The Sangguniang Panlungsod passed a resolution condemning the unprofessional behavior of Ms Lolita Reyes, a block timer broadcaster at the local radio station DZJC, during the council’s session on June 29. Laoag City Councilor Vicentito M. Lazo, chairman of the committee on peace and order, said Reyes verbally harassed and abused his colleague, Councilor Primo Jay S. Ramos. According to Lazo, who authored the resolution, Reyes made some utterances against Ramos after his co-councilor refused to be interviewed by Reyes. Reyes then said, “Agtalna ka Jay, ubing ka pay, saan ka nga kabuteng, saan pay a naiyanak iti kabuteng ko (Cool it Jay, you’re still young, I’m not afraid of you, the person whom I should fear is not yet born).” She reportedly also said, “Agsagana ka, agdengngeg ka tono rabii, mansuen ka (Prepare yourself, listen to my program tonight, I will go after you).” After stating these, Lazo said that no person must be allowed to trample on and desecrate the sanctity of the city council and to preserve the dignity of the Sangguniang Panlungsod, the said resolution was made. In the resolution, it was stated that “it is imperative that this Body, in condemnation of such acts, prohibit the interference of Ms. Lolita Reyes, physical or otherwise, in any proceeding of the Sanggunian.” During the deliberation on the resolution, Councilor Yvonne B. Ranada expressed that she was not in favor of the resolution as this would appear to be preventing the media from attending council sessions. “Ania pay ngarud ti serbi ti media no (What would the media for if) we prevent them from coming inside our sacred ground nga makuna no ipigil tayo isuda. Kasla met ma-suppress met tay freedom of speech da iti panagkunak (I think this would be a kind of suppressing their freedom of speech),” Ranada said. Councilor Modesto Melvin M. dela Cuesta also said that he believes the misunderstanding between Ramos and Reyes was personal and it is not suppose to include the whole Sanggunian. But Ramos stated that there was nothing personal about what happened as he stressed that a media practitioner should be responsible and should verify reports first before airing or printing them. “I refused to be interviewed because ammok nga awan iti credibility na (she has no credibility),” Ramos said. The resolution was supported by Councilors Lazo, Ramos, Constante F. Dancel Jr., Ruben P. Blanco, Edison O. Chua and John P. Cabarrubias. Voting against it were Councilors Ranada and Rafael Christian F. Peralta. Peralta voted against the resolution as he said he was absent during the incident. Councilors Dela Cuesta, Benjamin Cabacungan, and Althea Katrina F. Castro abstained. The resolution was passed during the council’s outreach session in Barangay 38 B Mangato. A copy of the resolution was furnished to the Manila Broadcasting Company (MBC), mother company of DZJC, the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster sa Pilipinas (KBP) and the station manager of DZJC for their information and appropriate action. Dominic dela Cruz
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