Veteran media personality Ardy Araneta-Batoy has vowed to fight against alleged attempts to silence her, following controversy over cloud seeding operations in Bohol province.
The dispute centers on comments made by reassigned Provincial Agriculturist Liza Quirog during interviews on Batoy’s radio programs “Open Forum” and “Newsmakers ug Uban Pa”.
Quirog criticized the cloud seeding operations as “excessive” and unnecessary given the start of the rainy season.
Quirog also claimed that Pegasus Air Services Inc. (PASI), which was awarded the cloud seeding contract in 2023, failed to fulfill its obligations, necessitating a new bidding process in 2024.
Junne Palacio Abejuela, an officer of PASI, disputed Quirog’s account and demanded a public apology from both Quirog and Batoy.
Abejuela accused Quirog of politicizing the issue and unfairly blaming PASI for delays.
“There’s someone who wants to silence me and my program,” Batoy said on her July 31 radio program over DYTR.
“The company’s person-in-charge has demanded for us to ask for an apology, and we need to make a public apology or else legal action will be taken against us.”
Batoy defended her reporting, saying: “All I did was ask questions to find out the truth. I never accused anybody nor declared anybody at fault, and I was only after the truth.”
She added: “It is not the policy of The Bohol Tribune, Open Forum, and Newsmakers ug Uban Pa programs to spread lies.”
The controversy has raised questions about the implementation of cloud seeding operations in Bohol, which were intended to combat drought conditions caused by El Niño.
A notice to proceed (NTP) posted on the Bohol provincial government website indicates PASI was awarded a contract for cloud seeding operations in late 2023.
The NTP, with control number OPA-A#2023-0237 PR2023-0513, shows an approved budget of P2,471,500 pesos and a contract amount of P2,456,000 pesos.
The NTP lists an award date of Sept. 29, 2024, a proceed date of Nov. 20, 2024, and an end date of Nov. 28, 2023.
However, the document does not clarify whether the contract was fulfilled within the specified five-day delivery period.
Quirog revealed that she began facilitating cloud seeding operations as early as July 2023, citing budget constraints.
Abejuela countered that PASI was not responsible for any delays and claimed to have attempted to contact Batoy to present the company’s side of the story.
Batoy, who learned of the demand for an apology following an exit conference for the cloud seeding operation, remains defiant.
“If they insist that I am at fault, as I was tagged as an irresponsible media person, my goodness in my entire life I was never called irresponsible media person,” she said. “I will fight.”
Batoy emphasized that her stance is not for personal gain, but “for the entire Boholano people,” citing her love for Bohol.
Atty. Gregorio Austral, a member of The Bohol Tribune’s Editorial Board, offered his opinion on the matter.
Austral believes the newspaper has not violated any laws, as its reporting focused on public affairs affecting Boholanos and government policies.
“Government affairs must be open to the public and to criticism, and when dealing with government, one must expect that when dealing with a public entity, one should be open to criticism,” Austral said.
He added that PASI’s involvement in the discussion was incidental and not intended to defame the company.