Kalinga governor's fate now in Aquino's hands - Robredo

La Trinidad, Benguet  ,Philippines – The fate of Kalinga Gov. Jocel Baac who allegedly assaulted a broadcaster inside the announcer’s booth of a government-run radio station is already in the hands of President Aquino.

Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo told reporters here over the week.

Robredo said his department’s investigation into the incident is done, although he refused to disclose the findings and recommendations.

Last June 7, Baac, together with armed bodyguards in plain clothes, allegedly barged into the announcer’s booth of government-run dzRK-Radyo ng Bayan in Tabuk City, grabbed a microphone and hit broadcaster Jerome Tabanganay. He allegedly threatened to kill the radio­man if he would not stop in his tirades against him.

Aquino is still reviewing the appropriate action against Baac, Robredo said here Tuesday afternoon following the regional forum on his department’s full disclosure policy to promote transparency among local government units.

Baac was reportedly given only two options – take a leave or be suspended. But since last week, he has reportedly left Kalinga and has supposedly gone on leave, although his camp would not confirm this.

Even as Tabanganay has sought the President’s action on the incident, supporters of Baac have also began asking Malacañang to consider the governor’s strategy “to develop and promote the province of Kalinga.”  

“We express our appreciation on the way he leads and manages (Kalinga),” Rev. Jose Pic-it, reportedly a chancellor of the Apostolic Vicariate of Tabuk, said in a letter.

But Bishop Rodolfo Andaya of the Vicariate of Tabuk said what Pic-it stated in his letter of support using the vicariate’s official letterhead was “his own (Pic-it’s) personal stand.” 

Andaya said the vicariate “as a whole did not make any common stand on that issue.”

But Tabanganay said he is unfazed. After filing a complaint for physical injuries against Baac last June 10, he said he is filing additional complaints for grave threats and graft and would seek the governor’s preventive suspension “so as not to influence the investigation.” 

“I am also taking a leave (as broadcaster in dzRK-Radyo ng Bayan Tabuk City so that we are on equal footing),” he said.