The City Council of Dipolog has passed a resolution rebuking a local journalist for asking a political rival of the city mayor a question that supposedly put the incumbent official in a bad light.

The City Council on September 25, 2012 passed Resolution No. 12-862 condemning “the insinuation made by a radio reporter that the administration of Dipolog City has the propensity of employing violence and terrorism against its political opponents.”

At a press conference on Sept. 17, Leo Cimafranca, manager and news anchor of RMN dxKD in Dipolog City, asked mayoralty candidate Cecilia Jalosjos-Carreon: “Pananglitan mogamit ug terorismo ang pikas kay karon diri sa Dipolog dili nato ikalimod nga daghang patay nahitabo nga unsolved (For example, if the other side uses terrorism because we cannot deny that there are a lot of unsolved killings that happened).

The press conference was held at Carreon’s residence in Barangay Sicayab, Dipolog.

Carreon, the Nacionalista Party’s bet for mayor, is running against incumbent mayor and Liberal Party candidate Evelyn T. Uy.

The vice mayor and the entire city council is allied with Uy.

Cimafranca is a known critic of the local administration.

The resolution, adopted on the motion of Councilor James P. Verduquez and seconded by Councilors Ruben B. Legorio, Dante G. Bagarinao and Kenny Val U. Ong, made the following conclusions:

1.    That Cimafranca “alluded” to the present Dipolog City administration under Mayor Evelyn T. Uy when he mentioned “pikas” (the other side);

2.     That in saying “pananglitan mogamit ug terorismo (for example, if the other side uses terrorism),” Cimafranca was “obviously implying that there is a possibility that we would employ violence and terrorism against the group of Cely Jalosjos-Carreon;” and

3.    In saying, “Dili (nato) ikalimod nga daghang patay nahitabo nga unsolved (we cannot deny that there are a lot of unsolved killings that happened),” Cimafranca “was clearly making a connection between the (sic) suppressed possibility that we would employ terrorism against the group of Cely Jalosjos-Carreon and certain cases of (sic) killing in the City, as if implying that we somehow know about the killings in Dipolog City.”

The City Council resolution also claimed Cimafranca’s question “(sic) is certainly malicious and irresponsible. Partraying (sic) this administration as a group that has the propensity to employ violence against its opponents is highly uncalled for.”

For reference:

JB R. DEVEZA
Coordinator, NUJP Mindanao Media Safety Office