MANILA – A television reporter was allegedly threatened by a bodyguard of Bulacan provincial vice governor Daniel Fernando during a supposed meeting between the politician and the victim and other journalists at a restaurant in the town of Guiguinto.
Rommel Ramos, who works for GMA Television, said Datsun Fulgar, one of Fernando’s several bodyguards, pulled a pistol and shouted at him during the confrontation between him and the politician that followed over a news report. Fulgar also reportedly challenged Ramos to a fistfight.
An unidentified policeman quickly pacified Fulgar, who was later told by Fernando to stay outside the restaurant where the bodyguard can still be heard throwing invectives at the reporter.
Fernando then allegedly continued berating the reporter in front of other journalists over a report that he did not like. The incident occurred on October 1, according to media watch dog National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) and the National Press Club of the Philippines (NPCP).
The NUJP said Ramos sent a letter saying that he and the politician, who was a former movie actor,
had a misunderstanding last month over the news reports which led Fernando to call him to a meeting in an effort to settle the issue.
Ramos said the meeting quickly soured when Fernando began shouting at him. It was when Ramos said he, too, raised his voice that Fulgar suddenly shouted invectives at him and then pulled out his gun. Laying the weapon on the table, he continued shouting at Ramos and challenged him to a fight, according to NUJP, adding, the policeman who was at the meeting intervened and brought Fulgar out of the restaurant to pacify him.
NPCP president Joel Egco described the frightening incident “impunity, plain and simple” and said Fulgar must be held accountable for his actions.
“The National Press Club of the Philippines will not let this incident pass without first determining whether or not Fulgar was authorized to carry a gun and to make him accountable for his misdeeds. An open threat against a helpless individual by someone close to the powers that be is clearly a form of abuse. An indication of how alive that dreadful culture of impunity is in the country,” Egco said.
He said what happened during the meeting was very unfortunate, especially as it was done in full view of other journalists and observers. “Yet again, here comes another example of how dangerously journalists live in this part of the world. Clearly, the overprotective bodyguard demonstrated how callously, impulsively and irresponsibly they can react to perceived threats against their superior,” he said.
Egco also released Ramos’ narration of the events that led to the incident, including three photos taken at the time of the incident. “Nais kong ipabatid sa inyo ang isang pangyayari sa pagitan namin nina Bulacan Vice Governor Daniel Fernando at isa sa kanyang mga bodyguards na nakilala sa pangalang Datsun Fulgar. Nangyari ang insidente nitong Lunes (October 1, 2014) nasa humigit kumulang 5:40 p.m. to 6 p.m. sa Eurobake Restaurant bakeshop sa Tabang Guiguinto, Bulacan.
“May dialogue sa pagitan ko at Fernando. Ang paguusap ay sa pamamagitan ng inisyatibo ng ilang lokal na mamamahayag sa Bulacan kaugnay ng mga issue na hindi pabor kay Fernando. Sa aking pagkakaalam ang pag-uusap ay ikinasa sa pagitan lang naming dalawa at lalabas ang mga mamamahayag at mga bodyguard nito sa sandaling magsimula na ang pag-uusap. Ngunit hindi daw pumayag si Fernando at sinabing “walang aalis diyan, lang kayo at ng marinig nyo ang mga sasabihin ko.”
“Hanggang sa ako ay dumating sa loob ng restaurant at sinabi ni Fernando sa mataas na boses na huwag akong maupo kung saan at doon ako maupo sa tabi niya. Sa simula pa lamang ay mataas na ang boses ni Fernando na tila gusto akong ipahiya sa harapan ng media na naroon at nga bodyguard niya. Sa una hanggang (sa) (ika)apat kong tugon na salita ay mababa lamang ang aking boses ngunit patuloy na mataas ang boses ni Fernando kayat tinatapatan ko ang taas ng kanyang boses.”
“Dito biglang sumigaw ang bodyguard ni Fernando na si Fulgar na nakaupo sa isang lamesa at sinurot ako habang sinasabing: “Hoy, bastos ka! Matuto kang gumalang! Ibaba mo ang boses mo!”
“Dito ako sumagot ng: “Bakit sino ka ba? Kasama ka ba sa usapan na ito? Bakit ka sumasabat?”
“Kasunod nito ay tumayo ang nasabing bodyguard at binunot ang kanyang baril na nasa likuran ng kanyang bewang at sumugod patungo sa akin habang sinasabing “matapang kang putangina ka ha? Tara magsuntukan tayo! Kakasa ka bang gago ka?!”
“Dito na inawat ng isang unipormadong pulis ang nagwawalang bodyguard ni Fernando. Napansin na hindi agad umimik si Fernando upang awatin ang kanyang bodyguard at hinayaan itong makapagmura makabunot pa ng baril at sumugod. Nagsalita na lamang si Fernando na palabasin ang kanyang bodyguard matapos itong makapagwala at tinutulak na papalabas ng isang pulis.”
“Habang papalabas ay muling kinuha ni Fulgar ang kanyang baril na ipinatong sa lamesa at muling isinukbit sa likurang bewang niya. Ayon sa mga kapwa mamamahayag, patuloy na nagwawala at nagmumumura laban sa akin si Fulgar kahit ito ay nasa labas na ng restaurant.”
“Matapos naman ang pag-uusap namin ni Fernando ay sinabi pa umano nito sa mga naiwang mamamahayag na normal lamang ang inasal ng kanyang bodyguard dahil bodyguard nga daw niya ito. Hanggang sa ngayon ay wala pang malinaw na naging aksyon si Fernando sa inasal ng kanyang bodyguard.”
“Bakit niya sasabihin na normal ang inasal ng kanyang bodyguard samantalang wala namang imminent threat na nagmumula sa akin. Isa akong reporter na nagpunta doon batay sa imbitasyon ng kapwa mamamahayag. Hindi ako armado at ang nangyayari ay isang dayalogo na may kumprontasyon.”
“Walang impormasyon kung ito ay pinatawan ng disciplinary action hinggil sa insidente. Nais kong ipaalam sa inyo ang insidenteng ito for reference sakaling may hindi magandang mangyari sa akin sa mga susunod na araw dahil sa banta ng bodyguard ni Fernando na si Fulgar.”
Nagpadala naman ng liham si Fernando kay Egco upang linawin ang naganap. (Mindanao Examiner) (Mindanao Examiner)
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