ICHPC welcomes Gil's plan to file damages suit
The Iloilo City Hall Press Corps (ICHPC) are up in ranks against City Legal Office (CLO) head Atty. Edgar Gil as they welcome the latter's plan to file damages cases against those members of the press who reported the alleged tampered electrical meter in his house in Burgos St., Lapaz.
In yesterday's meeting, the group decided to wait for Gil's complaint for damages which he addressed to ICHPC members during a dialog last Wednesday. Gil's announcement did not in any way cow the media from pursuing issues involving him especially on the electric meter issue.
The members of the group are ready to deal with Gil especially on issues regarding several publications and bidding at the Iloilo City Hall specifically on the alleged failed bidding for the board piling works as initial stage in the construction of the multi-million city hall building. The bidding for the board piling work is scheduled on July. Gil is the chair of the Bids and Awards Committee (BAC).
The issues on the publication has been a perennial problem at the city hall where only favored newspapers and even those which are not qualified get the contracts. There were also groups that question the legality of the recent publication of the city's tax ordinance.
On the part of photojournalist Arnold Almacen, he stood pat on his statement that Gil shoved his camera when we was taking shots of him morning of May 6, 2008. Radio reporters Bert Ladera and Rhonson Hofileña also stood firm on their statements that they heard Gil saying "gago" to Almacen.