Crisis: National

TV reporter attacked
AN ABS-CBN reporter was assaulted by a former basketball star after she tried to interview a taxi driver who was allegedly beaten up by the basketball player.
In a video footage shown by TV-Patrol World, reporter Gretchen Malalad was shown being elbowed in the face by Paul “Bong” Alvarez. According to Malalad, Alvarez first declined to be interviewed regarding his alleged mauling of the taxi driver.
“Take that videocamera away from me. I will smash it and beat your cameraman (if you don’t take it away),” Alvarez allegedly told Malalad in Filipino.
Malalad did not insist, but when she attempted to interview taxi driver Wilfredo Cabanli, Alvarez blocked the reporter’s way, and elbowed her in the jaw. Malalad afterwards claimed that Alvarez pulled her hair and punched her in the forehead.
Malalad retaliated by punching Alvarez.
The reporter, a three-time karate gold medalist in the Southeast Asian Games, said she was caught off-guard and deplored Alvarez’s behavior.
Alvarez, a prominent player for the Philippine Basketball Association, now faces charges of physical injuries from both Mala-lad and Cabanli and resisting arrest from the authorities.
Cabanli was allegedly mauled by Alvarez in an argument over his fare. Alvarez was later released from police custody after posting a P4,500 bail. The incident has provoked questions on how far journalists can go in legitimately defending themselves.

Pacquiao sues journalists
A Filipino boxer has filed a P30-million libel suit against four journalists of the Manila Bulletin for publishing an article which allegedly attacked his “virtue and reputation,” Inquirer.net reported. Libel is a criminal offense in the Philippines.
The case, which was filed on July 30 on Manny Pacquiao’s behalf by his lawyer at the city prosecutor’s office in General Santos city, named as respondents the Bulletin’s sports writer Nick Giongco, publisher Hermogenes P. Pobre, editor-in-chief Crispulo J. Icban Jr., and sports editor Ding Marcelo.
Pacquiao filed the complaint because of Giongco’s article, “Trouble in Paradise—Again?”  The fourth paragraph of the article said, “Pacquiao, who spent millions in (an) unsuccessful bid to win a congressional seat in his hometown in General Santos City, is reported to be a com-pulsive gambler and is known to bet hundreds of thousands in casinos, cockfighting, and billiards.”
Pacquiao argued that the article was not true.
Sunstar.com.ph, an online news publication, meanwhile, reported that the libel suit was prompted by Pacquiao’s endorse-ment deal with athletic gear maker Nike which required the boxer to maintain a good image.

Broadcaster survives 2nd ambush
A RADIO commentator survived an ambush by a lone assailant on Aug. 20 in Surigao del Norte.
Manuel Kong, a block-time commentator for the radio station dxSN-AM 1017 khz., was shot by a lone gunman while walking at Magallanes Street, Surigao City at 12:30 pm. Block-timing is a common practice in the Philippines where indivi-duals buy “blocks” of radio air time using revenue generated by advertisements in their programs.
It was the second attempt on Kong’s life.  He survived an ambush by two unknown assailants in 2003.
Kong, according to a report byInquirer.net, was getting into his vehicle outside the radio station when the gunman appeared and shot him several times. Although wounded, Kong managed to draw his gun and fire at the assailant.
George Salabao, chair of the Kapisanan ng Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP-Association of Broadcasters of the Philippines) in Surigao del Norte, told the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility that after the attack, Kong flagged down a tricycle to take him to a hospital. After shooting Kong, the assailant reportedly walked back to his motorcycle parked a few steps away from the broadcaster’s vehicle.
Kong is the media bureau chief and spokesman of Surigao del Norte Rep. Francisco Matugas and has been critical of former Surigao del Norte governor Robert Lyndon Barbers and his brother, now incumbent Gov. Robert Ace Barbers.
“I believe politics has something to do with it. But I can’t tell you the name (of the politician),” Matugas said.
Kong was accredited by the Kapisanan ng Brodkaster ng Pilipinas. KBP records indicate that his accreditation expired on May 27, 2007
The KBP’s Salabao told the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility that he had once ordered Kong’s radio program, as well as those of his rival from Barbers’ camp in another station, to be suspended for a week after their on-air tirades against each other went overboard. Salabao, however, expressed outrage over the attack on Kong.
“I feel saddened by the incident. I wish people would not resort to such savage acts … but would course their grievances through the proper channels,” Salabao said.

Comelec threatens to sue media
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has announced that it is “seriously considering” filing charges of libel and electoral sabotage against “two known media personalities.”
Comelec commissioner Nicodemo Ferrer said that the Comelec en banc is planning to sue two media personalities spreading false information that “diminish the credibility” of the poll body, the Daily Tribune newspaper reported on Aug. 9.
Libel is a criminal offense, punishable with two to four years in prison or a fine ranging from P200 to P6,000, while electoral sabotage is a non-bailable offense punishable with a life sentence.
“[If our reputation is being destroyed], we will have to defend ourselves,” Ferrer said.
Jose Torres, chair of the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines, said that the planned charges against media are a threat to press freedom because the issue involves government policies.

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