Aug. 13 - 19, 2012 Issue

‘Libelous’

Celino cries libel vs radio manager, block-timer

By Edalyn Acta

ROXAS CITY – City Mayor Angel Alan Celino has filed a criminal case for libel against Salvador A. Capulot, Jr., anchor of a blocktime program “Bistado” and also known as “Mr. Bistado” and Mr. Elizer Abarra, station manager of Radio Mindanao Network (RMN)-DYVR here.

According to the complaint filed by Celino at the City Prosecutor’s Office dated Aug. 14, 2012, at about 8:30 a.m. of July 29th, the complainant was surprised when he noticed that he is the one being referred by Mr. Bistado during the latter’s program “Bistado.”

In his interview with The Capiz Times, he recalled that Mr. Bistado accused him with the following statements:

“Madamo nga mga tricycle driver kag pumuluyo sang Roxas City ang naakig subong kay Mayor Celino tungod indi na makita ang alkalde sang syudad sa City Hall kon Hwebes kag Byernes; tungod ato na ini sa syudad sang Iloilo kag nagasulod sa mga beerhouse kag gay bar.”

(Many tricycle drivers and residents of Roxas city are angry with Mayor Celino because he could no longer be seen on Thursdays and Fridays because he would be in Iloilo City visiting beer houses and gay bars).

“Sang vice-mayor pa si Mayor Celino, gindakop ini sa Iloilo sa violation sang jaywalking” (When Mayor Celino was still vice-mayor, he was arrested in Iloilo for jaywalking)

Si Mayor Celino ang isa sa mga protector ni Cong. Tony Del Rosario sa iya tumbu-an sa kilid sang Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) building” (Mayor Celino was one of the protectors of Cong. Tony Del Rosario for his tumbu-an beside BIR building).

“Nagabaton si Mayor Celino sang P5,000 kag ang Roxas City PNP kag Capiz Police Provincial Office sang kasubong man nga kantidad bilang patong sang nasambit nga pasugal. (Mayor Celino, the Roxas City PNP and the Capiz Police Provincial Office are receiving P5,000 each as bribe money for the said gambling activity).

Then, while driving his car at about 8:30 a.m. on Aug. 5, Celino heard over the car radio more of Mr. Bistado’s statements against him, as follows:

“Gindala ni Mayor Celino ang salakyan sang gobyerno sa syudad sang Iloilo kaupod si City Councilor Matty Viterbo kag gindala sa isa ka gay bar nga ang pangalan Paraiso”( Mayor Celino, together with city councilor Matty Viterbo, brought the government vehicle to a gay bar named Paraiso). “Galuhod-luhod gid si Mayor Celino pang-os sang tubo.”

Celino said that the statements made by the block-timer were aired over RMN-DYVR, a radio station with a province-wide coverage.

According to Celino, the declaration and statements of Mr. Bistado were libelous because he made “public and malicious imputations of a crime, vice or defect upon him which tend to cause dishonor, discredit or put him in contempt personally as mayor of the City of Roxas.”

In this paper’s interview with Mr. Bistado on Aug. 15, he said that the libel case filed against him was a form of harassment for the part of the media practitioners and for the freedom of speech and he believed that he did not violate the Kapisanan ng mga Broadcaster sa Pilipinas (KBP) rules because he said he has proof to justify and attest to his statements.

Capulot said that his program seeks to shed light to the people of Roxas City on the situation that since the Liberal Party’s leadership, under the leadership of Manuel Roxas II and Judy Araneta Roxas, there have been no improvements in the city, citing further that “they have only used the city for their bread and butter.” According to Capulot, Roxas City is also under martial law. Capulot started airing his blocktime program “Bistado” on July 22, 2012.

On Aug. 13, 2012, the Roxas City government, through City Legal Counsel Ador Ramos, issued a show cause order to RMN-DYVR’s station manager, stating that the city government has issued them a business permit provided that the station engage in “fair, lawful, and responsible broadcasting.”

According to the city government, for three-consecutive weeks, particularly on July 22, July 29 and Aug. 5, RMN-DYVR permitted and tolerated Capulot to air his program “with no relevance to imparting new ideas, social reform, culture and self-enhancement.”

Further, the station rather only promoted “enmity, disgust, pornography and embarrassment to the leaders of the city and provincial government or even a cabinet member of the national government.”

RMN-DYVR was given the show-cause order by the city government to explain in writing within 72 hours or so upon receipt—or else it will revoke their business permit for a clear of violation of law.

