A DZRH reporter while doing his coverage was allegedly beaten by several rallyists during Manibela's transport strike on Monday, June 10.
According to RH Val Gonzales, he was interviewing the traffic enforcers about the traffic caused by Manibela's protest on East Avenue, Diliman Quezon City.
In the middle of his report, Gonzales said he was accosted by the members of Manibela, and punched him twice.
"Habang ako ay nagrereport bigla silang sumugod — natanggal pa nga itong sapatos ko at bukod doon ay nasira yung earphone na ating ginagamit sa monitor," said Gonzales.
"Dalawang beses akong sinuntok sa tagiliran. Hindi ko nakita dahil nakaharap ako sa camera. Mahina lamang yung suntok siguro dahil sa dami nila di makabigwas ng husto," he furthered.
Meanwhile, his cameraman Dennis Villanueva was able to pull Gonzales out of the surrounding group.
After the incident, Gonzales said the group was shouting "bayaran na media".
Gonzales said he is planning to file a complaint regarding the incident.
DZRH Official Statement
In its official statement, DZRH strongly condemns the incident, claiming a clear "harassment" under freedom of expression.
"Ang mga kaparehong pang-ha-harass ay malinaw na pagsikil sa karapatan sa pamamahayag at walang puwang sa isang sibilisadong lipunan," said Atty. Rudolph Steve Juralbal, DZRH Station Manager and Vice President for Legal.
(The same harassment is a clear violation of the right to expression and has no place in a civilized society.)
Juralbal said the company is determined to hold those behind hurting Gonzales accountable "so that similar situations do not happen again."
"Sa huli, makakaasa ang publiko na mananatiling committed ang MBC-DZRH sa pagtataguyod ng katotohanan sa ngalan ng patas at malayang pamamahayag," the statement read.
(Ultimately, the public can count on MBC-DZRH to remain committed to upholding the truth in the name of a fair and free press.)
DZRH is under the management of the MBC Media Group.
