Kalinga guv faces criminal cases

Friday, June 17, 2011

A RADIO anchorman has filed cases of grave threat and physical injuries before the City Prosecutor's Office against Kalinga Governor Jocel Baac for an alleged attack weeks ago.

Jerome Tabanganay, of dzRK Radyo ng Bayan-Tabuk City, is crying foul over the governor's assault and threats while on air during his local program.

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He earlier claimed that he was hosting his regular program "Agenda ng Bayan" when Baac, together with his escorts, went inside his radio booth, confronted him, grabbed his microphone, and hit his mouth.

The entire incident was captured in a video and was uploaded on Youtube.

But the governor denied the incident, claiming he was a friend of the broadcaster.

Tabanganay last Monday, however, also filed administrative and criminal charges before the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Department of Justice against Baac.

The radioman reportedly earned Baac's ire for his exposes on illegal gambling and logging activities, reportedly going unabated in Kalinga.

The National Union of Journalist of the Philippines (NUJP) has made a trip to the highlands to investigate the matter, while the National Press Club condemned the incident.

Last week, Presidential Communications Operations Secretary Herminio Coloma requested the DILG to look into the incident.

DILG Secretary Jesse Robredo on Thursday gave Philippine National POlice chief Raul Bacalzo and Cordillera Administrative Region police Director Villamor Bumanglag 72 hours to investigate and determine if possible criminal and administrative charges can filed against Baac.

No results of the investigation have been disclosed.