Ordeals in the news coverage (Part 2)

By Leonardo Micua

“HINDI ako galit. Natutuwa lang“, was Eva Visperas’ posted reaction to a photo snapped by Cesar Ramirez, her colleague in Philippine Star, showing her and Nora Dominuez of Net 25 in dreamland on a couch at the receiving room in the office of P/Colonel Redrico Maranan at the Pangasinan Police Provincial Headquarters in Lingayen.

Eva’s post was pregnant with meaning.

We were at the PNP provincial office for a press conference scheduled at 11 a.m. on September 16 for an update on the slay attempt on former Cong. Amado Espino Jr. from the PNP’s Special Investigation Task Group (SITG).  We were made to wait for hours since top brass of the PNP were still holding a meeting with P/Brig. General Joel Orduna.

Finally, at past 12:00 noon. Brig. Gen. Orduna, followed by other PNP top officials, entered the office of Col Maranan, now marked SITG Espino Jr. office. We rushed to him as soon as he came out at past 1:00 pm for the interview but he asked us to join him instead in the hallway downstairs. P/Lt. Colonel Mary Crystal Peralta, his PIO, was by his side. 

That ambush interview just took seven minutes, according to Cesar’s recorder. Eva and Nora spent more time in dreamland. After the RD left, Lt C. Peralta took over.

Nonetheless, the reporters thought the situation was a lot better than when they were made to wait for PD Maranan’s briefing on the same issue in San Carlos City last September 12. This time, PD Maranan’s staff distributed bottled water and a pack of carbonara pasta to quiet their already growling stomachs.       

Actually, I arrived at the PNP provincial office at past 10:00 a.m. I thought I was the earliest bird but the crew of GMA Balitang Amianan came earlier.

Bombo’s chief of reporters, Badz Agtalao came, followed by Eva, Cesar, and Nora who came from the coverage at the Sangguniang Panlalawigan. Others came much later because of heavy traffic in Binmaley.  We all looked forward to the PNP’s update from the SITG Espino Jr., about a breakthrough in its investigation.   

As it turned out, there was no breakthrough, and there was no presscon but merely a chance at an ambush interview.

Tito Tamayo of Radio Pangasinan said the coverage was not worth the time. He drove a long way to Lingayen from his hometown, Sta. Barbara, only to get a scant report about the incident. Janice Hidalgo shared his view.     

I asked General Orduña when the next briefing would be, he replied: “As often as possible:”

Then he said the PNP is resolute in solving the case at the earliest possible time. Would that mean “often of the same setup”? ABANGAN!

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My seatmate to my left was Diana Edi, an Indonesian student in Public Relations doing On-the-Job Training at the Provincial Information Office, and to my right was TJ Torrida of GMA. I told Diana we were all waiting for a big story to come. By the way, the Indonesian student came with a crew from the PIO. She was amused on seeing a large gathering of journalists in one place.     

As an aside, I told her I’d been to her country briefly on a study tour in Jakarta, courtesy of the PNA, a key partner of the Indonesian news agency, Antara.

She asked me what place in Indonesia I found most exciting. I told her it was the Thousand Islands in West Jakarta or the Putri (Princess) Islands and the Planet Hollywood, next to the hotel where I was billeted. She was familiar with the location.

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I received a text message from the Sangguniang Panlungsod last Tuesday that Councilor Dada Reyna will preside over the session set at 10:00 a.m. since Vice Mayor Bryan Kua was the acting mayor.

Mayor Brian Lim had flown to the U.S. to sign the renewal of sisterhood agreement between Dagupan and Milpitas City in California and to touch base with overseas Dagupenos.

The city hall’s PIO posted pictures of their US trip showing him with members of his large entourage among them Alfie Fernandez, Redford Erfe-Mejia, Beep Beep Tan, Tony Uy, and some others. (Note that Alfie and Red remain as consultants since they still cannot assume regular positions in the city government having lost in the last election.) 

One wonders if the city government was made to shoulder the whole entourage’s travel expenses. Will the mayor tell the Dagupeños?

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