A hard-hitting radio program now feels the pressure coming from those it exposed,- most of them corrupt government officials.
Kagawad Roberto “Batchoy†Alba, anchor man of the primetime public affairs radio program PULSO heard on DyRD, said four of his major advertisers have pulled out their commercial spots over the weekend.
The reasons were unclear but reports reaching Alba said these business establishments were pressured by a top city hall functionary and were ordered, under threats, to pull out their advertisement from PULSO.
The pullout came following the unrelenting expose’ of Alba on alleged bloated claims for payment of medical expenses under the Blue Card health program of the city government.
Alba was the first to publicly release a letter from a certain Anatacia Bertumen, a health card holder who complained of alleged bloated payment claim of her medical expenses that reportedly reached P50,000.
Assisted by counsel Atty. Dodelon Sabijon, the complainant wrote City Mayor Dan Lim condemning the use of her name in claiming payments, which to her, were only worth P2,000.
The claim was for her alleged hospital confinement, medicines and other hospital fees from May 8 to 11, 2007. Bertumen said she was “never confined at the hospital.â€
The hospital claimant was identified as the Medical Mission Group Hospital and Health Services Cooperative, Philippines; popularly known as the Coop hospital.
It is now conducting its own separate investigation. (SEE related story)
Alba earned the ire of city hall when he provided airtime to opposition councilors seeking public accounting of the mayor’s intelligence funds and review of the controversial blue card health program.
Most of the city mayor’s critics are often heard in Alba’s radio program; names that include lawyer Victor dela Serna and former ally councilor Djingo Rama.
Alba said whoever is behind the series of advertisement pullout of his radio program have only one intention; - to silence him.
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This is an assault to press freedom but this evil act will not triumph. Good men won’t bow down and will always do something,†Alba issued the challenge.
source: www.theboholstandard.comLinkback:
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Topic: Bohol broadcast journalist suffers pull-out of radio advertisements (Read 1179 times)