Hector Udani, Jr. News Express, Reporter
SAN JOSE, Antique (September 11, 2007) – After nine months of being subjected to ridicule by their fellow newsmen, two journalists earlier declared by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan through a resolution as ‘persona non grata’ were finally vindicated. No less than the new set of provincial board members have repealed during its August 23 regular session the assailed resolution authored by then board member Juanita de la Cruz sometime December last year, which also banned Rey Alcalde, publisher/editor of Newsbreak and Ely Suyom, News Express-Antique Bureau Chief, and Manila Times Correspondent, from covering regular and special sessions of the provincial legislature.
Board Member Errol Santillan (North District) , a former broadcaster himself, authored the resolution that sought to repeal the said resolution then approved by the previous SP.
Neophyte Board Member J. Tobias Javier, chairperson of the Committee on Laws, said in his committee report that the questioned resolution ‘violates the constitutional mandate of the freedom of the press.’
To note, Alacalde and Suyom, officers of the League of Antique Media Practitioners (LAMP) critical of Antique Gov. Salvacion Z. Perez, had earned the ire of De la Cruz, a Perez lackey, after they exposed the latter’s modus operandi.
The two had earlier discovered that de la Cruz continued to withdraw the salary of her Special Agent (SA) later identified as Elizabeth Vego until November 2006 when the said employee had already resigned five months earlier on June of that year.
De la Cruz tried justifying her continued withdrawal of the salary of her resigned employee but the two discovered more or her shenanigans in the process.
To hit back at the two, de la Cruz, a known puppet and barker of Perez, sponsored the said resolution which was supported by the SP colleagues also identified with Perez- Board Members Zoilo Bernardo Tubianosa, Julito Osunero, Damian Marfil, jr. Burgos Nicopior and ex-officio members SK pres. Eladio Solis and Philippine Councilor’s League head Ricky Lavega.
“The repeal of that stupid resolution for me is worth celebrating, although I must say we really never have been barred from entering the session hall at the New Capitol. I’m just happy that Board Members identified with Perez – namely Calixto Zaldivar, III, Lavega and Solis – finally saw the light and vetoed for the approval of the resolution repealing de la Cruz’s resolution,” Alcalde said in an interview.
He hastened to add: “I expected it all along that the present set of SP members especially the new members being knowledgeable enough of the provisions of the Constitution especially on freedom of the press, would vote for its repeal. I’m also glad that BMs Zaldivar, Solis and Lavega finally found the courage to stand for what is right.”
For his part, Suyom said that De la Cruz’s resolution was a product of hurt emotions, feeling she was intentionally put to shame when he and Alcalde exposed her shenanigans in the provincial government.
“It’s celebrating. You’re invited to my birthday on August 27,” Suyom said in jest.
It maybe recalled that the resolutions declaring the two newspapermen persona non grata an their subsequent banning from attending sessions of the provincial board became a hot issue not only in the province of Antique but also nationally where it was picked up by the national broadsheets.
The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) condemned the said resolution calling it a move to suppress press freedom.
Cong. Exequiel B. Javier who earned the reputation of being one of the staunchest defenders of media practitioners in the province of Antique stepped forward and volunteered to accompany the two to attend the subsequent regular session of the SP. He even prevented then OIC provincial director Supt. Ranulfo Demiar from dragging Suyom and Alcalde out of the session hall.
The Antique solon district had also questioned the legality of the said media ban resolution and the authority of Demiar to implement it.
“I just hope episode would never happen again. I hope not one from among the present set of board members would do a de la Cruz and try again to muzzle the press, especially if their official functions as provincial legislators would be subject of unfavorable media reports,” Suyom said in conclusion.
Board Member Errol Santillan (North District) , a former broadcaster himself, authored the resolution that sought to repeal the said resolution then approved by the previous SP.
Neophyte Board Member J. Tobias Javier, chairperson of the Committee on Laws, said in his committee report that the questioned resolution ‘violates the constitutional mandate of the freedom of the press.’
To note, Alacalde and Suyom, officers of the League of Antique Media Practitioners (LAMP) critical of Antique Gov. Salvacion Z. Perez, had earned the ire of De la Cruz, a Perez lackey, after they exposed the latter’s modus operandi.
The two had earlier discovered that de la Cruz continued to withdraw the salary of her Special Agent (SA) later identified as Elizabeth Vego until November 2006 when the said employee had already resigned five months earlier on June of that year.
De la Cruz tried justifying her continued withdrawal of the salary of her resigned employee but the two discovered more or her shenanigans in the process.
To hit back at the two, de la Cruz, a known puppet and barker of Perez, sponsored the said resolution which was supported by the SP colleagues also identified with Perez- Board Members Zoilo Bernardo Tubianosa, Julito Osunero, Damian Marfil, jr. Burgos Nicopior and ex-officio members SK pres. Eladio Solis and Philippine Councilor’s League head Ricky Lavega.
“The repeal of that stupid resolution for me is worth celebrating, although I must say we really never have been barred from entering the session hall at the New Capitol. I’m just happy that Board Members identified with Perez – namely Calixto Zaldivar, III, Lavega and Solis – finally saw the light and vetoed for the approval of the resolution repealing de la Cruz’s resolution,” Alcalde said in an interview.
He hastened to add: “I expected it all along that the present set of SP members especially the new members being knowledgeable enough of the provisions of the Constitution especially on freedom of the press, would vote for its repeal. I’m also glad that BMs Zaldivar, Solis and Lavega finally found the courage to stand for what is right.”
For his part, Suyom said that De la Cruz’s resolution was a product of hurt emotions, feeling she was intentionally put to shame when he and Alcalde exposed her shenanigans in the provincial government.
“It’s celebrating. You’re invited to my birthday on August 27,” Suyom said in jest.
It maybe recalled that the resolutions declaring the two newspapermen persona non grata an their subsequent banning from attending sessions of the provincial board became a hot issue not only in the province of Antique but also nationally where it was picked up by the national broadsheets.
The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) condemned the said resolution calling it a move to suppress press freedom.
Cong. Exequiel B. Javier who earned the reputation of being one of the staunchest defenders of media practitioners in the province of Antique stepped forward and volunteered to accompany the two to attend the subsequent regular session of the SP. He even prevented then OIC provincial director Supt. Ranulfo Demiar from dragging Suyom and Alcalde out of the session hall.
The Antique solon district had also questioned the legality of the said media ban resolution and the authority of Demiar to implement it.
“I just hope episode would never happen again. I hope not one from among the present set of board members would do a de la Cruz and try again to muzzle the press, especially if their official functions as provincial legislators would be subject of unfavorable media reports,” Suyom said in conclusion.
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