THE Cagayan de Oro Press Club (COPC) is demanding an apology from Misamis Oriental 2nd District Representative Juliette Uy for lashing out at a reporter while covering an event.
Uy's camp has yet to issue a statement on this matter as of press time.
In a statement, the group called out Uy for accusing Menzie Montes, a Magnum Radyo reporter, of “spying for the violets” in an ocular inspection in relation to the Congressional hearing on the imported plastic garbage from South Korea last week.
“We find Representative Uy's attitude on that particular incident not befitting of a public official. We would like to remind the congresswoman that the reporter's job is to gather news and report the same to the public,” the statement said.
Montes was taking pictures of the congressmen who just arrived in Tagoloan, on March 15, but was shocked when she was approached by the congresswoman and told her if she belongs to the “green” or “violet,” apparently alluding to the political color of her group and her opponent's.
“The COPC sees nothing wrong with taking pictures of government officials doing their offcial function as this is a part of news-gathering process. We ask that Rep. Uy issue an apology to Ms. Montes and let journalists do their job in the name of public interest,” COPC said.