Local media in Northern Mindanao on Wednesday protested the arrest of a radio commentator in Bukidnon who was nabbed while “on air” during his regular program.
Police operatives collared broadcaster Rey Cabaraban, 47, during his regular radio commentary in Valencia City, Tuesday afternoon.
Cabaraban is now in the custody of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) in Malaybalay while colleagues in the local media have joined hands to raise P 48,000 to bail him out of prison.
Cabaraban, a regular employee of “Radyo Ni Juan,” a commercial radio station in Valencia City, is an outspoken radio commentator who exposes “scandalous” actuation of elected public officials.
In a telephone interview with colleagues here, Cabaraban said, that he was not aware of the libel charges against him because he was never summoned to a preliminary investigation.Rene Sentillas, the manager of “Radyo Ni Juan,” also decried the arrest, saying that there was no “due process” in the case of Cabaraban.
Sentillas said that the prosecution dismissed his libel after he was given an opportunity to answer the charges during the preliminary investigation.
“In the case of Cabaraban, we never received a summon informing us that a case has been filed and that we would have 10 days to file a counter-affidavit,” Sentillas said. pna
Disclaimer
Mindanao Gold Star Daily holds the copyrights of all articles and photos in perpetuity. Any unauthorized reproduction in any platform, electronic and hardcopy, shall be liable for copyright infringement under the Intellectual Property Rights Law of the Philippines.
