CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – The Cagayan de Oro Press Club (COPC) called on its media colleagues to boycott city hall events starting on Friday, June 30, in protest after a security personnel of City Mayor Rolando Uy allegedly harassed some of the journalists while covering the launching of Bivalent vaccines in Sitio Macanhan, Barangay Carmen, on Thursday, June 29.
"Until there are no updates to assure our colleagues can still perform their duties in public events organized by the local government safely and devoid of harassment, the COPC calls on its members and other media colleagues to boycott all city hall events," the COPC said in a statement released also on Thursday.
Joseph Aries Señara, station manager of Brigada News FM Cagayan de Oro, said the involved security staff shoved him and two other colleagues – Cong Corrales of Mindanao Gold Star Daily and Mars Medina of Radyo Pilipinas – while covering the event, even if they had already positioned themselves in a different location.
But the worst moment was when Señara alone was prevented by the same bodyguard from taking photographs and video shots when a health staff member was checking Uy’s blood pressure in preparation for the vaccination.
"I told him, ‘Do not prevent me because it’s my job to get news. What’s really your problem?’” Señara said in vernacular when he guested on one of their radio programs and elaborated on the issue on Thursday.
He said the bodyguard stepped on his foot and took videos of them without their consent.
The station manager questioned the behavior of the security personnel, who seemed focused on him considering that there were other media near the chief executive.
The COPC emphasized that “this is Cagayan de Oro City” where the media will always perform its duty to democracy, unlike in some local governments where the press is either muffled or forced to turn a blind eye.
Uy’s administration was reminded by the group that the said harassment incident is perhaps the first since past administrations.
"We respectfully remind Mayor Uy and the rest of his alter-egos at City Hall, both appointed in office or otherwise in ‘consultancy’ status, that this is perhaps the first time in many years that such an incident happened," said COPC.
The media organization called on Uy and his administration to effect a change in the protocols of his bodyguards. It also demanded that the concerned bodyguard delete the photos and videos he took and publicly apologize for his ill-temper.
The Manila Bulletin asked for the statement of Ivy Guantero, city information officer, about the move of the media to boycott city hall events, but she had no comment as of posting time. But she said she would forward the journalists’ concern to the City Mayor’s Office.
Señara thanked COPC for its support, but he said: "This is not my fight; I stand firm. If they can do this to me, they can do this to you!"