Videographer Assaulted During Urdaneta Mayor’s Suspension Delivery
JULIO PARAYNO III – The mayor of Urdaneta City, Pangasinan, is facing additional issues after allegedly slapping a provincial government videographer while delivering his 90-day suspension order on Monday morning.
The confrontation occurred when the videographer, Jairus Bien Sibayan, 28, who works for the Pangasinan Information and Media Relation Office, continued recording the heated exchange between Parayno and lawyer Ronn Dale Beltran Castillo, 31, who was delivering the suspension notice on behalf of Pangasinan Governor Ramon Guico III.
In addition to the physical altercation, Parayno reportedly seized Sibayan’s camera and removed its SD card. The police intervened to defuse the situation, took Sibayan to Urdaneta District Hospital for a medical check-up, and then brought him to the police station for further investigation with Castillo present.
Dhobie de Guzman, the head of the Provincial Information and Media Relation Office of Pangasinan, criticized Parayno’s actions, stating that Sibayan was merely carrying out his documentation duties. Attempts to contact Parayno for a response have been unsuccessful.
Parayno’s suspension stems from a 2021 complaint by REVM Tiposu Poultry Farm Inc., which alleged that he refused to issue their business permit despite meeting all requirements. The Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) found that Parayno violated the Ease of Doing Business Act (Republic Act 11032), leading to the suspension order, which Governor Guico signed on August 8 after being endorsed by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan on August 5.
Meanwhile, Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benhur Abalos has given the cameraman the choice to decide whether to file a complaint or press charges against the mayor who assaulted him.
As of press time, Mayor Julio Parayno III of Urdaneta City, Pangasinan, has yet to release any statement regarding his actions towards Pangasinan Information and Media Relation Office videographer Jairus Bien Sibayan.
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