Tuesday, July 17, 2007 Barbaric, says PB on mauling of Badayos
THE Cebu Provincial Board (PB) condemned the mauling of Sun.Star Cebu chief photographer Alex Badayos last July 9 while covering Comelec’s attempt to retrieve four election returns from Bogo City that needed to be canvassed in Manila.
The board passed the resolution sponsored by PB Member Victor Maambong yesterday without objections.
“This august body condemns the barbaric assault against Mr. Badayos and the media institution, and blame it all on the callousness of the political leadership in that city,” the resolution read.
The attack on Badayos should have been “restrained by those who wield the authority and the moral ascendancy over them,” the measure said.
It said that the beating and mauling of Badayos betrays the temperament of the city’s political leaders against the media institution and its practitioners even as it also brought to the fore their wanton disregard for the rights of others, their contempt for decency, their utter disrespect for the rule of law.
Maambong said the culprits, who should include the instigators and benefactors, shall not be allowed to go unpunished for this “barbaric and inhuman act, this affront to the media institution, after all, we still live under the rule of law, not of the mob.
He said that this is because the mass media is the watchdog of the democratic institutions and the guarantor of liberty. “Its pervasive presence excises the excess and abuses of officialdom,” the resolution read.
Maambong said that through mass media and its practitioners, the public claims and exercises one of their sacred constitutional rights – the right to unfettered information.
Likewise, through fair and honest reporting, the mass media becomes a vital tool or channel of information on the virtue or vice of our government functionaries.
Because of the chaos in Bogo, the Comelec will be filing appropriate complaints against those who are involved.
Provincial Election Officer Lionel Marco Castillano earlier said that Bogo Election Officer Jose Menguez will be made to explain on this incident and for the alleged spurious and manufactured election returns from Bogo, as declared by Comelec Second Division.
Menguez, in a brief interview, yesterday welcomed the investigation so that he will be able to explain his side in the proper forum.
Menguez lamented that he has been attacked by radio commentators. (MBG)
