Pointblank
Illogical
The media is considered a watchdog of society. It has the moral responsibility to guard against injustices and abuses especially if the victims are those who have less in life. That is why it is common for poor people to seek the help of the media in airing their grievances or letting their voices heard. Apparently, these people can't afford the services of lawyers and have nothing to run to but the media.
Unfortunately, by exposing injustices and abuses as well as shenanigans in government the media has become a target of attacks by those people who feel like they are "untouchables." In fact, a number of practicing journalists have lost their lives by just doing their "job". Obviously, they were silenced eternally by those whom they have stepped upon in their write ups, commentaries or exposes.
Perhaps you can still remember the controversial City Hall employee Ricardo Gumabong who grabbed the headlines of local papers and the airwaves just recently. Actually, The News Today through City Hall beat reporter Maricar Calubiran broke the story on Gumabong. Ms. Calubiran, a veteran in the City Hall beat, actually got the story by chance when she had a certain transaction at the City Engineer's Office (CEO). The story was indeed explosive: Gumabong tried to extort a fertilizer company which has an office near Muelle Loney. The story was later picked up by other media organizations and eventually Mayor Jerry Treñas ordered an investigation on Gumabong spearheaded, of course, by the City Legal Office headed by Atty. Edgar Gil. Surprisingly, Gil also invited Ms. Calubiran to the investigation (being the newsbreaker?). Well, although quite unreasonable, Ms. Calubiran politely appeared in the investigation and even submitted her own sworn affidavit stating how she got the explosive news. That simple.
Several weeks after the so-called investigation by the City Legal Office (CLO), Mayor Treñas handed a 60-day suspension order on Gumabong. Maybe, the CLO found merit on the allegations against Gumabong.
Just this week we received another "subpoena" from the CLO "commanding" Ms. Calubiran "to appear before this AD HOC COMMITTEE on September 5, 6, 7, and 8, 2006... to testify in the above captioned cases." The case, of course, is against Gumabong. According to the CLO personnel who handed the subpoena the new investigation is separate and distinct from the previous investigation conducted by the CLO, of which Ms. Calubiran has already appeared.
It made me wonder why Atty. Gil keeps on including Ms. Calubiran in the investigation when she merely reported on Gumabong's shenanigans! Atty. Gil must have forgotten that Ms. Calubiran is not the complainant in the case she merely exposed the extortion racket of Gumabong. What does the reporter have to do with it? More so, Ms. Calubiran is not a City Hall employee, she is a journalist! It is your job to discover Gumabong's rackets, the media already gave you the lead. I just can't find logic in including a journalist, who merely exposed the anomaly, in your so-called investigation. Was the affidavit Ms. Calubiran submitted earlier still not enough? By the way, what about Gumabong's serious allegations against his superior City Engineer's Office chief Engr. Marito Amatorio and all the other employees of the CEO? Have you also dipped your fingers into it sir?
I don't know if Atty. Gil really knows his job. With the number of unresolved issues being faced by the city it seems that he is on the wrong track. See what happened to the socialized housing project in Pavia? The pilferage case against a former city official? The "golden" trash bins? You're the City Legal Officer, stop acting like a politician.
By the way, if Atty. Gil is wont in investigating members of the press who expose certain anomalies involving City Hall employees basi indi siya kaubos sinamu niya. A lot of anomalies in the City Hall were exposed because of the vigilance of the media. Lest you forget Atty. Gil we in the media are only doing our job. It is our responsibility to protect the interest of the public. How about you?