Whoever wrote the speech that President Benigno Aquino III read before ABS-CBN officials and employees during the 25th anniversary celebration of TV Patrol didn’t know what he was writing about.
The President minced no words in criticizing Noli de Castro, TV Patrol’s main anchor, for his alleged negativism and for voicing “baseless speculations.”
Another ghost writer—one who knows the behind-the-scene operations of television news—should have written the President’s speech before TV Patrol’s anchors and staff.
A TV news anchor such as De Castro just reads the news and even commentaries fed to him by a teleprompter.
In short, the TV network, not he should be held accountable for his news and commentaries.
* * *
It was unfair of Aquino to single out De Castro in his tirade and connect him to the previous administration of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
Although De Castro was Arroyo’s vice president, he was not given much power and the two treated each other with indifference.
The President should stop persecuting officials of the past administration, like what he did to former Chief Justice Renato Corona, and just move on.
* * *
I tip my hat off to ABS-CBN for standing by De Castro.
“Our journalists and anchors, including Noli de Castro, report the news as they see it. They enjoy editorial independence in their coverage, and in the way they tell stories. The credibility of our news organization rests on this, as well as other basic journalistic principles,” said Ging Reyes, ABS-CBN news chief.
Reyes could have been voicing out the policy of the top management of the Inquirer and Bandera, its sister newspaper.
Inquirer and Bandera back its reporters, editors and columnists in their reports or commentaries. Always.
I can never forget the Inquirer throwing its full support in the
harassment suits filed against me by then First Gentleman Mike
Arroyo.
The Inquirer, which was also sued by Arroyo, never wavered in standing by me, for which I am eternally grateful.
* * *
A policeman who is facing rape charges got back at his accuser after she slapped him during a confrontation at the National Police Commission (Napolcom) office Monday.
The woman, whose identity I will hide by the name “Aubrey,” has accused Senior Inspector Rex Pascua, chief of Quezon City police Station 7, of raping her five times.
Aubrey, a usually quiet woman in her 20s, got emotional when Pascua called her a flirt in front of a Napolcom investigating officer.
My public service program, “Isumbong mo kay Tulfo,” is backing up Aubrey, a happily-married woman, in her fight for justice.
Aside from criminal charges, which my office helped Aubrey file in court, Pascua is facing an administrative case in the Napolcom.
As a result of the slapping incident, Pascua filed cases of slander, malicious mischief and assault upon an agent of a person in authority against Aubrey.
As I write this column, Aubrey has been placed behind bars.
I have assigned a member of my staff, Beulah Rosales, to keep Aubrey company until she posts bail, which my office will provide.
Aubrey came to me in March after she could no longer bear Pascua’s threats on her husband’s life.
Aubrey at first didn’t want to report the incidents of rape for fear of losing her husband.
How did she come to know Pascua?
Aubrey said she sought the help of the police officer, who is her close friend’s live-in partner, for the recovery of her car which she had lent to a friend who didn’t want to return it.
Grateful for being able to help her family recover their car, Aubrey agreed to have lunch with Pascua.
Instead of taking her to a restaurant, Pascua allegedly took her to a motel.