BITAG CHALLENGE DAD OF A VICE MAYOR: COME OUT AND CLEAR YOUR NAME!

“Kung tama man o mali, he can deny, reject. I know my job as a journalist and I know my responsibility. And our job is in search of truth; we will take both sides. All I’m asking is the right to be heard.”

This is the message of fearless investigative journalist Mr. Ben Tulfo to the man who allegedly pointed a gun and threatened a security guard who did not allow him to pass inside the exclusive subdivision in Cagayan de Oro City on October 1, 2022.
The man identified by the complainant Henry Gonzaga as Mr. “Bernie Bang-Bang Lagbas”.

Gonzaga forwarded to the BMN’s investigative program, Pambansang Sumbungan: #ipaBITAGmo a copy of CCTV footage of the heated incident.
According to Gonzaga, Lagbas wanted to go inside the village but failed to provide details of whom he wanted to visit.

“Ginawa ko lang po ang aking trabaho bilang isang security guard, hindi po kami pwede magpapasok ng tao na hindi nila kilala ang pupuntahan nila,” the security guard told #ipaBITAGmo.

“Nagagalit po siya sa akin, sinabihan niya ako ng “put****na mo!”, paulit-ulit niya po akong minura tapos po kinasa niya yung baril niya, nilabas po niya yung baril niya at tinutok sa akin,” he added.

At the BMN’s public service program #ipaBITAGmo, program host Mr. Ben Tulfo talked to Ivan Chester Lagbas, the son of older Lagbas.

Ivan Chester Lagbas is the incumbent vice mayor of Sungbongcogon, Misamis Oriental.

“Knowing my dad sir, I know na medyo siya short tempered, conscious siya sa approach ng tao, pinapa-atras daw sya pero ang problema may taxi daw sa likod hindi siya maka-atras. Sinabi na nahihirapan siyang umatras pwede daw ba mag-backing doon sa loob ng konti. Ang sagot daw ng guard medyo hindi maganda then ‘yun na ang nangyari sir, nagkamurahan at nagkainitan pero din naman daw po to the point na nanutok ng baril at nagbanta ng buhay,” the younger Lagbas narrated to #ipaBITAGmo.

Tulfo acknowledged the statement of the vice mayor, but he wanted to get a straight answer from his father, who is the person of interest in threatening and allegedly pointing a gun at a security guard on duty.

“I think your father is old enough to defend himself,” said Tulfo, addressing vice mayor Lagbas.

The BMN also called the older Lagbas to come out and clear his name in the spirit of fair and unbiased journalism.

“That’s the reason why we are seeking him so we can give him the opportunity to speak, the right to be heard. But he is the one evading us,” Tulfo furthered.

The BITAG Multimedia Network, through its flagship public service program #ipaBITAGmo is carrying a brand in protecting the rights and welfare of security guards.

Together with the representatives of ACT-CIS Partylist, the BMN is championing in helping and assisting security guards who are victims of unjust abuse and maltreatment.