(CMFR/IFEX) – Two local television journalists were detained by eight public school teachers on 23 September 2005 in San Fernando City, less than 90 kilometres north of Manila. Lanie Ontong, news supervisor of Infomax 8 cable television, and her cameraman, Ignacio Orejas Jr., were held by eight teachers of Sindalan High School before noon (local […]
(CMFR/IFEX) – Two local television journalists were detained by eight public school teachers on 23 September 2005 in San Fernando City, less than 90 kilometres north of Manila.
Lanie Ontong, news supervisor of Infomax 8 cable television, and her cameraman, Ignacio Orejas Jr., were held by eight teachers of Sindalan High School before noon (local time) on 23 September. The two journalists were taking video footage of the school, where the principal, Alfredo Sianen, faces allegations of corruption and physical abuse on students.
In a complaint filed with the local police, Ontong and Orejas said the teachers, led by a certain Ariel Garcia, prevented them from leaving the school’s registrar’s office after they took footage of the school premises.
Ontong and Orejas had gone to the school to speak with the principal about serious corruption allegations and accusations by parents that he maltreated students. The complaint was filed at the government’s Department of Education (DepEd).
After setting another date for an interview with the principal (who was at a meeting, according to his colleagues), the two journalists were allegedly detained against their will at the said office by the teachers, who said they had no permit to take the video clips.
They were released 20 minutes later, after they sought the help of their colleagues and the mayor, Oscar Rodriguez.
“It’s a public place. We are a legitimate media organisation. And we properly identified ourselves by wearing our media IDs during the conduct of our work,” Ontong said, as quoted by the national daily “The Philippine Star”.
Infomax is a registered media organisation and member of the Philippine Cable Television Association. It is being considered as an affiliate of national network giant ABS-CBN.
Ontong previously worked for two years as chief of I-Max News, a daily news programme.
“I find it uncalled for on the part of educators to treat professional and honest journalists like Ms. Ontong and Mr. Orejas in this very rough manner,” said Rodriguez, who also urged local school officials to investigate the incident.
Infomax is preparing criminal and administrative charges against the teachers involved in the incident.
