ORMOC, Leyte , Philippines – An executive of television network GMA-7 denounced some personalities assigned by the city government to deal with journalists covering the devastation of Super Typhoon Yolanda, for allegedly saying that the news team would be evicted from the city hall for not reporting good things about the city.
Cel Rosales-Amores, GMA-7 assistant vice president for news and public affairs, said she was disturbed that their news team had moved out of the city hall and transferred to the Army camp after learning of the remark.
The news team technical manager told Amores that a certain Agnes Siguenza, said to be a cousin of Mayor Edward Codilla, made the remark.
Reporter Bam Alegre told The STAR that it was city councilor Ruben Capahi himself, another cousin of the mayor, told him they would be evicted.
Alegre said Capahi allegedly asked their technical manager why the television network is not reporting any good news about Ormoc.
He said even before the incident, some city employees have allegedly been chiding and making fun of the way they report on television.
Capahi denied telling Alegre about the alleged eviction notice. He said it was city administrator Francis Pepito who said it and that it was meant to be a joke.
In an interview, Amores said if it was joke, then it was a bad one.
“We are not from here. We do not know the people here that well. We don’t know your dynamics. We don’t know if a joke is a joke, or if it was half-serious, half-joke,†she said.
Meanwhile, the city council is allegedly investigating the incident and Siguenza’s alleged involvement in it.
Councilor Vincent Rama said Siguenza is a city council employee and if the complaint against her was true, the reputation of the city council could be compromised.