“Name names with evidences on any member of the Bohol Tri-Media Association (BTMA) involved in drugs” was the challenged issued last Friday by the city-based media association amid allegations that some media practitioners are allegedly under the payroll of druglords. The press statement of the BTMA was issued by the 15-member board led by Bohol Chronicle Radio Corp. chair Peter Dejaresco as its president during a meeting held at Gerry's Grill last Friday. The media group issued the challenge to radio commentators who have been issuing allegations that certain media practitioners are involved in drugs. In fact, insinuations were added that those in the drug loop are mediamen who run during the last barangay elections. “Let's not place the Bohol media on trial by publicity by issuing such irresponsible allegations,” the press statement said.

The local media group stated that it “continues to support the campaign against drugs in the province as part of its advocacy. In fact, BTMA members who are police beat reporters are oftentimes asked to join government raiding teams during raids conducted under tight secrecy,” the media group said. It maybe noted that often tagged by operatives during raids are radio reporters Willie Maestrado, Rey Tutas and Danny Reyes of dyRD, Cesar Capangpangan, Dave Responte, Dodong Libatona and Edgar Tumanda of dyTR.   Police records show that none of these police beat reporters were recorded to be drug suspects, otherwise they will not be tipped off of impending drug raids. The BTMA president said that if a member of the association be linked to drugs, then the BTMA will not hesitate to deal with the particular media practitioner accordingly. “In the meantime that there are no names and evidences being brought out, the BTMA appealed to these radio commentators to refrain from issuing these irresponsible allegations as it's just damaging the reputation of Bohol media in general,” the press statement concluded.

Other BTMA officers are Lito Responte, executive vice president; Fred Araneta, VP-radio; Chito Visarra, VP-print, Jerry Pabe, treasurer; Dice Arsenal, auditor.   Directors are Bong Bullecer,  Ric Obedencio, Atoy Cosap, Sen Guing-guing, Jojo Ligan, Jun Gutierez, Dodong Libatona, Ariel Fullido and Ching Maestrado  In line with this advocacy against drugs, BTMA officers kicked off their drug test program among media practitioners last Friday. The media practitioners led by BTMA officers had their drug tests at the Gov. Celestino Gallares Memorial Hospital. The association is shouldering the laboratory test expenses for their members who will have their drug tests not later than March 7 this year. Meanwhile, the BTMA will embark this year its thrust of professionalizing the broadcast industry.  The BTMA president appealed to broadcastrers, mostly blocktimers not to waste their airtime in lambasting their fellow broadcasters. Instead, they should spend time in research-ing, presenting facts and issues on burning issues that affect the general welfare of the community.