Man accused of harassing radioman apologizes

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

Garry Fuerzas, president of 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 apologizing.

“We feel that he was sincere in asking for [forgiveness] not only to our colleague but to the whole press corps as well, so we have forgiven him,” Fuerzas told the Inquirer.

Fuerzas said the government employee admitted that he was carried away by his anger when his palay got wet when he banked on the weather forecast that Guerrero 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. However, it rained instead.

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

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

Fuerzas said the issue between Dalida and Guerrero was now settled.

“I hope that with this incident, all of us will be aware of our responsibilities as professional media men,” Fuerzas said. Williamor A. Magbanua, Inquirer Mindanao