Cop files plaint against TV crew

In what he described as “one of its kind,” lawyer Noel Archival filed a complaint to the management of television station ABS-CBN against its employees, who figured in the controversial altercation with his client, Police Sr. Insp. Jose Liddawa.

Archival said the complaint is unique, because he and Liddawa are not under the jurisdiction of ABS-CBN, however, they decided to file the complaint with the TV station as a way to seek justice for the beleaguered police officer.

The complaint for dishonesty was leveled against reporter Ramil Paican, cameraman Joel Noel, driver Samuel Trangia and two others, who remain unidentified.

“One of its kind ni siya… wala gani ni siya sa libro pero we are seeking justice for Liddawa,” Archival said.

The lawyer said he is hopeful that the management of ABS-CBN will take the complaint into consideration, as well as the affidavits of witnesses attached therein. 

The ABS-CBN management assured them that an investigation is already being conducted against Paican and Noel.

The television network’s area manager Veneranda “Tata” Cinco-Sy, in a statement, said that “the management does not condone any form of dishonesty among its ranks or in its reports.”

“If proven at fault, the management will not hesitate to apply the appropriate sanctions corresponding to the violations made including dismissal if need be,” Sy said.

In the letter complaint, Archival said the accusations against Liddawa “are contrary to the ABS-CBN theme, which is ‘Dapig sa kamatooran, dapig sa katawhan’.”

“We hope that the statements in the affidavit of the complainant PSI Jose Matnao Liddawa, Jr. are sufficient enough to warrant their suspension and/or dismissal or to exonerate them if they are innocent,” the complaint read.

In an affidavit attached to the complaint, PO1 Calixto Perez said that early morning on September 18, he happened to pass by the area where Liddawa’s car collided head on with the pick-up of ABS-CBN. He said he was prompted to disembark from his motorcycle when he saw two persons mauling another person.

He later learned that the person being mauled was a certain Daniel Bravo who, in turn, pointed Liddawa to him.  Liddawa at that time had already collapsed on the pavement.

Perez said that when he asked Paican who the persons were who mauled Bravo, Paican reportedly told him one was a cameraman. Perez said he later identified the cameraman as Noel who, at that time, had already left the area with the other supposed attacker.

Bravo, who was then with Liddawa in the latter’s car, also executed an affidavit together with a certain Arlene Cortes and Anita Sunga and said that it was allegedly the TV crew that first attacked the policeman.

Bravo said that when the two cars collided, Liddawa immediately got off his vehicle to check the damage caused by the collision, but Noel who had alighted from the TV crew’s vehicle, suddenly punched the policeman on his face and right chest.

Bravo said, he immediately hid Liddawa’s gun when he saw that the policeman attempted to get his gun from the vehicle.

Meanwhile, Cortes and Sunga said that they saw Paican, Noel and Trangia and two other unidentified persons allegedly taking turns in mauling Liddawa until the policeman lost consciousness and fell to the ground.

“It is not true that PSI Jose Matnao Liddawa, Jr. was the one who made the first attack. It is either untrue that it was the ABS-CBN crew who brought him to the hospital,” the affidavit read.  It was the police patrol that brought Liddawa to the hospital.

The network management however asked for time to be able to make a thorough investigation and to give the employees involved due process. Sy also said that their legal department is currently reviewing the facts of the incident to determine what legal actions to take in connection with the damage caused to the vehicle.

The Kapisanan ng mga Brodkasters ng Pilipinas Cebu chapter is looking at the possible violations of the ethical standards committed by the reporter and the cameraman when they allegedly distorted the report of the incident.

Sy added that the management is open to investigation to be conducted by any competent and authorized investigating body.

KBP Cebu president Edward Abad said he will ask the Standards Authority, to study the matter. Abad said the KBP Cebu chapter, much as they would want to conduct an investigation, would inhibit from doing it to avoid being accused of bias.

According to Abad, the moment a formal complaint is filed with the KBP against the reporter and the cameraman they will endorse it to Manila for them to conduct the investigation. Abad however said it would be much better if the matter will be brought to court for judicial determination.

On the issue of the video footage demanded by Liddawa to be shown unedited, Abad said the police officer can get a copy of it as soon as he is able to present an order from the court. Abad clarified that this is already the policy of the KBP that broadcast tapes could only be given to interested party if there is a court order.  (/NLQ)