CEBU City Hall lawyers yesterday questioned former Cebu Daily News (CDN) reporter now day desk editor Doris Bongcac over a story published in 2013 regarding the Cebu City Government’s release of P20,000 calamity aid to its officials and employees.
Bongcac wrote the story published by CDN on Dec. 28, 2013, which stated that Mayor Michael Rama used the cash assistance “to pay for water and electricity bills” for his home in Barangay Basak San Nicolas.
The same story was published in the website of Inquirer on Dec. 29, while it was published in Inquirer on Dec. 30 of the same year. CDN is a sister publication of Inquirer.
These were used by the camp of Atty. Reymelio Delute to support the administrative complaint he filed against City officials before the Office of the President.
Delute had questioned the release of the cash assistance and accused the mayor of fabricating calamity survivors, including himself, so they could avail themselves of the financial aid.
During the continuation of the hearing called by the Department of Interior and Local Government yesterday, Delute’s lawyer Benjamin Militar first asked Bongcac how long has she been connected with CDN.
Bongcac said she has been with the company since October 2001.
Militar asked Bongcac where the mayor made the statement in the story published on Dec. 28.
Bongcac said it was done during one of the mayor’s press conferences in the conference room of the Office of the Mayor.
Militar further asked, among others, if Bongcac stands by the accuracy and truthfulness of her report.
“Yes,” she answered.
Atty. Jerone Castillo, City Legal Office chief, asked Bongcac if the stories she wrote were based on facts and verified, to which Bongcac said yes.
When she wrote the story about the calamity assistance, Castillo asked Bongcac if she verified the facts. Bongcac said yes.
The City lawyer also asked how many stories she had written when super typhoon Yolanda happened.
Bongcac said she can no longer recall the exact number, considering that it happened two years ago but added that she has been writing stories on the preparation of the City for the typhoon as well as its post-calamity response.
Castillo then asked her if they ask their interviewees, especially government officials, if they swore by the statements they made.
“As a practice among journalist, we do not ask them to swear by the statements that they make because as responsible elected officials, I think they will not be saying something that would jeopardize them,” she said.
Particularly on the story she wrote regarding the mayor’s statement, Castillo asked if there were indeed electric bills or water bills and whether asked for a copy of these.
Bongcac said no.
Militar then objected to Castillo’s line of questioning.
“The reporters are supposed to take statements at face value,” he added.
DILG hearing officer Isidro Barrios allowed Castillo to continue with his questions.
Castillo then proceeded to ask Bongcac if she saw the bills, to which the latter said no.
Since the statement made by the mayor was done in a press conference, Castillo further asked Bongcac if she can recall who were the other media outfits present. Bongcac said she could no longer recall.
The DILG asked City Treasurer Diwa Cuevas and City Administrator Lucell Mercado to appear in today’s hearing.