Dipolog City police chief arrests blocktimer inside announcer’s booth for “libelous comments”

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BY NUJP ⋅ MAY 5, 2013

Rodolfo Tanquis, a 50 year-old blocktime commentator of DxFL FM 88.9 in Dipolog City, was arrested inside the announcer’s booth by Dipolog City Police Director Supt Reynaldo Maclang Friday morning, May 3, 2013.

Mitchel Bala, a colleague of Tanquis in the said radio station, narrated that “Tanquis was on board that time when he was forced by two of Maclang’s men to proceed to the police station because they are filing a libel case against our colleague.”

Tanquis hosts a daily radio program, Isyu Karon (Current Issues), from 6 am to 7 am. Tanquis’ listeners was left with nothing but dead air when Tanquis was arrested at about 6:30 am.

“We were scared,” Bala, who holds the program Headline Balita at 8 am, said.

“We didn’t know what to do. Maclang and his men trooped to the station, locked the booth, said his piece on air,”Bala said, “and his men barred the technician from entering the booth,” he added.

Maclang got mad when Tanquis blamed Maclang about the number of unresolved killings in Dipolog City.

“Our colleague questioned Maclang on the number of unresolved killings. In turn, Maclang took offense, slammed hi cal .45 pistol (on the table) and informed Tanquis that he is filing a libel case,” Bala said.

“We are scared because he arrested our colleague even when he has yet to file a libel case,” Bala said.

Police Chief Supt Juanito Vano, Jr., Western Mindanao Police Director, said Maclang did not arrest Tanquis.

“Maclang went to the (radio) station to explain his side over accusations that he is behind the 19 killings in Dipolog. There was some kind of Q and A and after the radio program Maclang invited Tanquis to the police station in Dipolog City to file charges against Tanquis regarding his accusations,” Vano said.

Vano said Maclang “would just like to clear his name.”

As of 9:37 pm Friday, May 3, Bala said Tanquis is still detained at the police station.

For reference:

Julie Alipala
NUJP National Director
0917 543 5719

JB R. Deveza
Coordinator
NUJP MIndanao Media Safety Office
0999 536 9592