DOJ Sec bans Times reporter
For writing a story about an alleged malicious telephone conversation, a reporter for a national daily was barred from entering the Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary’s office last October 19.
Jomar Canlas, justice beat reporter of The Manila Times, was barred by DOJ Secretary Raul Gonzalez, for making a story about the latter’s telephoneconversation with Special Prosecutor Dennis Villa-Ignacio. The phone call took place in the midst of a press conference held in the the DOJ Secretary’s office last October 10.
The Gonzalez and Villa-Ignacio telephone conversation was apparently about the possibility of taking a murder suspect and getting his deposition in a big plunder case in exchange for the government’s dropping its efforts to extradite him. This “suspect” is reportedly Atong Ang, a murder suspect who was a close friend of former president, Erap Estrada, who is facing serious charges of plunder.
Gonzalez denied the story, saying Canlas wasn’t even in the said press conference. Canlas, in turn, said he had a tape recording of the said conversation in question.
Gonzales then faced Canlas and apparently told him, “Mr. Canlas, from nowon you are banned from entering my office.” He added that the tape could be considered a form of wiretapping.
In defense of Canlas, lawyer Rene Saguisag, said there was nothing unusual with tape recorders being used at press conferences. “If he was having aprivate conversation with Villa-Ignacio, Gonzalez should have stood up and left the room,” Saguisag added.
Saguisag said banning a media representative from the office of a public official is illegal and a “suppression of the freedom of expression.” ###
I thought nobody would noticed that, now that journalism.