So who's the protector

Here the positiong statement of the Subic Bay Press Corps regarding the article published in the Journal Gourp of publication, we are currently investigating the allegation but we hope and we are urging the Journal Group to do the same.

So who’s the protector?

The Subic Bay Press Corps (SBPC) denounces the serious allegations of Johnny Reblando, provincial correspondent of People’s Journal and RMN News Manila, who has written published reports that illegal gambling operations at “Peryahan” in the Subic Bay Freeport and in Olongapo City are being protected by mediamen covering the Subic Bay Freeport.

Reblando made this false accusation not once, but thrice in articles published in the People’s Journal on November 2, 4 and 5.

This accusation, ironically made by someone being accused—and with reason, we believe—of being an extortionist, tarnished the reputation of the local press, which we in the SBPC have every reason to protect.

In his articles, Reblando tried to distance himself and his publication from the alleged illegal activities, saying that ‘Illegal gambling…is allegedly partly protected by some mediamen covering the Freeport (not from the Journal Group).”

But we say that the exact opposite is true, because in a sworn statement made by Avelino Menor, owner of a “peryahan” in Olongapo City, specifically pinpointed Reblando as the one who has been collecting protection money from him.

Menor said that he has been giving money to Reblando since 2005, at first only for cell phone loads, until Reblando began demanding P20,000 as protection money in 2006.

Menor further said in his affidavit that last October 14, he gave Reblando P10,000 as down payment for protection money for three months. Menor said he promised to give the remaining P10,000 on November 15, but Reblando reportedly called him up on October 30, asking for the rest of the protection money.

When Menor could not produce what Reblando demanded, the latter published his first story on November 2, now saying that a gambling den was being “tolerated by some barangay and police officials and mediamen (not from the Journal Group).”

This is a classic “wag the dog” scheme perpetrated by an apparent “attack and collect, defend and collect (AC/DC)” con artist masquerading as a legitimate member of the media. And it is very unfortunate that the People’s Journal for whom Reblando “writes” would fall for the ruse hook, line and sinker.

But we, the members of the Subic Bay Press Corps, won’t take this sitting down. We will conduct our own investigation regarding this serous attack on the local press, and we urge the Journal Group, RMN Manila, the National Press Club, and the police to do the same posthaste.

The Journal Group, in particular, should take a serious interest in this matter because Menor had revealed to some of SBPC members that Reblando has even brought along his “editor” during his collection sortie last month. Reblando has reportedly claimed that he and his editor would evenly split the P20,000 protection money between them.

Obviously, someone is really extorting protection money from the “peryahan,” but it looks obvious that the accuser is himself the culprit. So, who’s the protector now? We are sure the answer would soon unmask the real character of this pretender to our profession.