GMA reporter slapped, roughed up by furious female driver

MANILA, Philippines — A television reporter was slapped and had her hair pulled by another woman as she was trying to gather data for a road mishap story in Iloilo Monday. In his report aired on GMA News' 24Oras’, Raffy Tima said GMA TV reporter Charlene Belvis was slapped and assaulted by a certain Andrea Gorriceta inside the Jaro, Iloilo police station as her news team was taking video footage. The report showed Gorriceta pulling Belvis' hair and dragging her until she fell on the floor. Belvis sustained minor scratches and bruises following the assault, the report said. Earlier, Gorriceta, who allegedly figured in a road accident with one Rhea Aquino, was intercepted by the police, through the help of Belvis. Meanwhile, the National Union of Journalists in the Philippines (NUJP)-Iloilo chapter condemned Gorriceta’s outrage, saying the attack on Belvis - which happened inside a police station - was unacceptable. “Even if we grant that the television team went overboard in taking videos of the incident against the request of Ms. Gorriceta, the physical attack on Ms. Belvis cannot be justified," NUJP’s statement read. “We also raise questions why it was possible for Ms. Belvis to be physically manhandled inside the Jaro police station in front of policemen," the statement added. The Commission of Human Rights (CHR) in Western Visayas also said that although the suspect has the right to privacy, the television reporter on the other hand has the responsibility to inform the public. Regional police director Chief Supt. Isagani Cuevas, for his part, said that he will investigate if his men committed lapses. "We will properly investigate it how to deal with our policemen also for not having controlled the situation," Cuevas said. On Monday afternoon, Belvis filed charges against Gorriceta, accusing her of committing slander by deed, grave oral defamation, and physical injuries. Gorriceta was detained but was released after posting bail. - Aie Balagtas See, GMANews.TV