LGU worker apologizes to radioman after berating him over erroneous weather report

KIDAPAWAN CITY, Philippines — The employee of the local government of Midsayap, North Cotabato, who was accused of harassing a broadcaster over an inaccurate weather forecast on Wednesday, has formally apologized.

Garry Fuerzas, president of the PPALMA (Pikit-Pigcawayan-Alamada-Libungan-Midsayap-Aleosan) press corps, said Elber Dalida appeared at their regular monthly meeting in Midsayap on Sunday morning and was remorseful.

He said that without hesitation, Dalida approached Arnel Guerrero, whom he berated for airing an erroneous weather forecast over Wow Radio FM on Wednesday.

Fuerzas said Dalida hugged Guerrero and profusely apologized for what he did. He said at least 50 journalists witnessed Dalida’s act of apology.

“We feel that he was sincere in apologizing not only to our colleague but to the whole press corps as well, so we had forgiven him,” Fuerzas told the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

Fuerzas said the government employee admitted that he was carried away by his anger when his “palay” (rice plant) got wet for banking on the weather forecast that Guerrero had broadcast on Wednesday.

Guerrero had said the forecast – which claimed that the weather would be fair – was culled from Weather Philippines (www.weather.com.ph) of the Meteogroup-Unionbank-Aboitiz partnership. It rained though.

Dalida said shortly after confronting Guerrero on Wednesday, he realized that what he did was wrong and wanted to apologize there and then.

“But the thought of being accused of further harassment has prevented him from doing so,” Fuerzas recounted what Dalida told them on Sunday.

Fuerzas said the issue between Dalida and Guerrero has been settled.

“I hope that with this incident, all of us will be aware of our responsibilities being professional media men,” Fuerzas said.

RELATED STORIES

Farmer goes ballistic over radio’s wrong weather report

‘Jose’ stronger but southwest monsoon causing rain in metro, parts of PH