“Warning members of the media that they will be buried together with culled pigs, can be considered as a grave threat.”
This was ACT-CIS Niña Taduran’s reaction to the reported harassment of 4 media men by a certain barangay official of Bulihan, Plaridel, identified as Kagawad Arnel Gonzales, who attempted to prevent the media men from covering the culling of livestock in the said town.
Reports identified the four media men as Jose Erwin Bunag, Isagani Navarro, both GMA news cameramen, Louie Angeles, volunteer reporter of DWIZ and Ricardo Mirasol of the tabloid Remate.
Taduran threw her support behind the Bulacan Press Club, led by its president, Erick Silverio, in condemning the alleged intimidation committed by a government official against members of the media.
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The official even reportedly tried to confiscate the recording equipment of the media men, who went to the Barangay Hall of Bulihan, Plaridel on Tuesday to inquire about the culling of swines suspected to be infected by ASF in the village.
The mediamen failed to get an interview as concerned officials declined to comment; however, they managed to get the the barangay official’s threats against them on tape.
Taduran said, the video and voice clip serve as evidence of a criminal offense, and the guilty party should be arrested and charged.
Taduran noted that in this case, it wasn’t necessary for the barangay official to threaten the reporters, as the media men weren’t able to get a story about ASF anyway.
Now, unfortunately, this barangay official has become the story, Taduran said.
