The Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) reached out to national media organizations to determine if journalistic lapses were committed by Atty. Salvador Deputado in his rash publishing and broadcast of an unverified story reporting the alleged $81-million bank account under a top Bohol official’s name.

The request addressed to officials of the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP) and the Philippine Press Institute (PPI) was relayed through a resolution approved during a session of the SP on Friday.

The resolution was passed in efforts to find out what sanctions would be meted out to Diputado should his actions be considered a violation of rules and regulations of the media organizations, particularly the KBP which has a regulatory capacity over accredited broadcasters.

Diputado previously admitted that he has no firsthand knowledge on the reported $81-million bank account during the second session of the SP’s probe on the issue.

The Bohol Bankers Association through its president, Gelyn Uy, had also noted that there is no single person, corporation or institution in the province which holds such a large amount.

Meanwhile, National Bureau of Investigation (NBI)-Bohol executive officer Atty. Arcelito Albao said during an assembly of the Provincial Peace and Order Council that an unidentified person requested the agency to investigate the case which allegedly involves two government officials.

In the email, the unknown complainant narrated that the amount was amassed through a donation from the USAID (United States Agency for International Development).

The NBI official requested the complainant to submit documents to support the accusation but there have been no follow-up reports so far on the issue. (Rey Tutas)