Irresponsible Commentator

Hole of Justice

By Peter G. Jimenea                       

 

A Badmouth Radio Commentator

 

Jurisprudence dictates: “Press freedom is enshrined in the Constitution but such freedom should not be abused because in every right there is a concomitant obligation.” (G.R. No. 157315, Dec. 1, 2010). This is the language of law.

 

Court stands firmly by things that have been decided on cases with similar facts and had been resolved in the past. It warns too; Suum jus, summa injuria – the abuse of right is the greatest possible wrong. (Arlegui vs CA, 378 SCRA 322).

 

But I am surprised on why radio broadcaster Jun Alojado Capulot of DYOK has been putting me down in his program by insinuating that I have a link with a certain Dragon, he alleged a drug lord.

 

Probably, he is referring to a businessman-owner of a transportation company who is one of advertisers in my television program “Kape kag Isyu.” Capulot has deliberately put malice to my business relation with this man he fondly called Dragon.

 

Does it put substance to his insinuation that when a person he suspects as vice lord placed a paid advertisement of his legal business in my program, do I am already engaged in illegal activities? It is an honest source of income. If he can cite to me any politician whom I have asked a centavo, I will resign as a media practitioner!

 

Capulot seems in run amuck. I am not alone in his unfounded accusation on the air. He also lambasted PRO6 Dir. Agrimero Cruz, ICPO Dir. S/Supt. R. Floro, the PDEA, Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabiiog and some innocent people including me his colleague in the media industry.

 

 

The public should know as this is not what we think a radio commentator’s business is all about.  What’s more, the one thing we all abhor is not a cheap shot but illegal drugs. Yet, Capulot’s handling of the issue is out of pique and inflating out of proportion. Irresponsible!

 

Why insinuate only? He should have investigated further to obtain the proper evidence that can pin down the culprits in his dreams. A continue insinuations can besmirch the reputation of innocent people. Get out of your hole and help the authorities rather than wage a war against them.

 

Look, he derides members of the PNP, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA6) and the city mayor for not running after the man and the others whom he wanted to pin down by insinuations. Capulot’s concept of justice is at odds with due process.    

 

He wants to become a hero at the expense of the PDEA and other PNP anti-Illegal drug units in the city. His desire is easy said than done. But where is the evidence for the law enforcers to follow his wish? If people commit crime, the authorities need not be told by this radio commentator to arrest them.

 

Thus, for his temerity to attack anybody at whims, he was forced to lock himself like a prisoner in a certain quarter at radio station DYOK for fear of his life from the dozen or more enemies he created and now his feared would-be assassins. In this case, who made his life miserable?

 

Oddly enough, while attacking Dragon for two months, he spared the Barangay Bakhaw in Mandurriao, which police record speaks, has more number of drug pushers apprehended and more volume of illegal drugs confiscated compared to all the other city barangays.

 

A report from PDEA tells there are 127 city barangays affected by illegal drugs. But Capulot attacked only Dragon and at times, insulted me. What is there in Barangay Bakhaw anyway, that he spared it when war against illegal drugs is a cause as he earlier claimed at?

 

Capulot’s over-kill insinuation lacks the substance to deserve public attention. The more he talks about people he wants to link to Dragon without evidence to support, the more he isolates himself from DYOK’s listeners.

 

This only reinforced the widespread public belief that he is an irresponsible media practitioner. Jurisprudence dictates; “he who has lied about one thing is most likely to lie about everything.” (Ramos vs. CA, 188 SCRA 450). With a liar radio commentator on the loose, isn’t this a cause for alarm?

 

The temerity to put in bad light the integrity of innocent people without the benefit of evidence is something he had already paid a dear price in the past. His victim, a lady doctor, had taught him a lesson for his large propensity to badmouthing. Reminder: “a probation” is only enjoyed by a convict once in a lifetime.

 

Capulot doesn’t learn. He probably believes that hard-hitting commentators convicted or jailed for libel cases are the best media practitioners. Not today, conviction for libel is a proof of irresponsible journalism. I’m not sure though, if John Paul Tia DYOK’s station manager subscribes to this.

 

There is no intent to offend but you dragged my name several times insinuating a bad link between me and my advertiser. Is it jealousy? He is a friend, so what’s wrong about it? You’ve gone too far Jun Alojado Capulot. A friendly advice, stop talking lies about me and I’ll stop telling the truth about you!