Two
lawmakers walked out from the session hall of the Sangguniang Panlungsod last
Wednesday in protest over the insistence to pass a resolution declaring broadcaster
Kagawad Roberto "Bartchoy" Alba a persona non grata by the Majority
group of the city law making body.
The
issue stemmed from Alba's alleged verbal attacks against the church regarding
the project at the Dauis church with philantrophist Bea Zobel during the popular
program "Pulso," over dyRD last April 3. The lawmakers identified with
the majority bloc claimed in their resolution that Alba went "beyond bounds
of decency and respect for the authority of the church and its inviolable personality
as a separate institution."
Vice
Mayor Jose Antonio Veloso and Kagawad Djingo Rama walked out from the session
as they branded the move as a product of "blind political loyalty" to
whoever was behind such action of the lawmakers.
The
vice mayor relinquished as presiding officer and turned over the management of
the session to Majority Leader Kagawad Edgar Bompat. In vacating his chair during
that session, Veloso said he does not want to be party of such act which is a
by-product of a highly politicized stand in denouncing Alba who is a known critic
to the city administration. Veloso likewise said it was surprising why the majority
bloc wanted the resolution "rammed into their throats" even without
giving the broadcaster time to explain his side on the issue. Thirdly, Veloso
stressed that he could not state his stand since he did not hear that particular
program "Pulso" last April 3, which was aired at the same time when
the lawmakers were in session.
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his part, Kagawad Rama articulated his objection to the move saying that even
the Church itself has not issued any statement denouncing Alba. He instead castigated
his colleagues for "acting without being fair and logical" in unilaterally
putting a person in a bad light because of such declaration as persona non grata.
He questioned the majority bloc's indecent haste to pass the resolution without
giving Alba his "day in court."
Those
who pressed for the passage of the resolution against Alba were Kagawads Edi Borja,
Edgar Bompat, Oscar Glovasa, Lucio Balbin, Butchie Zamora, Faro Cabalit, Dandan
Bantugan. Kagawads Mariquit Oppus and Bebin Inting objected while Rama walked
out. | Kagawad
Bompat presented the resolution while Kag Borja defended why Alba should be declared
a persona non grata.
During
a radio interview, Borja said he was approached by some church officials who denounced
Alba's radio program. However, when asked to identify who these church leaders
are, the kagawad could not name names. Borja even admitted that he, himself, and
the other kagawads were not able to listen to the said radio program where they
alleged that Alba attacked the church, including Bihop Leonardo Medroso.
Reacting
on the resolution, broasdcaster Alba said that it is a "big shame in the
community that these kagawads identified with the majority bloc are being used
by a ranking city hall official in his attempt to silence his critics."
"This
it the third attempt to silence me, " Alba said recalling that the first
was when his advertisers of "Pulso" were asked by city hall to cancel
their radio sponsorships which led to his program's suspension for a week sometime
last year. The second was the attempted arson at his residence in barangay San
Isidro, this city.
"Plain
and simple harassment," Alba summarized such move of the city lawmakers identified
with the city mayor, as they do not want the "truth at city hall to come
out every one and then."
This
time was even worse, since they "attempted to create a conflict between my
radio program or the station and the church."
Well-
meaninged citizens who phoned in their reactions expressed dismay on the brand
of leadership at the city hall citing that the manner that particular resolution
(against Alba) was passed is a manifestation of a "dictated blind majority
bloc."
The
strongly worded resolution crtificized Alba for "disregarding his responsibility
as a public official (barangay kagawad) to safeguard and defend the rights of
citizens from unfounded allegations," citing also the program as the "source
of embarassment not only to the parishioners of the diocese but even to the city
government."
Alba
, in his reaction said that the alleged attacks to the church were aired by a
Dauis resident identified as Flora Loquellano who came to his radio program last
April 3 and rattled off her objections on the project between the diocese of Tagbilaran
and Zobel.
"It
is the right of every citizen to air his views in a democratic country,"
the broadcaster
stressed. But, accusing that "I, personally, attacked the church" is
a blatant lie and fabrication of facts designed to embarass me.
"I
did not even have a single knowedge about the Dauis project until Ms. Loquellano
came to the radio program,:" Alba concluded.
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