By Mar T. Supnad
FREEPORT AREA OF BATAAN (FAB) – After being criticized by the local government unit here for allegedly wrongly accusing and condemning health workers, the leadership of FAB earned also this morning, September 4, the ire of newsmen for allegedly sowing fear to the public.
In its COVID-19 advisory, FAB said: “Iwasan ang mga media na maaring makapagdulot ng takot”. It later drew the ire of surprised newsmen based here.
“Walang bang editor ‘ung admin ng page na yan(ng FAB)? Napakahina naman wikang Pilipino na ang ginamit hindi pa naisulat ng tama! Talagang uso ang pag–BOBOHAN Challenge ngayon! Explain nila ung post at dapat mag public apology sila,” said the visibly-irked Roel Tarayao, a local newsman, in reaction to the FAB advisory posted on the widely-read social media.
When FAB was rained by criticisms from media, Hazel Keith Elloren, information officer of FAB, backtracked. She said in her Tagalog statement: “We apologize po kung may iba man po na naipahiwatig. Totoo po na media na bagay po ang nirerefer at hindi po ang mga kaibigan natin sa media. We will edit po to present a clearer meaning. Muli po, hindi po tao ang nirerefer ng WHO. Salamat po sa inyong pang-unawa.”
Although FAB retracted its statement, newsmen cried foul since the derogatory post about newsmen had been shared and viewed by the public.
Earlier, the Administrator of the state-owned Freeport Area of Bataan (FAB) was condemned by Mayor Jocelyn P. Castańeda of Mariveles town, for his alleged being anti-Filipino and pro-Chinese amid pandemic.
In her strongly-worded letter to FAB administrator Emmanuel Pineda dated August 27, Mayor and lawyer Jocelyn P. Castańeda said that aside from giving immediate special treatment to the 26 Chinese infected with coronavirus inside FAB, the six Filipino infected with virus were placed on an ill-prepared room inside FAB equipped only with electric fan while the Chinese were admitted to an airconditioned room.
Pineda has also condemned frontliners, earning the ire of the lady mayor.