PDI reprimands columnist over 'rude, boorish' act

The Philippine Daily Inquirer (PDI) has reprimanded columnist Victor Agustin for the latter’s "rude and boorish behavior" displayed during a press conference called by House Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr over the weekend. In a short notice placed on Agustin’s column, "Cocktales," the Inquirer said a three-man committee also decided to impose a one-month suspension on the column starting Wednesday. "The committee reprimanded Agustin for conduct unbecoming of a representative of the Inquirer," read the notice signed by the paper’s publisher, Isagani Yambot. Agustin is also a stockholder of the PDI, the country’s number one national daily in terms of circulation. On Saturday, Agustin doused activist Renato Constantino Jr with water after the latter berated De Venecia for rushing the House of Representatives into passing a resolution allowing a constituent assembly to amend the 1987 Constitution. Constantino and Agustin almost engaged in a fistfight arising from the water-throwing incident. Earlier, the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) said Agustin showed "ill-judged and conscionable behavior." "Under no circumstances will we abide by any attempt to stifle free expression from which the freedom of the press merely emanates, especially not through physical means and especially not by one of our own," the statement read. He said the NUJP is embarrassed and saddened by the ill-judged and unconscionable behavior shown by some colleagues in the media who ganged up on Constantino during the conference. "We will not begrudge the journalists concerned if they felt that Mr. Constantino was out of line by speaking at a press conference they believed only the media were entitled to attend," the group said. "But for them to berate Mr. Constantino and, worse, physically attack him for expressing himself is tragic. For how can we, who invoke press freedom and the right to free expression in the exercise of our calling, even deign to prevent others, especially citizens who actually own these freedoms, from exercising these rights?" the NUJP said. - Amita Legaspi, GMANews.TV