IMAGE OF THE DAY

Media protest. Officers and members of the Zamboanga Press Club Incorporated, Defense Press Corps, and other media organizations in Zamboanga City denounce the recent incident at the City Council, where a journalist suffered from a verbal abuse from a government official. ZPCI President Bong Simbajon (4th from right) leads the protest along with DPC President Roel Pareño (2nd from left). Sitting from right are: Hermie Ventura (RGMA) , Hader Glang (Zamboanga Southwall), Jerry Lacastesantos (RPN), Nonong Santiago (Zamboanga Today); and standing from right are: Jimmy Villaflores (RGMA), Dodong Ramos (RGMA), Elsie Molina (DXMR), RC Montebon (Zamboanga Peninsula), Jovian Disto (Zamboanga Times), Jun Bernardo (RGMA), and Totoy Muñoz (Gold Star Daily). Photo By CHARLIE SACEDA of Philippine Star

Below is the full joint statement of ZPC, DPC, PPC, CHPC, SPPC, and ZCC. Click Here for NUJP Report

JOINT MANIFESTO

We, the officers and members of the ZAMBOANGA PRESS CLUB INC., DEFENSE PRESS CORPS, POLICE PRESS CORPS, CITY HALL PRESS CORPS, SANGGUNIANG PANGLUNGSOD PRESS CORPS, and ZAMBOANGA COLUMNIST CLUB, do strongly condemn, the dishonorable and uncalled for incident at the City Council in which/was scolded by a councilor and almost physically attacked by a police officer on June 15, 2006, during the regular session of the Sangguniang Panglungsod.

We are not questioning the credibility of anybody involved in the incident but we strongly denounced the arrogance and unjust verbal and near physical attack on our co-league while the council was in session that day.

Public officials are public servants and are not exempted from the requirement of civilized behavior.

There are other avenues for correcting wrong of false media reports that public officials can avail of, but verbal insults and threats of physical harm is out of the question in the recent case.

A public official is not excused from adhering to norms of good manners and right conduct.

So therefore, with one voice thru this manifesto, we fervently asked from the Presiding Officer, Vice Mayor Ma. Isabelle Climaco, who is also our former co-league in the media profession, to initiate and conduct an objective investigation of the incident and take disciplinary actions, if needed.

We similarly demand that the City Council investigate the said police officer that was caught on video camera and seen by eyewitnesses, the mediamen and councilors themselves, in the preliminary stage of physically attacking Feliciano during that fracas. He must be sanctioned administratively.

We have high respect to the Sangguniang Panglungsod, as the vanguards of DEMOCRACY, and we expect the honorable members of the City Council to return this regard to our profession.

INSULTING, MALIGNING, AND EVEN KILLING MEDIAMEN CANNOT SUPPRESS PRESS FREEDOM.

UPHOLD PRESS FREEDOM!