By Leonardo Micua

 

THIS week, permit me to reprint the my good friend and The Punch’s news correspondents in USA, Tocayo Leonardo J. Galvez ‘s post on his Facebook account. Mr. Galvez used to write for The Punch till he decided to migrate in the Land of Milk and Honey’:

“WHETHER it came from a certain government employee or attention-seeker elected public official, any issues mouthed by the duo should not be taken with a grain of salt.”

Bric-A-Brac recipient is none other than Managing Editor Leonardo “Ding” Micua of Sunday Punch, the most trusted and influential newsweekly in Pangasinan.

The ban imposed on him from attending committee hearings or possibly the regular session of Dagupan City Council could be construed as punishment for writing the truth.

Ding was not only deprived access to the venue but it also disfranchises hundreds of Punch readers who are oozing to know further developments that are paramount important to the city.

My Tokayo’s penchant for writing could be traced by the time he became the editor of one of the local papers and eventually the top honcho of Ilocos Region’s Philippine News Agency with office in the city.

His expose’ of fake students enrolled in the million funded City Scholarship Fund – and more – that occurred during the past administration is unsolved up to now.

It’s alleged that some influential government elected officials, low level civil servants and some CSF committee members had knowledge of the hocus-pocus or reportedly involved in the shenanigans.

Micua who could easily qualify as the “Dean Of The Local Media” – if there is such an award – for exhaustively reporting of events without fear or reservation is admittedly the most prolific local writer. (Save for Punch editor-in-chief and publisher Ermin FG.)

His expose’ of corruption is the source of animosities among corrupt government servants who are openly known but not officially identified.

Banning Micua is the raison e’etre why he writes.

“The daily White House news briefing is usually conducted by the press secretary. Surprisingly, former President Donald J Trump came to the forum.  The exchange of information between the chief executive and the White House Press Corps were well-taken up. Then a reporter from a cable channel – a critic of the administration – was recognized. The exchange was civil until such time that the President was fed-up at the way the questions were articulated.  Observing that some WHPC reporters are not given a chance to ask questions, a WH staff politely took away the mike after which the President ruled: “You are fake news”).

The controversial reporter was not banned from attending press briefings. He is still around.

The Ding’s case is “peanuts” as compared to what happened in the WH press room.

That’s how democracy works in this great US. Never are the media personalities threatened for their political belief. The word BAN is taboo.”

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From me: HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL OUR READERS 

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