this municipality, approached and subsequently attacked and hit [Romero] with fist blows on his face," ayon sa ulat na nilagdaan ni Police Captain at office-in-charge Rey John Renoria.

"Incident occurred while [Romero] was conducting media coverage in the Brigada Eskwela Division Level Kick Off Ceremony and witnesses by the participants of the said event."

Nagtamo si Romero ng pamamaga ng labi kaugnay ng naturang insidente, bagay na pinatotohanan ng isang medical certificate mula sa Donsol District Hostpital.

Giit ng Wow Smile Radio Sorsogon sa isang pahayag, bigla na lang itong ginawa ng bise alklade kahit na walang probokasyong ginawa si Romero.

"The said act calls for strongest conndemnation. The abuse is glaring and the incident committed in a taxpayers' home," sabi ng Wow Smile Radio Management kahapon.

"A teacher is also a person in authority. Romero's volition for the promotion of BRIGADA ESKWELA and whatever disdain or prejudice the official may hold against him, do not give the latter a license to maul or cause injury to the person."

"If at any instance he was criticized, the Supreme Court was resounding and clear when it ruled that PUBLIC OFFICE SHOULD NOT BE ONION SKINNED. And be RATHER COMFORTED WITH A CLEAR CONSCIENCE."

Naninindigan naman ang pamunuan ng himpilan ng radyo para sa malayang pamamahayag sa probinsya ng Sorsogon, ito habang binabanatan ang mga nagsasawalang-pakialam sa Fourth Estate.

Hinihingian pa ng Philstar.com ng pahayag si Advincula ngunit hindi hindi pa rin tumutugon hanggang sa ngayon.

Ang Brigada Eskwela ay isang aktibidad sa mga pampublikong paaralan isang linggo bago magsimula ang mga klase kung saan boluntaryong tumutulong ang taumbayan sa paglilinis at pagkukumpuni ng mga silid.

'2 kaso ng karahasan'

Hindi pinalampas ng Media Association of Sorsogon (MASO) ang naturang insidente, lalo na't ito na raw ang ikalawang insidente ng karahasan ng mga pulitiko sa mga mamamahayag sa Bicol kamakailan.

"The first incident involved Board Member ROlando Anonuevo, himself a broadcaster, who assaulted Theopane 'Bobot' Laguna during an event in the Sorsogon Provincial Gymnasium last August 8, 2023," ayon sa MASO.

"As clearly caught on video... Mr. Anonuevo confronted Mr. Laguna and in the guise of shaking his hand, Anonuevo actually twisted Mr. Laguna's hand, causing him excruciating pain, given the age of the victim.:

Sinubukan pa anya ni Anonuevo na saktang muli si Laguna ngunit napigilan lang ng iba pang mamamamahayag na naroon.

Maririnig sa video na may galit aniya si Anonuevo sa mga tirada sa kanya ni Laguna. Inakusahan ng nauna ang huli ng pagiging "biased."

Dagdag pa ng MASO, lumalabas na inatake ni Advincula si Romero dahil sa banta diumanong pagbatikos ng news correspondent gamit ang radio.

"Obviously, such threat, if indeed uttered, had never been carried out by Mr. Romero until the time that he was mauled by the vice mayor," dagdag pa ng grupo.

"Granting, for the sake of argument, that their gripes against their victims were true, violence should never be an option. Violence should never have a plae in a civilized and democratic society. Violence is an option only for those who are congenital oppressors, for those who wield power against those who are weak."

NUJP nagsalita na rin

Binanatan na rin ng National Union of Journalists of the Philippines and nasabing insidenteng nangyari sa kalugaran ng Donsol local government unit compound.

"Advincula has no right to maul or cause injury to Romero despite any personal grudge against him," ayon sa NUJP ngayong araw.

"As an elected public official, Advincula must set an example by performing his duties professionally and guided by government ethical obligations."