Richard Gomez sees media ops, NUJP says reporters gave him chance to reply

The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) on Friday called out Leyte 4th District Representative Richard Gomez over his Facebook post criticizing journalists who were seeking his statement on allegations against him.

In a statement, the NUJP reminded Gomez that the media asking for his side on the issue actually favors him.

“The requests give him a chance to address allegations made by Matag-ob Mayor Bernie Tacoy, who has also criticized him for alleged lack of support during heavy flooding, and making them is part of journalists' jobs,” the NUJP said.

“If Gomez preferred to not speak about the issue, a simple 'no comment' or lack of response would have sent that message without imputing malice or exposing our colleagues' private information,” it added.

GMA News Online has reached out to Gomez on his official Facebook page and through his staff, but they have yet to reply as of posting time.

In a Facebook post Thursday evening, Gomez posted screenshots of messages from journalists from different news outlets who were asking for his statement or an interview with him to air his side on the allegations made against him in connection with a damaged flood control project in Matag-ob town.

“Mahal din itong media spin na ginagawa nila against me. Look at the similarities of the different socmeds and agencies asking questions,” Gomez said.

(This media spin they are doing against me is expensive. Look at the similarities of different social media and agencies asking questions.)

“Alam na alam mong merong nagkukumpas. Alam na alam mong ginastusan. Ayus ahhhh. Gastos pa more mga ungas,” he added.

(You know there are people who are orchestrating this. You know they have spent money. Spend more, you idiots.)

The NUJP called out Gomez for calling the journalists’ efforts part of a “media spin” and alleging that they were paid to get his comment on the issue.

According to the NUJP, Gomez committed a potential violation of data privacy after posting screenshots with media workers' names and contact numbers on Facebook, which “puts them at risk of harassment and fraud.”

“Despite the media community's recent reflections on the practices of some of its members, claiming media bias and spin to avoid answering questions will only go so far,” the NUJP said.

House ethics panel

Meanwhile, House Deputy Speaker and Antipolo Representative Ronaldo Puno said an ethics complaint can be brought against Gomez over his remarks accusing journalists of being paid hacks.

“Absolutely, I encourage you to bring it before the Ethics Committee here. Hindi na puwede iyong mga gan'un (These things should not continue). I mean, you are asked to explain something, you're a legislator, you explain. Kaya tayo naging legislator dahil tingin ng tao, marunong tayo magpaliwanag (That is why we became legislators because people believe we know how to explain things)," Puno said.

"Napakalinaw na kailangan na maipaliwanag, [tapos] hindi niya gagawin (It's very clear that he needs to explain, yet he didn't). And then if you compound the issue by insulting people. Hindi maganda talaga 'yun (That is not nice). I think the Ethics Committee should be brought into that," Puno added.

For his part, House Infrastructure Committee (InfraComm) Co-chair Representative Terry Ridon said it is up to the media to decide whether or not to file ethics complaints.

"Kailangan po natin makita kung talaga hong may privacy violation. Pero I think from the look of it, para hong I think the journalists have a reason to actually consider po whether there's a privacy violation done against them. Kasi ang totoo naman ho, 'yun pong mga numero po ng mga tao ay nailabas. Pangalawa, 'yung mga pangalan po nila nailabas. Pangatlo, 'yun pong mensahe po nila ay nailabas," Ridon replied.

(We need to ascertain if there was a privacy violation. But I think from the look of it, I think the journalists have a reason to actually consider whether there was a privacy violation done against them. In truth, people's phone numbers were exposed. Secondly, so were their names. Thirdly, their messages were made public.) 

The House InfraComm is set to conduct an investigation into flood control and other infrastructure initiatives, which Ridon said may include the damaged project in Gomez's district in Leyte. — VAL/VDV, GMA Integrated News