A criminal complaint for violation of the Election Code has been filed against Bacolod Rep. Monico Puentevella and two officials of RGMA Network Inc. by a radio broadcaster before the Commission on Elections.

The complaint for coercion of subordinates was filed Monday by Donard Duane Nojas, program director of Super Radyo Bacolod, who said that he was barred by RGMA president Miguel Enriquez from handling any program of the station without any valid ground except to placate the solon who submitted a letter-complaint dated Jan. 9, 2007.

Nojas said he was informed that Puentevella, who is senior vice chairman of the House of Representatives Communications which has jurisdiction over franchises of radio and TV networks, was complaining to the RGMA management about his critical comments about his (Puentevella's) performance and function as congressman.

He said it is quite obvious that Puentevella is using his power and influence as congressman in order to silence him and suppress RGMA from making comments on the many alleged irregularities in the prosecution of his projects and in the performance of his function as congressman in order to aid his campaign or aspiration for reelection.

He added that Puentevella wanted the network to dismiss him as an employee. Nojas said that aside from the letter-complaint sent by Puentevella to Enriquez, a memorandum was issued on Feb. 19 by RGMA Area Manager for the Visayas, Butz Maquinto suspending the program Saksi for alleged violation of the directive of Enriquez when he participated in the discussion of the issues regarding the solon's projects after he was barred from handling the said program.

He said acts of Puentevella, Enriquez and Maquinto infringed upon his constitutionally-guaranteed freedom of expression as a radio broadcast journalist.

The insinuations by Puentevella that he is working for his possible opponent in the elections to the point that he was constructively dismissed by RGMA has caused him great annoyance, anxiety, embarrassment, humiliation and sleepless nights, Nojas said. Nojas' legal counsel is Juvi Gayatao.

Bacolod COMELEC registrar Mavil Majarucon said she will forward the complaint to the Legal Department of COMELEC Manila and it is up to them whether or not to give it due course.

She said that since Puentevella has not yet filed his certificate of candidacy she believes there could be no election offense committed.

Eric Tenerife, media liason of Puentevella, yesterday called the charges against the solon pure political harassment coming from Vice Mayor Renecito Novero since Nojas is allegedly his media protégée. Although Puentevella is an incumbent congressman, he has not yet filed his COC with the COMELEC, he said. Tenerife said if Nojas has a problem with Enriquez, he should file the case with the Department of Labor and Employment and not with the COMELEC.

Asked for his reaction, Novero said "If Tenerife wants the correct information, let his congressman and myself speak face to face so everything will be settled once and for all."

"If not, they should not fabricate issues which will not be helpful to the environment of the city," Novero said. Puentevella said he has no part in it and he is busy at present trying "to save the plight of the 17,000 Filipino nurses whose future is hanging on the cliff."*CGS

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