MikeLigalig.com

By the Bohol Chronicle

Broadcaster Nestor Daarol filed last Tuesday before the City Prosecutors Office grave coercion charges against the city mayor’s top aide, Arlene Karaan who allegedly doused him liquid of unbearable foul odor when he was about to anchor his weekly program over dyTR last Saturday.

Sworn before City Prosecutor I Viviana Bautista, the broadcaster charged Karaan for grave coercion under Article 286 of the Revised Penal Code while reserving his right to file a separate complaint as a public official for violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and for violation of Republic Act No. 6713.

Daarol narrated that Karaan and her companions suddenly emerged when he entered the offices of the radio station and immediately doused the liquid that caused him to fall dizzy and disoriented and difficulty of breathing. The physical condition prevented him from anchoring his radio program which followed right after the program of the city mayor last Saturday.

The broadcaster stressed that he know Arlene Karaan because she used to facilitate the serving of refreshments among media persons during press conferences conducted by the city mayor.
Because of the incident, he could not anchor his program last Saturday.

Daarol said the “forced prevention was due to the violence done by respondent and her companions, by their material force and display of force as to produce intimidation upon me.”
After dousing, Karaan “drew a hard object that resembled a rattan stick while shouting invectives and threats against me.”

He recalled respondent telling him “Tingalig wala ka kaila nako? Nganong hilabtanon ka kaayo?” (Don’t you know me? Why are you such a meddler?).

“Because of the continuing violence and sensing that I faced danger of further physical harm, instinctively, I retreated to the adjacent news anchor’s booth as a measure of self preservation,” the broadcaster narrated.

Daarol in his affidavit stated that the “incident was triggered because I was exposing the release of the P6.5 million unliquidated cash advances incurred by officials of the city government led by the city mayor and his assistants.”

“There is no other reason for Karaan who is an executive assistant of the city mayor and her companions John Does to restrain and prevent me from going on the air than try to, and successfully, prevent me from exposing these anomalous unliquidated cash advances incurred by city officials,” he continued.

Daarol said he underwent medical examination to determine the extent of the harm of the liquid substance upon his health.

In his radio program yesterday prior the filing of his complaint, the broadcaster vowed to continue his crusade to expose anomalies in government.


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