Mr. Elizer Abarra, station manager of RMN-DYVR, said that he doesn’t fail to remind Capulot concerning his program. He said he would even advise him on some guidelines before the latter would begin his program.

With radio as the premium means of the communication, they allow anybody—individual or party—to buy airtime, Abarra said. “Besides, we air a disclaimer before and after the block-time program.”

According to Abarra, Capulot has signed a paper complying to the provisions in the code related to broadcasting in the Philippines as amended in 2011. On Aug. 7, 2012, Abarra sent a memorandum to Capulot stating that as per policy of their station, there has to be no use of indecent word or words in any of the programs. Abarra said that Capulot was the program director of their station in 2005–2006.

Abarra added that he will face the consequences even as this is only a challenge in his profession.

The complainant is demanding two million pesos from Mr. Jun Capulot and two million pesos from Mr. Elizer Abarra for damages.

459 WV soldiers promoted

By Jemin Guillermo

Jamindan, Capiz–More army officers are given higher responsibility to better serve, defend and protect the public.

This comes after some 459 soldiers at the Philippine Army’s 3rd Infantry Division were recently promoted to the next higher position.

According to 3ID Public Affairs Office head Enrico Gil Ileto, a total 308 private first class, 79 corporals, 65 sergeants, six staff sergeants, and one technical sergeant were promoted after they have satisfactorily satisfied the requirements set by the Philippine Army’s Promotion System.

Ileto explained that the promotion of each candidate was based on the individual evaluation record that looks into the soldier’s competency and reputation in the service, required minimum number of years in one’s current rank, passing grade on a competitive promotional examination, completion of a career military occupational specialty course, physical and neurological-psychological examination and physical fitness test.

He added that the promotion of soldiers was based largely on character, competence, and capacity to perform assigned mission and task.

Ileto revealed 3ID Chief of Staff Wilson Leyva earlier led the pinning of ranks to the promoted personnel who are within Camp Peralta while the same activity is being scheduled in other field units under the Division.

On the other hand, 3ID Commanding General Jose Mabanta Jr. pointed out that promotion comes with more responsibility.

Mabanta said that the additional stripes in the ranks of chevrons of the newly promoted soldiers is a strengthening symbol for further protecting the rights of the Filipino people whom said officers vowed to protect, defend, safeguard and shield.

Fire razes house in President Roxas

By Adam San Andres

President Roxas, Capiz–A housed owned by one Jesus Sarria, 51, located at Brgy. Poblacion, Campo in President Roxas town was burned around 8 p.m. on Aug. 16.

According to Fire Officer 2 Marlon Garbo, chief of fire arson investigator, house owner Jesus Sarria just finished dinner in his house when he noticed something sparking inside their bedroom. Entering their room, he was surprised to see that the ceiling was already on fire.

When he failed trying to put out the fire by himself, Sarria shouted to his neighbors for help. After some 15 minutes, fire trucks came to respond all the way from the Capiz Sugar Central, and the fire stations of President Roxas, Pontevedra, Pilar and even Roxas City.

According to Garbo, it was caused by an “overheat of the substandard electrical wire installed in the house’s bedroom, which melted the plastic insulator and created a short circuit.” Aside from estimated damages of some P180,000, no other casualty or injury were reported.

Woman nabbed for shabu possession

ROXAS City – Illegal drug charges were filed against a woman who was earlier arrested for attempting to shoot her mother and son.

Charges for violation of Republic Act 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002) was filed last week before the City Prosecutor’s Office against Marie Beth Patricio Portes of Picazo corner Rizal Streets here, Supt. Salvador Dagoon Jr., city police chief said.

Crystalline substances taken from the suspect’s room were methamphetamine hydrochloride (shabu), as per examination by the Philippine National Police Crime Laboratory, Dagoon said.

Portes, 42, was collared on August 9 for attempting to shoot her mother, 75-year-old Merceditas Patricio, and son, Castrenzo, in their house.

The suspect was believed to be high on illegal drugs at the time, Dagoon said.

Her son called the police when the suspect—armed with a caliber .38 pistol—took her mother hostage.

Portes threw the gun away when members of the Special Weapons and Tactics team of the Roxas City Police Station arrived.

Police recovered from the suspect’s room six transparent plastic sachets of shabu; a plastic sachet of suspected dried marijuana leaves and seeds; disposable lighters; and other drug paraphernalia. They also recovered the firearm that Portes was holding earlier. Portes is under the police watch list of suspected drug personalities in Capiz, Dagoon said.