Bakit may no-air order?

Strictly upon the advice of her lawyer ay hindi pala puwedeng sagutin ni Becky Aguila ang ganting-sagot ng kanyang staff na si Rowena “Mel” Pulmano pending her formal filing of the appropriate charge/s against the latter.

At last Monday’s Startalk meeting, nagmistulang nasa receiving end si Manay Jopay Mañago (talent coordinator/field reporter) as Atty. Joji Alonzo, Becky’s legal counsel, vehemently questioned the program why it aired Mel’s interview in its 13th anniversary episode last October 25.

Allegedly to Atty. Alonzo’s understanding, may agreement daw sila ni Lolit Solis that such material would be foregone for reasons — legal or otherwise — I personally did not understand. Ikinatwiran naman ni Manay Jopay that in fairness to her client Becky, efforts were exhausted by Startalk to obtain the manager’s side even via a phone patch interview. Ang kaso, Becky could not be reached.

Truth to tell, and this I wrote in my PSN column dated October 27, Mel’s interview ready for airing underwent second revision. Pinag-aaralang masusi ng legal department ng GMA 7 ang mga implikasyon at kumplikasyon ng mga maseselang ‘katotohanang’ binitiwan ni Mel laban kay Becky in an attempt to exonerate herself from the charges leveled against her by the accuser.

The raw, unedited interview would not merely say it all, tiyak na mag-iiba rin ang tingin ng publiko kay Becky in stark contrast to the ‘‘corporate image’’ that she so wittingly projects.

Ang tanong ko: Bakit naman hindi ieere ang interbyung ’yon kay Mel gayong pumasa na nga ito sa legal standards ng GMA 7, na kung tutuusi’y iningatan na nga ang kuwento? On Atty. Alonzo’s part, why impose a ‘‘no-air order’’ kung nabigyan naman ng pagkakataon si Becky na ihinga rin ang kanyang panig, but for some reason ay hindi nga lang ito nangyari? Why silence her client’s enemy, na kung naglulubid man ito ng mga kasinungalingan ay puwede naman nila itong buweltahan ng kasong libel? Kung may karapatan si Becky na paratangan si Mel on charges that have yet to be proven in court, why shouldn’t this same right be given to Mel?

Ang alam ko, matagal nang pinag-iisipan ni Becky na sampahan ng demanda si Mel, na natuloy na lang kamakailan. With Atty. Alonzo’s handling of the case, it is my wish that they have a winning case up their sleeve.

At habang pinipitpit si Mel to prove her guilt, maglakas naman sana ng loob ang mga alaga ni Becky na sina Jennylyn Mercado, Joross Gamboa at Angel Locsin na magsabi ng katotohanan.

Let unity among them be forged… hindi signature.