AN EMOTIONAL Cagayan de Oro City Councilor Zaldy Ocon appeared before the City Council on Monday, June 10, 2019, asking for former Cagayan de Oro City mayor Reuben Canoy's forgiveness after they figured in an altercation last week.
In his special report during the weekly session, Ocon recounted what led to their argument on June 7, Friday, inside a hotel.
Ocon said that from 5 a.m. to 9 a.m. on that day, he focused on airing their coverage on the arrest of a councilor in Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental.
After the coverage, the Radio Mindanao Network's (RMN) news team had their breakfast in VIP Hotel, where Canoy was there at the time. Ocon said he was shocked when the old man called him only to insult him for not airing his "Perspective" program.
The 90-year-old Canoy, who was on a wheelchair, then told him he was fired from the radio station. Ocon said he tried to explain what happened but Canoy continued to rant.
"Sa akong kaulit, ako siyang gisinggitan, ingon ko go ahead, pero dili ikaw akong gibalikas, kundili tungod kadto sa akong kasuko, pero dili ikaw akong gitumbok," the councilor said.
Ocon referred to Canoy as his mentor, adding that he would not have made it as city councilor if not for the former mayor.
"Tungod sa nahitabo, please forgive me. I'm very sorry also to your family, I hope inyo kong masabtan. I'm very sorry, you are my mentor I cannot afford to lambast you, pero ikaw una sir ang wala nihatag og respeto kanako, dapat ikaw una nihatag og respeto," he added.
Ocon also cried foul on the "viral video" for showing only the last part of it with him berating the former mayor. Contrary to earlier reports, Ocon said he was not terminated. He remains an employee of RMN until next year, based on his contract.
"I am waiting for any disciplinary action but in the meantime, I will still continue to work padayon sa tahas nga gihatag sa RMN kanako," he said.
Rhona Canoy, however, said she felt Ocon's apology fell flat.
"What was it for? I don't know what he was apologizing for. We cannot assume that he was apologizing to us because he was telling it to the city council. When he also said he was sorry, niingon pud sya nga dapat daw una nipakita ug respeto si mayor Canoy, so I don't know what it was for," she said.
When she informed her father about the apology, the former mayor only said: "Ahh, mao ba? (Really?)".
Rhona said they are determined to pursue charges of conduct unbecoming of a government official against Ocon.