Cerebral Combustion
Inhuman
Anyone who has seen the video footage of GMA Network's local news correspondent Charlene Belvis being deliberately assaulted would agree what a horrifying and dreadful incident of ruthlessness it was to watch. She was slapped, attacked, and dragged on the floor by Andrea Gorriceta, a suspect of a hit and run incident which Ms. Belvis and her crew were trying to cover.
The evident action of cruelty of the suspect was shown repeatedly in the local and national news programs resulting in the aversion of several media practitioners in condemnation to the indefinite rights and necessary protections of a reporter. What caused more views of disapproval was the fact that it happened inside a police station.
The incident not only had a gamut of cases filed by Belvis and GMA Network against Andrea Gorriceta like slander by deed, physical injuries, and grave oral defamation but it might also include a case if proven against the police officers who did not undertake immediate action to ward off the physical abuse against Belvis.
The victim of the hit-and run, Ria Aquino and her family also announced to file a case against Gorriceta claiming apparently that there was an intention to harm and kill Ria as her car was pinned down on the wall somewhere in Smallville Complex in Diversion.
Speculations of a long time rife between Aquino and Gorriceta were unclear but Ria's father has spoken up about the family's disapproval of Gorriceta and their son's, Ria's brother, romantic relationship. The two are said to be live-in partners.
Meanwhile, Gorriceta justified her actions by declaring her right to refuse an interview during that time and that when Belvis insisted she apparently got annoyed and attacked her. In her interviews, she tried to conceal some details of the attack contrary to what the videos of her actual slapping and pulling the hair of Belvis and dragging her on the floor. She stated afterwards that the incident should serve as a lesson not only to her but to Belvis as well. Gorriceta did not show any signs of remorse nor apologized.
On the other hand, Belvis made clear that she was able to respect the right of her attacker when she did not persevered to ask for an interview but however clarified that her team had to take video footages because it was a public incident and that it was her job as a news correspondent to report what happened.
Gorricetta claims to have her personal rights violated but if it indeed was a lapse outside media boundaries does her reasoning justify the physical assault she committed? Observers of the case say that it was an ostensible display of wealth and power knowing that Gorriceta is from a prominent family.
It is a reporter's primary task and responsibility to disseminate truth, facts, and necessary information for the public to know. But in this country where there isn't really a conclusive concept and ample comprehension between the extent of the public's rights and the media, cases like this are bound to happen. No wonder in this country media fatalities are rising.
Clearly though, Gorriceta's rage lead to untoward viciousness and if cruelty to animals are condemned and attackers are criminally charged what more is an act of cruelty to a human being?
Let the evidence speak for itself. We all do hope justice will be rightfully served in this case and Gorriceta will reap the consequences of her actions.