A Brief Forgotten Chronicle during the Naval/Biliran Capitol Siege

by: bruce gonzales
Naval/Biliran - It was a humid early morning that the Capitol building located at Barangay Calumpang was quite and serene surrounded with fine trees and other plants; however tensions and worries were heating up due to the political disarray of the island.
The Capitol building was undermanned, and only Dr. Dalmacio Colasito and his aides were in the scene, armed with an office memorandum order issued by then-Governor Gonzales who contests for a congressional seat. The said memorandum order appointed Dr Colasito as acting Governor by succession. The compound was quite but frightening for it was reported that Col Wayne Jaro desired to assume office as Lt.Governor on the same day.
Wayne Jaro a former military dentist had in hand a Ramos Malacanang Office Order appointing him the OIC Lt. Governor for the sub-province of Biliran attacked and sieges the Capitol building with heavy military hardware.
A blitzkrieg attack was launch through the main-door and exist door likewise the secret exit door from the governors office by the Jaro’s commando and his operatives. Hon Dr. Colasito who was armed with the Gonzales Office Order was displaced and terrified with confronting Col. Jaro.
Atty Casas Nueve who was the Capitol Administrative official was with Dr. Colasito until Jaro lost control.
Jaro attack and pushed, dragged atty Lolita Casas Nueve out of the governor’s office with no mercy while Danilo Parilla was in good strength laughing. The smart cameramen had immediately flashing their cameras however it was confiscated by the armed Jaro’s operatives spearheaded by a certain Rene Morillo.
There were two reasons that prompted Gonzales to protect the Naval/Biliran capitol: - 1) by law of succession on elected official per approved by the Philippine constitution, Gonzales’ memorandum was issued as mandated by the law; 2) And, the approve budget for the province-hood movement might be lost under Jaro’s hand; but on the other side of the story, he may be tempted to use the money for his congressional aspiration during the coming election.
However, to avoid bloodshed Dr Colasito decided to backed-off and left the governors office calmly. And in the early morning of the following day, Col. Jaro and his family with armed bodyguards paid a visit at Colasito’s residence for reconciliation
There was a debate regarding a presidential orders and the constitutional law of the Philippines however, the corrupt justice system of the country has hinder to follow those laws. -bruce-

The Journalist’s Code of Ethics

by lovena villacrusis
Editor's note: What follows is the full text of the Journalist's Code of Ethics as adopted by the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines. A copy can be found on the website of the NUJP.

I. I shall scrupulously report and interpret the news, taking care not to suppress essential facts nor to distort the truth by omission or improper emphasis. I recognize the duty to air the other side and the duty to correct substantive errors promptly.
II. I shall not violate confidential information on material given me in the exercise of my calling.
III. I shall resort only to fair and honest methods in my effort to obtain news, photographs and/or documents, and shall properly identify myself as a representative of the press when obtaining any personal interview intended for publication.
IV. I shall refrain from writing reports that will adversely affect a private reputation unless the public interest justifies it. At the same time, I shall fight vigorously for public access to information.
V. I shall not let personal motives or interests influence me in the performance of my duties, nor shall I accept or offer any present, gift or other consideration of a nature that may cast doubt on my professional integrity.
VI. I shall not commit any act of plagiarism.
VII. I shall not, in any manner, ridicule, cast aspersions on, or degrade any person by reason of sex, creed, religious belief, political conviction, cultural and ethnic origin.
VIII. I shall presume persons accused of crime of being innocent until proven otherwise. I shall exercise caution in publishing names of minors and women involved in criminal cases so that they may not unjustly lose their standing in society.
IX. I shall not take unfair advantage of a fellow journalist.
X. I shall accept only such tasks as are compatible with the integrity and dignity of my profession, invoking the “conscience clause” when duties imposed on me conflict with the voice of my conscience.
XI. I shall conduct myself in public or while performing my duties as journalist in such manner as to maintain the dignity of my profession. When in doubt, decency should be my watchword.