WE WOULD like to put on record that Col. Jose Johriel Cenabre, the deputy commander of naval forces in southern Philippines, has spoken to the Mindanao Examiner about the military’s order to arrest Jordanian journalist Baker Abdullah Atyani for espionage.
This, after Presidential Edwin Lacierda denied Mindanao Examiner article on Cenabre’s interview (https://mindanaoexaminer.com/news.php?news_id=20120701190934) during Monday’s news conference in Manila.
“LACIERDA: Let me… In fact, that’s a good question. I spoke to Secretary (Voltaire) Gazmin and General (Jessie) Dellosa and I got a response from the spokesperson. Let me read lang the response of the spokesperson, AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) spokesperson, and this is Colonel (Arnulfo) Boyet Burgos: “Colonel Jose Cenabre denies giving a statement with the Mindanao Examiner regarding initiatives in arresting Jordanian journalist (Baker) Atyani and charging him with espionage. As far as the AFP is concerned, he is safe but in the hands of an armed group.” And that’s what the position is. So he has not spoken to… Mr. Cenabre denies giving an interview with…or giving that statement to Mindanao Examiner.”
It was Mindanao Examiner Editor-in-Chief Al Jacinto, who interviewed Cenabre on the phone about Atyani and the military’s action against the Al Arabiya’s bureau chief for Pakistan.
The same article was also carried by one of the Philippines’ most respected and oldest newspaper, The Manila Times, under Al Jacinto’s name and published on Sunday, July 1.
Cenabre has been relieved of his duty as commander of Task Force Sulu and as concurrent deputy chief of the Naval Forces South in Zamboanga City effective Monday, July 2, the same day Lacierda denied the news article.
The Mindanao Examiner maintains its highest journalistic standard and integrity to provide its readers – not only in the Philippines, but also from around the world, including respected media firms and news agencies – the truth in all its articles.
And as our slogan says: “We write the truth, without fear or favour, to bring you the news and images from the Southern Philippines.”
The Publisher.
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