Robredo orders probe on Kalinga gov

MANILA, Philippines - Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo yesterday ordered an in-depth investigation on Kalinga Gov. Jocel Baac and his bodyguards, who were caught on video assaulting a broadcaster inside the announcer’s booth of a government-run radio station in Tabuk City last Tuesday.

Robredo asked police to provide security to Jerome Tabanganay, anchor of dzRK-Radyo ng Bayan’s “Agenda ng Bayan” program, and his family.

“The acts of the governor are tantamount to conduct unbecoming of a public official, abuse of power and discretion. He should have been more prudent and patient under such circumstances, taking into account that the radio program was live on air. We cannot tolerate such a behavior of a local government official,” he said.

Robredo ordered Philippine National Police chief Director General Raul Bacalzo and Chief Superintendent Villamor Bumanlag, Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) police director, to initiate the probe.

Baac though yesterday said he welcomes any investigation and charges that may be filed against him so he can formally answer the allegations.

He also invited media groups to go to Kalinga and “have a free hand to conduct (their) own investigation on what transpired.”

Robredo said Bacalzo and Bumanlag should submit to his office the results of their probe and corresponding recommendations against Baac and his bodyguards within 72 hours.

Robredo said the probe should determine if the attack against Tabanganay was prompted by the broadcaster’s frequent attacks on the governor’s alleged involvement in jueteng and illegal logging in Kalinga.

Herman Basbano, national chairman of the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas, yesterday condemned the incident, describing it as “proof of barbarism in today’s society” and “proof of curtailment of press freedom.”

In a statement yesterday, Presidential Communications Office Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. asked Robredo to initiate steps to make Baac “accountable for his disruptive behavior.”

At around 12:55 p.m. last Tuesday, Baac and his security guards reportedly forcibly entered the dzRK compound and confronted Tabanganay inside the announcer’s booth.

The governor allegedly grabbed a microphone, hit a table, and then grabbed another microphone and struck Tabanganay with it.

Bumanlag said his men in Kalinga were doing everything to expedite the filing of cases against Baac. – With Artemio Dumlao, Raymund Catindig, Charlie Lagasca