Cebu Citizens-Press Council

JOINT STATEMENT OF THE CEBU CITIZENS-PRESS COUNCIL (CCPC) AND ITS ADJUNCT VOLUNTEERS GROUP CEBU MEDIA LEGAL AID (CEMLA) ON THE COMPLAINT FILED BY CEBU DAILY NEWS CORRESPONDENT CARMEL LOISE MATUS AND PUBLISHER/ACTING EDITOR-IN-CHIEF EILEEN MANGUBAT AGAINST POLICE SUPT. HENRY BIÑAS.

The Cebu Citizens-Press Council (CCPC) and Cebu Media Legal Aid (Cemla) have noted that following the complaint filed by Cebu Daily News publisher/acting editor-in-chief Eileen Mangubat for the paper’s correspondent Carmel Loise Matus against Police Supt. Henry Biñas for alleged sexual advances on Matus last Feb. 8, 2011, these steps have been taken:

[] Sr. Supt. Patrocinio Comendador, chief of the Investigation & Detective Management Branch of the Regional Police Office, announced he will recommend a summary proceeding by hearing officers “if there’s substantial evidence to support the charge”;

[] Supt. Biñas has been reassigned from Talisay City, where he was police chief at the time of the questioned incident, to the Provincial Security Service Group after he resigned from the post last Feb. 18;

[] Key officers of the Cebu Federation of Beat Journalists (CFBJ), umbrella group of associations of reporters and photographers, on CCPC’s request, met last Feb. 17 to look into the incident and passed a resolution asking the police for a speedy inquiry;

[] Cebu Media Legal Aid (Cemla) volunteers met last Feb. 21 to assess the complaint, hear publisher Mangubat and CFBJ president Elias Baquero, and consider the published denial of Supt. Biñas;

[] CCPC members were apprised about the incident and presented with the documents on the case and a recommendation of executive director Pachico Seares;

Those developments considered, Cebu Citizens-Press Council and Cebu Media Legal Aid hereby announce that:

– They ask the police to complete its summary proceeding on the complaint as soon as possible, trusting that PNP will be professional and fair in resolving the case;

– CCPC will hold a sober and non-confrontational dialogue between news managers from print and broadcast media and top-ranking police officers in the region on common problems such as the rules in covering crisis incidents and problems that may arise between news reporters and news sources during any coverage (schedule is Friday, Feb. 25, 2011 at MBF Cebu Press Center);

– Support of Cemla lawyers is available when needed and sought for by complainants and other media practitioners in legal distress, its mandate as an adjunct of the Cebu Citizens-Press Council.

Issued this 22nd day of February, 2011, at the MBF Cebu Press Center, Cebu City, Philippines.

Certified correct as approved by majority of the members of CCPC and Cemla:

CHERRY ANN T. LIM
Assistant Executive Director
Cebu Citizens-Press Council