Radio reporter mobbed in Calinog
A reporter of Aksyon Radyo Iloilo was mobbed by supporters of a mayoralty candidate in Calinog, Iloilo yesterday.
Ronson Hofileña went to the residence of Teodoro Lao, a candidate for mayor, purposely to get the latter's side on an earlier report that he was hospitalized.
Hofileña, however, was cornered by Lao's supporters who demanded that the mayoralty candidate be allowed to speak on air.
Sensing that he was in danger, the reporter immediately called up their station. Joel Tormon, anchorman during the time, put Hofileña on air thinking that the latter will file a situationer report in Calinog but was surprised that the line was immediately given to Lao.
Lao then lashed at Tormon saying his station was unfair for airing unverified information that he was hospitalized.
Lao even admitted that his supporters held Hofileña and demanded that he will only be released if he would be given time to answer the "baseless report" on air.
Tormon for his part explained to Lao that they were not the ones who spread the rumor. He said they got the information from several sources and that it came out as early as Friday last week.
Tormon added they tried to verify the report early yesterday by sending a reporter to Lao's house but the latter was out.
Nevertheless, Tormon said, Governor Niel Tupas later called them up clarifying that Lao was not hospitalized.
Tormon said, there was no malice in airing the report. In fact, he said they sent Hofileña to personally check with him the veracity of the report.
Based on Hofileñas's accounts he was held by several of Lao's men and was threatened that he would be killed when he does not let Lao speak on air.
Hofileña said he was surprised with the turn of events as he only meant to get Lao's side.
Hofileña immediately had the incident blottered at the Calinog Police Station.
Aksyon Radyo Assistant Station Manager Jocel Bañas, over the air, assured that the management would take the necessary legal action against the concerned individuals as soon as the election is over.
Aksyon Radyo was conducting its comprehensive election coverage dubbed "Supercount 2007" yesterday. Hofileña was tasked to cover the third district of Iloilo.