Police nab broadcaster over Zubiri case

By NITZ ARANCON, Correspondent,
with BING TENORIO of GSD Valencia Bureau

POLICE arrested on Tuesday a broadcaster in Valencia City in Bukidnon, in connection with a libel case filed by the province’s governor.

Arrested by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) was Rey Cabaraban, a broadcaster of Radyo ni Juan station in Valencia City.

Bukidnon Gov. Jose Ma. Zubiri has filed two counts of libel against Cabaraban. It was not the first time for Zubiri to charge journalists with libel, a law which media groups want decriminalized because it was subject to abuse.

Cabaraban was arrested at around 1:45 pm after his program called “Rapido” at the radio station owned by Bukidnon board member Rene Sentillas.

The CIDG used an arrest warrant issued by the Regional Trial Court Branch 10 in Malaybalay City.
Cabaraban said the libel case was filed by Zubiri after he criticized the governor on air on Dec. 12 last year. He said he spoke against illegal logging, illegal mining, and the series of crimes taking place in Bukidnon, and Zubiri was offended.

The broadcaster was detained at CIDG provincial office in Malaybalay City. He was in court yesterday afternoon to bail out.

Cagayan de Oro Press Club (COPC) president Jerry Orcullo strongly condemned Cabaraban’s arrest, saying the broadcaster was known among many media workers in the city. He said Cabaraban’s arrest highlighted again the need to decriminalize the libel law.

“COPC has been resolute and steadfast in our cry, and advocacy for the decriminalization of libel. The arrest of Rey shows how politicians can use this law against press freedom,” said Orcullo.

Orcullo however called on media workers to be extra careful about using such freedom, saying it should not be abused, and practitioners should be guided by accepted codes of ethics for media. He said foul language and hitting anyone below the belt on air were unacceptable practices.

He called on the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster sa Pilipinas (KBP) to start policing its own ranks.
But at the same time, Orcullo called on people in government, especially politicians in power, not to be onion-skinned.

“What happened to Rey is an affront to the freedom of free speech, and we call on our politicians to rest if they are already old enough as their skins have become thinner like onion leaves. Quit politics, and plant onions instead,” Orcullo said.