BTMA creates probe team
By KIT BAGAIPO

An editor of a local weekly newspaper is being investigated by no less than his peers in the media industry for allegedly asking money from a Capitol official in exchange for a publicity proposal amid the raging controversy of misused P2-million cooperative funds.

Fred Amora, associate editor of another newspaper, is the subject of a complaint from Bohol Poverty Reduction Management Office (BPRMO) head Antonieto Pernia for a publicity proposal that would not drag the name of the latter into the cooperative fund controversy.

According to Pernia, he refused to the proposal as it was clearly an attempt to blackmail him when, in fact, he was the one who asked for the Commission on Audit (COA) to investigate the alleged anomalous transactions of former BPRMO head Primo Digao and disbursement officer Patricia Limboy.

THE COMPLAINT

In his letter to the BTMA, Pernia described how Amora hinted to propose a publicity work for him in preparation for a looming expose on anomalies involving cooperative assistance fund transactions of the BPRMO.

Amora allegedly threatened Pernia that his name will be dragged into the expose as head of BPRMO.

"I am a media practitioner myself I value this industry where I belong. I will do everything to protect the industry from becoming an extortion industry," Pernia, stated in his letter to the BTMA.

"The action of BTMA on this complaint will have a bearing on how people look at members of the press. We need to police our rank from unscrupulous members. It is about time BTMA is able to assert its power against people who use BTMA to pursue their nefarious activities," Pernia added.

Pernia attached clippings of articles written by Amora after he refused of the publicity proposal.

The news articles showed that Pernia was not given a chance to explain his side while he was consistently being projected having an involvement in the fund mess.

"MUZZLING THE PRESS"

In a statement sent through e-mail, Amora expressed dismay over attempts to "muzzle the press" from further exposing the issues of corruption in government.

The editor sent a challenge to colleagues in the BTMA not to "surrender to those who seek to destroy us and the very democratic principles which give us the freedom to speak and write freely."

For having exposed the alleged illegal money-making activities at the BPRMO, Amora claims he is now maliciously accused of extortion and blackmail, among others.

Amora added that two Commission on Audit Observations (COA-AOM) No. 2007-014 and AOM No. 2008-005 dated December 18, 2007 and Feb. 18, 2008 respectively, declared "illegal" deductions of cooperative funds amounting to P344,000 made by BPRMO.

COA lambasted the 10% deductions saying, "The poverty reduction office (BPRMO) is there to help and assist the cooperatives and not to manipulate the transactions to his own benefit." (COA-AOM No. 2007-014, Sec (2), paragraph 2)

According to Amora he asked for a copy of BPRMO Chief's official explanation and comment of the issues as ordered by COA, clearly telling him that he needs that copy since his work in the print industry (newspaper) requires documentary references when writing a news story, particularly issues of serious concerns."

"Waiting for a copy of his written explanation for almost three (3) weeks before its publication was "more than fair enough" - and that is because I value his name and our friendship," Amora said.

"The publication, in fact, also opened an opportunity for Pernia to clear his name as the COA report was circulating in whispers inside Capitol, all pointing to him as responsible being chief of said office," Amora said.