Veteran is an appropriate description to our experience in media work. All of four decades and still counting, we don't think we are still wet between the ears if media is the name of the game. With all these years behind our back as media practitioner, we can say without fear of contradiction that we have arrived. Though we practically know the nitty-gritty of media like the back of our palm, we are still careful that we are free from the specter of libel. If there's such a thing as a bragging right for libel, we presume that nobody in Bohol's media community can hold a candle in terms of libel cases we accumulated all through the years. Forty cases of libel in 43 years of media exposure is our badge of honor in the profession. Not that we are proud to have earned the distinction. Truth is, we still dread the reality that another libel is forthcoming knowing that it consumes most of our waking hours attending preliminary investigations and trial proper.

To date, we still have two pending libel suits, and of all places they were filed in RTC salas outside Tagbilaran. We have a libel case in the Talibon RTC and the other one is in RTC Carmen. Just what we are up to in dredging up libel cases that we have been subjected to? Careful are we indeed not to earn a libel suit but still as we thread the perilous path of media practice, we learned to our chagrin that we are not libel proof after all. This means, even if our mantra is not to mess up with cops, judges and fiscals. To this BGlante, being nice to these powerful individuals is deliberate because we fully well that either of the three will make one's pursuit in life likened to a roller coaster ride. As to the cops, beware of the kind who are designated as warrant servers We had this painful experience when two arrest warrant servers who did not know us from Adam. Since we were unknown to the two cops, what they did was serve the warrant on a Friday. Despite our vehement protestation that we still have to inform our lawyer (actually it was a dillydallying tactic), the two overbearing cops proceeded to bring us to the police station where we were subjected to mug shots as wont a crime suspect.

It was to our good fortune that another policeman who knew us advised us to look for a person in authority who would take custody of our person under the principle of “recognizance”. That save the day for the erring BGlante from being placed behind bars. What made the situation precarious was that it was a Friday and finding a judge to sign the release papers was a tall order. Fiscals and why are they important to media men? For one, they are the ones who found probable cause leading to the filing of the information against the respondent. Finding a friendly prosecutor would mean that in the case at bar, he found no prima facie evidence to indict the respondent of the crime charged. Lastly and the most vital is the judge. If a hostile fiscal finds the respondent probably guilty of, an information is filed with the concerned judge issuing the warrant of arrest. Once the warrant is issued, the next best thing to consider is look for bail money so that no arrest is in order. Ever wonder why messing up with cops, fiscals and prosecutors is a no-no in the newspaper business? At least after reading this piece, you will probably know why.