Friday, May 16, 2008 Vice mayor seeks dialogue with 2 journalists By Roderick Osis
ALFONSO Lista Vice Mayor Clarence Polig is open to a dialogue with the two journalists who accused him of harassing them in his residence during the town's festival on May 10.
However, Polig remained silent on the alleged gun totting and harassment against Maria Elena Catajan and Redjie Melvic Cawis, who were in Alfonso Lista last week to cover the town's "ammung" festival.
The vice mayor said he was advised by his camp not to comment on the incident. Catajan and Cawis are correspondents of the national daily newspaper Malaya. Cawis is also an employee of the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) of the Cordillera.
"The matter is under investigation and we don't want to preempt the outcome of whatever investigation the authorities are undertaking," he said, adding that his camp is not trying to influence the investigation.
Some politicians in Ifugao will try to intercede between the vice mayor and the two journalists for a possible amicable settlement before the administrative case of the two will reach the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).
Ifugao Representative Solomon Chungalao is said to be one of the prominent politicians who will mediate the dialogue this weekend.
Also expected to be in the dialogue are some National Government officials and representatives of media organizations Baguo City.
Catajan and Cawis, together with their driver, were invited by Polig to his residence after the two asked for an interview.
Allegedly, when Polig was intoxicated, he started a heated argument with the two journalists, saying their coverage was deemed illegal and accused them of trespassing.
The report also said the two journalists have no "work order" with the vice-mayor and all dealings with the municipality should have his approval.
"We felt our lives were in danger. The vice mayor cursed and maligned us for being there. He used Tagalog, English and Ilocano curses. Now he has made his own version saying Redjie (Cawis) and I were in malicious public displays of affection in front of him (which were) insulting his position and presence," Catajan said.
Cordillera Tourism Press Corps president Rick Reyes, meanwhile, welcomed the scheduled dialogue saying it would be a better forum for both parties to settle the matter.
"As of the moment, we would still await the result of the dialogue before taking the necessary steps in filing a case against Polig," Reyes said adding that he does not want to have a repeat of the incident which happened in the 1990s were several Baguio-based journalists jailed after they were charged with libel.
