Friday, January 15, 2010

Irate bet attacks anchorman on air

Philippine Star Cartoon.


ILIGAN CITY, Philippines – A city councilor who was irked by the negative commentaries of an anchorman of a local radio station here allegedly barged into the broadcaster’s booth at the station Wednesday morning and punched his tormentor.

Listeners of radio dxRJ heard the incident live at about 8 a.m. while Iligan City Councilor Chonilo Ruiz attacked anchorman Albert Loyola inside the announcer’s booth.

Loyola was heard shouting repeatedly over the microphone in the Cebuano dialect: “I am being punched by councilor Ruiz!”

In the background, Ruiz was also overheard saying in Cebuano: “Salbahe ka, salbahe ka (you are bad, you are bad).”

Ruiz is seeking a third term in the city council in the May elections under the Liberal Party.

In an interview yesterday with another local radio station here, Ruiz explained that in at least three airings of Loyola’s radio program RJ Patrol, the broadcaster repeatedly called him botboton (“liar” in Cebuano).

Ruiz said he tried to call and talk to Loyola over the radio station’s telephone but he was ignored.

Loyola explained that he was just asking the councilor how the Sangguniang Panglungsod (SP) is spending the budget on committee hearings.

Ruiz, in an earlier interview, replied that part of the expenses included snacks for those who attend the public hearings.

But Loyola said: “How come I was not served those snacks?” Then in the succeeding editions of his program, Loyola repeatedly played the tape and called Ruiz a botboton.

“My patience ran out, I am also a human being,” Ruiz said.

Loyola said he would file appropriate charges against Ruiz.

Ruiz said he will face the consequences of his actions and appealed to media men to practice professionalism. He said that although a city councilor is a public servant, he is still human and could also get hurt. (Lino dela Cruz)


Link: http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=540915&publicationSubCategoryId=68

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