Grave coercion charges: Blocktimer sues Dumaguete councilor

DUMAGUETE CITY, Philippines  â€”  A radio block timer filed a case for grave coercion case against a city councilor on Monday following a heated verbal tussle between the two in early March inside the announcer’s booth at an FM station in Dumaguete City.

Rene Ledesma, who hails from Mindanao but with roots from Negros Occidental and Cebu, disclosed in a press conference Monday that the case against Councilor Antonio Remollo will be filed before the City Prosecutor’s Office through his legal counsels, Myles Bejar and Lester Nuique.

The complaint stems from an incident in the evening of March 2 when Councilor Remollo, accompanied by some policemen, allegedly barged into the announcer’s booth of Power 91 DYGB-FM and asked Ledesma to stop his program or he will have him arrested.

Ledesma was on board when Remollo, apparently irked by the anchor’s comments on the controversial “privatization” issue of the Dumaguete public market, asked him to stop his program, saying he was a person of authority and that the broadcaster was “harassing him on air”.

Reports have it Remollo was to effect a citizens’ arrest but it did not happen after a lawyer intervened.

Remollo was earlier being pinpointed in media reports as the alleged “brains” behind the proposed privatization of the public market as it had incurred deficits, an issue being raised by the councilor and his colleagues in the opposition ticket against incumbent and reelectionist Mayor Manuel Sagarbarria.

An emotional Ledesma, wearing a black armband and surrounded by fans and supporters, said he was suing Remollo not just because of that incident but because he cannot allow the councilor to trample on the rights of the media and press freedom.

Ledesma also disclosed that Remollo allegedly called him names during the altercation, such as being a mere driver of a “kariton” (push cart) and dispatcher.

He said that even if he is poor, he will not allow Remollo or anybody to trample on the rights of press freedom and freedom of expression.

At least two other broadcast journalists, Joinny Cahilog alias Rex Santos and Edmund Sestoso, also known as Roderick Almendras, announced that they are willing to testify in court in Ledesma’s favor.

Rex Santos even played back a recording of the verbal encounter between Ledesma and Remollo.

According to Ledesma, this is the second time that he and Remollo had a confrontation, the first one occurred sometime last year.

Ledesma is identified as a block timer for a rival political camp against Remollo, who is seeking reelection under the Liberal Party ticket.

He urged other members of the Dumaguete press to join him in his crusade to protect the freedoms of expression, speech and the press.

Meanwhile, Councilor Remollo welcomed Ledesma's move in filing a complaint against him.

Remollo expressed disgust over the “false information” Ledesma continuously discusses on air as he stood his ground saying he believes what he did last March 2 was proper.

Remollo said all he wanted was to correct Ledesma.

Atty. Lester Nuique, one of Ledesma’s counsels, explained that the complaint of grave coercion in violation of Article 286 of the Revised Penal Code against Remollo is appropriate considering that it is described as “preventing/forcing somebody to do something against his will without the authority of the law”.

Nuique pointed out that while Remollo may somehow have public authority as a councilor, he belongs to the legislative body and does not have police powers.

Remollo, on the other hand, is mulling the idea of filing a complaint against Ledesma with the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster sa Pilipinas. (FREEMAN)