ILOILO City – After drawing flak on social media, broadcaster Jun Capulot of Radio Mindanao Network (RMN) DYRI Iloilo apologized for his “disparaging” remarks on call center agents.
“Nagapangayo ako pasensya sa inyo kon natawag ko nga wala kamo brain cells, wala kamo gagamit brain cells niyo,” he said on the Saturday night edition of his program “Patrol 774.”
Capulot’s incendiary remark stemmed from a news report that four employees of a business process outsourcing (BPO) firm in Mandurriao district contracted the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and that the management was slow to act on the health problem.
Capulot said he was carried away by his emotions, pointing out that his radio station was being bullied online for reporting on the four COVID-positive BPO employees.
No less than Mayor Jerry Treñas confirmed these BPO COVID cases Thursday last week. He also ordered the City Health Office to test call center personnel for the disease but this was initially met with reluctance by the management.
“Gusto ko ipahibalo sa nag-bully diri sa amon nga naintindihan ko nga kamo gin-blind man sang inyo kompanya. Sa pagkamatuod, wala nag abot sa punto nga magdumot ako sa inyo,” said Capulot.
The broadcaster also emphasized that his main intention was to protect the welfare of call center agents.
“Ang akon tinutuyo indi kay pakahuy-an kag pakanuboon ang inyo mga trabaho. Gin gamit ko ato nga mga tinaga bangod sang sobra-sobra na nga sakit sang akon balatyagon,” the veteran broadcaster explained. “Para man ato sa ila interes kag kaaraydan.”
Earlier, the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) – Iloilo called on the management of RMN to investigate the matter and mete appropriate sanctions on what it deemed was a breach of professional ethical standards of broadcasters and journalists.
“Ginapangako ko sa inyo ang senseridad sang akon pagpangayo sang pasensya. Leksyon ini sa akon. Isa ini ka gamiton ko nga pagtulon-an…bisan pa sa pinaka-high nga paglapastangan niyo sa amon diri, himuon ko ang tanan-tanan nga indi ako madala sa akon emosyon. So I am very sorry,” said Capulot.
He admitted having gone overboard in his on-air commentary.
“Sa mga call center agents, sa inyo tanan kon nasakit ko inyo balatyagon, pasensya gid. Indi ko ini gusto kag hungod. Nadala ako sa akon emosyon bangod sang sobra nga kabalaka sa akon kaupdanan kag sa inyo tanan,” Capulot added.
For his part, Mayor Treñas urged everyone to move on from this issue.
“Call center agents are already being tested. The call center management is booking its agents tested in hotel rooms so they can be properly quarantined while waiting for their test results…Let us not forget that there are other positive cases and areas we have to contact trace,” he said.
Following Capulot’s apology, NUJP-Iloilo issued another statement.
“We believe he is sincere in his apology and in seeking amends…This issue is a learning experience for all journalists and the public as well. Credibility is essential if not fundamental for a journalist and for a news organization,” the group said.
“We agree that journalists as human beings make mistakes. Even the most seasoned among us do. We commit mistakes due to deadlines and other pressures of the work, incomplete or incorrect information and lapses in judgment. But because journalists can make mistakes, a mark of a sincere journalist is the readiness to own up to and apologize unconditionally and promptly for any error or mistake and taking the necessary corrective measures. Even as we are human beings who can be emotional and prone to make mistakes, journalists are expected to be more circumspect because we wield greater influence and impact,” it added.
The group also thanked station manager Ronel Sorbito for promptly taking action.
“We believe that self-regulation including policing our ranks is the best way we can continuously raise our adherence to professional and ethical standards. We owe this to the public that we are accountable to,” the group said.
NUJP-Iloilo also welcomed the engagement of the community with the media in ensuring that journalists and news organizations perform their work with the highest professional and ethical standards.
“Positive and negative reactions and comments on news reports and commentaries of journalists go with the job. But we do not condone personal attacks in whatever form against journalists and news organizations that are merely doing their jobs. RMN-Iloilo’s coverage and reporting on alleged health protocol violations of a BPO company are an exercise of its obligation to public interest. They should not be harassed or lambasted for doing so,” it emphasized./PN
