A chief of police who went ballistic and earned the ire of the public, took to social media and tried to sway public opinion by pinning the blame on the two radio hosts and the management of the radio station.
Police Inspector Lamberto Hibaya, Officer in charge of the Cortes Police Station maintained his innocence despite public indignation over his perceived haughty and arrogant manner as well as rantings taken in by the listeners of DYRD “Tagbilaran by Night” (TBN) as the blubbering of an intoxicated person.
TBN was swamped with indignant calls and text messages from listeners scandalized and shocked by the disrespectful manner Hibaya handled a simple request for clarification from the media.
The complete audio file of the unfortunate episode on Wednesday, May 25, 2016 and Thursday, May 26, 2016 that put the police in a bad light was made available to the Bohol Police Provincial Office (BPPO) for review upon request by Police Senior Inspector Roland Desiree Lavisto, BPPO Administrative Officer.
Hibaya claimed that he was ridiculed by Allen Doydora and Rey Tutas, anchors of TBN for airing calls and reading text messages from listeners expressing disgust over his uncalled for outburst over the airlanes.
Hibaya was summoned by Bohol Police Provincial Director, Police Senior Superintendent Dennis Palo Agustin to explain his alleged discourteous demeanor over the airlanes.
BPPO Information Officer, Police Superintendent Ricky Deliles told the Chronicle that they have forwarded to the office of Agustin the result of their investigation of Hibaya.
The shameful incident involving the police chief of Cortes started when Doydora and Tutas finally got in touch with the Cortes Police Station after several failed attempts to verify a rape report.
Hibaya whose cellphone number was given by the BPPO answered and immediately made an issue over comments allegedly made by the TBN anchors on the Cortes Police Station’s not responding to repeated calls from the radio station.
The audio files showed that contrary to the wild claims of Hibaya, the TBN anchors did not utter any disparaging remarks directed at the Cortes Police Station.
Attempts by Hibaya to apologize was dashed after he suddenly launched into a tirade against the two broadcasters for airing his explanation live without his knowledge even as the audio file clearly showed that Hibaya knew that he was live on air.
When the issue on the rape question was almost threshed out, Hibaya started angrily slamming Doydora and Tutas for making their conversation public.
“This is a private conversation separate from a republic (sic) conversation, You should know that. You should ask permission from me. Don’t make a big thing about your microphones” said an irate Hibaya.
Not contented with his outburst the night before, Hibaya made a replay of his uncouth manners by challenging the anchors of “Inyong Alagad” and management to produce the complete audio file and not splice it to put him in a bad light.
Bohol Provincial Police Director Police Senior Superintendent Dennis Palo Agustin upon learning of the incident immediately ordered Police Senior Inspector Roland Desiree Lavisto, Bohol Police Provincial Office (BPPO) Administrative Officer to secure a copy of the audio files from DYRD.
Lavisto personally went to the station and told DYRD “Inyong Alagad” that the audio file will serve as the basis for a pre-charge investigation against Hibaya.
For his part, BPPO information officer, Police Superintendent Ricky Deliles, when informed about the disrespectful manners of Hibaya said “We will not tolerate this alleged rude manner of a police officer. We will hear his side and impose disciplinary action if found at fault”.
The Chronicle obtained a hard copy of Hibaya’s affidavit of explanation as posted in his Facebook account wherein he alleged that “DYRD anchorman has already been commenting negatively for the alleged failure of the station’s duty to answer the police station’s telephone . . .”
Hibaya, in his affidavit insisted that “I immediately tried to be courteous” but blamed the anchors for entertaining the comments from callers and text messages outraged by his disdainful and cocky manners.
Showing lack of remorse, Hibaya stated “moreover, if ever I’ve offended anybody of what I have to say, whether a private or public individual, I am willing to ask  apology on that, but not to the people who fueled in turning my night into an outburst after listening the very irresponsible comments delivered on the air”.
The full audio files furnished by the station to the BPPO will now stand as the basis for any action police officials will impose on Hibaya for possible violations of the police code of ethics. (Chito M. Visarra)