Inquirer reporter banned from Basilan coverage
09/21/2007 | 01:15 AM
ISABELA CITY, Basilan – Philippine Marines commandant Major General Ben Dolorfino has confirmed that Zamboanga Inquirer correspondent Julie S. Alipala has been banned by the military from covering its operations in the strife torn island province of Basilan.
The report was received by the Media Safety Office of the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines and International Federation of Journalists.
The two organizations quoted Dolorfino as saying: "When we were in Basilan, I was informed by (Task Force Thunder) officials there that they were under instruction from [AFP chief] General Hermogenes Esperon Jr that the Inquirer correspondent (Alipala) is banned [from] covering military activities, but I don't believe them."
According to Alipala, another informant confirmed Esperon's order, which was reportedly relayed by Task Force Thunder chief Brig. Gen. Juancho Sabban.
Alipala sought to verify it with AFP spokesman Lt. Colonel Bartolome Bacarro but he denied receiving such instruction from Esperon.
Alipala earlier drew the ire of military officials because of her reports on military abuses and lapses in its operations.
Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) chief Lieutenant General Eugenio Cedo in fact walked out of a press conference last August 21 after castigating Alipala for reporting on lapses in the August 18 clash in Unkaya Pukan town in Basilan. Fifteen Marines were killed by the bandit group Abu Sayyaf in the incident.
Alipala also received threats after the incident and warned by contacts in the military that she should be careful. - GMANews.TV
The report was received by the Media Safety Office of the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines and International Federation of Journalists.
The two organizations quoted Dolorfino as saying: "When we were in Basilan, I was informed by (Task Force Thunder) officials there that they were under instruction from [AFP chief] General Hermogenes Esperon Jr that the Inquirer correspondent (Alipala) is banned [from] covering military activities, but I don't believe them."
According to Alipala, another informant confirmed Esperon's order, which was reportedly relayed by Task Force Thunder chief Brig. Gen. Juancho Sabban.
Alipala sought to verify it with AFP spokesman Lt. Colonel Bartolome Bacarro but he denied receiving such instruction from Esperon.
Alipala earlier drew the ire of military officials because of her reports on military abuses and lapses in its operations.
Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) chief Lieutenant General Eugenio Cedo in fact walked out of a press conference last August 21 after castigating Alipala for reporting on lapses in the August 18 clash in Unkaya Pukan town in Basilan. Fifteen Marines were killed by the bandit group Abu Sayyaf in the incident.
Alipala also received threats after the incident and warned by contacts in the military that she should be careful. - GMANews.TV
