NEWSMAN ARRESTED ON HARRASHMENT CHARGE
Suppression of PressFreedom?
Romblon, Romblon - Narciso Bernardo Jr., a Romblon Today staff and resident of Sitio Agbuyog, Barangay Capaclan, Romblon, Romblon was recently arrested for a charge of 'Grave Oral Defamation' under the Revised Penal Code. The charge was based on alleged slanderous and defamatory remarks allegedly made by Bernardo in his residence to two witnesses. The arrest was served by PO3 Jun Navalasca of the PNP Romblon warrant section. The first subpoena was questioned immediately by a lawyer of Bernardo because it was not properly served dated October 9, 2000 not in the office of Romblon Today in Manila but in Sitio Agbuyog, Capaclan, Romblon because Bernardo is not a resident there at that time. It was suspectedly scripted as alleged.
Immediately after the arrest, a well known residents in their community named Mr. Isidro Rivas, Noe Familara, Yvon Silverio, Darlene Lim, Toto Fallara, Brgy. Kagawad Gabriel Razonable, came to the assistance of Bernardo. It was followed by cause oriented groups and many more who gave moral support to him. Capt Jack Rojas upon hearing such news from Manila immediately ordered bail of Bernardo the following morning after said RT staff suffered surprise imprisonment in jail.According to some observers who refused to be identified, the arrest was plain harassment in view of the numerous expose being done by "Romblon Today" newspaper in consistent with their crusade for good government and anti-graft and corruption campaigns.The complaint and supporting documents attached hereto disclosed that Letty Damayo and Mae Basina also from Romblon, Romblon met Narciso Bernardo, Jr. at the latter's residence in Sitio Agbuyog, Barangay Capaclan, this town, at around 8:35 in the evening of August 6, 2000. Bernardo allegedly uttered in reference to Barangay Captain Juan Molo the following: "BUANG 'YAN SI KAPITAN. MAHIRAP KAUSAPIN AT HINDI NAKAINTINDI, BAKA RAW MASUNTOK NIYA AKO AT MASUNTOK KO RIN SIYA. IYAN ANG DAHILAN KAYA AYAW KO SIYANG HARAPIN".Considering the facts, the legal staff of "Romblon Today" agreed with the consensus of Bernardo's supporters and symphatizers that the complaint is meant only to harrass "Romblon Today". They pointed to the fact that the alleged slanderous remark, if truly made, was not made in public but in the privacy of the residence of Bernardo himself which is an important element of the offense.It is a great wonder that this very significant circumstances passed the scrutiny of the prosecutor who made the evaluation of the complaint. They also noted that the complaint is based on the hearsay testimony of the two alleged witnesses considering that the alleged statements, if true, were uttered not in the presence of the complainant and there are no corroborating evidence of the alleged statements.Finally, they stressed that the arresting officer serve maliciously the warrant of arrest at about 6:00 PM, Monday on March 12, 2001 to prevent perhaps, Bernardo from being able to post bail. PO3 Navalasca, the arresting officer was accompanied by the said accuser Molo himself who is also a barangay Chairman of the said barangay.Bernardo denies that he made the alleged slanderous remarks. Romblon Today is contemplating on filing of counter-suit for the evident harassment which even showed ignorance of the law or plain disregard of its meaning. His symphatizers believe however that the incident is politically instituted was a disperate act of suppression of press freedom."Ilan pa kayang mahihirap na manunulat ang makakaranas ng ganitong kalupitan at karahasan sa pagtataguyod mg malayang pamamahayag sa ating gobyerno, sino ang amy pakana nito?", the people asked.