MANILA, Philippines – The governor of Kalinga province allegedly attacked a commentator of a government-run radio station who was hosting his program Tuesday morning, the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines reported.
An alert released by the NUJP qyuoted Regie Wacas, president of the Kalinga Media Club, as saying Jerome Tabanganay was five minutes from signing off his program “Agenda” over dzRK Radyo ng Bayan-Kalinga when Governor Jocel Baac allegedly barged into the announcer’s booth and hit the broadcaster in the lip with a microphone.
Baac was reportedly backed up by several men armed with Armalite rifles.
Before leaving, the governor allegedly gthreatened Tabanganay, saying: “Ituloy mo. Magsalita ka pa. Papatayin kita (Go on. Keep talking. I will kill you).”
Tabanganay, who survived an assassination attempt last year that colleagues attributed to his critical commentaries on the resurgence of the illegal numbers game “jueteng” in Kalinga, was quoted by the NUJP as saying he had been discussing on his program an altercation between Baac and dzRK station manager Basilio Baluyan that happened during Monday’s regular Kapihan of the provincial government.
Baac was supposedly wanted Baluyan to retract the report about the attempted arson of the station on May 31 because the incident, which was reported in mainstream media, might affect the province’s image. The governor specifically mentioned the reports aired by ABS-CBN and dzMM.
But Tabanganay said his report on the incident did not explicitly identify Baac as the one who confronted Baluyan.
Tabanganay said he files to plan charges of serious physical injuries and grave threats against the governor.
The station also plans to file charges of malicious mischief and damage to government property, the NUJP said.
