Lawyer in Palparan case harasses, tags reporter as ‘leftist’

A lawyer of a military official accused in the cases of enforced disappearance of University of the Philippines Diliman students Karen Empeño and Sherlyn Cadapan harassed and tagged a reporter as “leftist.”

Janess Ann Ellao, a reporter of alternative news website Bulatlat.com, was reportedly sexually harassed and “red-tagged” by Atty. Bonifacio Alentajan, the lawyer of Staff Sgt. Edgardo Osorio on Wednesday.

Osorio is charged with serious illegal detention and kidnapping. He is one of the co-accused in the said crime, along with retired General Jovito Palparan Jr.

In a report by Altermidya, Elao was covering the hearing of the case in the Bulacan Regional Trial Court on Malolos, Bulacan when she was approached by Alentajan. The lawyer then asked Ellao if she was a reporter and reportedly demanded to be interviewed.

During the course of the interview, the lawyer began to touch Ellao’s elbow and right arm.

The reporter said that she became uncomfortable and then moved away from Alentajan. The lawyer then shouted at Ellao and reportedy became hostile.

Alentajan then said that Ellao was being impolite and continued to shout at the reporter while walking away.

The report quoted Alentajan as saying: “P********, yung reporter na ‘yun leftist naman ([Expletive], that reporter is a leftist).”

Altermidya, joined by National Union of Journalist of the Philippines, condemned the harassment of the lawyer against Ellao.

“Labeling journalists as leftist is dangerous especially in the Philippines, exposing those so tagged to targeting by state security forces and the paramilitaries they control. We remind Alentajan that many victims of extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances and other forms of human rights violations had been so tagged, as his own clients know so well,” the group said.

It also urged the Integrated Bar of the Philippines to investigate Alentajan’s “unprofessional conduct.”

Asked for comment, Ellao told INQUIRER.net  that her camp is still mulling whether or not they will file charges against Alentajan.

Altermidya also said that the actions done by the lawyer will not deter her and Bulatlat from continuing their reportage on human rights issues.

“We will not be cowed by any form of harassment, especially since it is our duty to tell the truth and to give voice to the voiceless and marginalized by the corporate media,” the group’s statement read. JE