Region 8’s PNP Press Corps “under watch”, proposed reorg suspended

By GINA DEAN-RUGUDO, Samar News.com
February 19, 2011

CALBAYOG CITY, Samar  –  In his attempt to alienate other members of the media from participating the election or reorganization of the PNP Press Corps, DRDO PSSupt. Edgar Basbas failed to justify the basis of his assertion that “only legitimate media practitioners of Region 8 who are members of the PNP Press Corps can cast their votes and be nominated/voted upon and those who are not members will serve as witnesses in the election.” This statement has created doubt and negative reactions from the body especially those who came from Samar, Southern Leyte and Biliran provinces that attended the general assembly for the first time based on the invitation of the PNP Press Corps under the leadership of Ben Veridiano.

The effect of his statement has prompted others to check if the organization had an existing constitution and by-laws that could define and identify the legitimate members of the PNP Press Corps. Offended and dismayed, the rests opted to leave the conference room in the middle of argument, though there were those who walked-out disappointed when their ultimate intention of unseating an officer was deferred due to technicality.

It was found out that the organization had no constitution and by-laws, and dominated mostly by Tacloban or Leyte media.

It was also observed that there were even no minutes of the previous meeting made, and accomplishment reports from the previous year or 2011 plan of activities presented by the incumbent officers.

The fact that the organization could not present any list of the “legitimate members” of the PNP Press Corps is a manifestation that the organization is inoperative and dysfunctional, said Samar media.

Information revealed, was the alleged move of the officers to overthrow their president from the position and submitted their new set of officers before the office of the PNP regional director but was rejected.

Should the reorganization had pushed through last Wednesday, only few of region 8’s media practitioners could participate, and the scenario could worsen the situation by defeating the efforts of the PNP to establish alliance with the group.

Be it noted that Eastern Visayas is composed of 6 six provinces namely Biliran, Leyte (Tacloban City and Ormoc City), Southern Leyte, Samar (Calbayog City), Northern Samar and Eastern Samar but the PNP Press Corps for the past 4 administrations had been monopolized by only one province. That is why the present leadership of Ben Veridiano and PRO8’s Community Relations Office endeavored to tap the region’s member of the press (radio, television, print, and online media) to attend the general assembly.

Since no reorganization was realized, PCR Chief PSupt. Elizar Egloso recouped by allowing everyone to become a member of the PNP Press Corps.