ABS-CBN reporter Mike Navallo earned praises from netizens after he was confronted by Solicitor General Jose Calida on Monday, February 10.
Just minutes after filing a quo warranto petition before the Supreme Court to revoke the ABS-CBN’s franchise, Navallo, together with other journalists, approached Calida and asked for a copy of the petition.
Calida then asked for Navallo’s name, although it seemed he already knew who he was.
“You’re a lawyer? You’re from Cagayan de Oro?” Calida asked Navallo.
“Surigao. Why sir?” the reporter asked.
“Because I’m also from Mindanao,” Calida said, who is from Davao City.
Before leaving, Calida turned to Navallo again and said, “Palagi mo akong binabanatan. Abogado ka rin pala eh.”
The reporter replied, “Sir, I’m just doing my job. It’s part of the story.”
“Mag-practice ka na lang. Baka magkita tayo sa court,” Calida said.
Last year, Navallo broke the story about the Office of the Solicitor General or OSG’s involvement in drafting the affidavit of a certain Peter Joemel Advincula alias “Bikoy,” who accused members of the opposition of sedition.
Many netizens, including fellow journalists, praised Navallo for standing his ground and reporting the truth.
Here’s what they said:
“@mikenavallo, known to us at UP Law then as Jobert Navallo (UP Law ’09), is a better lawyer than he is a reporter and he is one of the best reporters I know.”
@mikenavallo, known to us at UP Law then as Jobert Navallo (UP Law '09), is a better lawyer than he is a reporter and he is one of the best reporters I know. https://t.co/j7kMYLp6WJ
— Ted Te (@TedTe) February 10, 2020
“Lodi ko yang si kuya mike!”
Lodi ko yang si kuya mike!
— Anjo Cagmat Alimario (@anjocalimario) February 10, 2020
“I’m batchmates with @mikenavallo in the UP CMC. His body of work has always been known for the highest ethical standards. Most deservingly so, he was magna cum laude and Journ batch valedictorian. He has far greater amount of ethics in his little finger than Calida’s whole body.”
https://twitter.com/marvintomandao/status/1226738416592637952?s=19
“‘Umayos ka, Calida!’ from @nujp as it stands up for @mikenavallo: Solicitor General Jose Calida overstepped the bounds of his office and of propriety when he turned personal harassed ABS-CBN reporter Mike Navallo. Convergence.”
(Thread) “Umayos ka, Calida!” from @nujp as it stands up for @mikenavallo : Solicitor General Jose Calida coverstepped the bounds of his office and of propriety when he turned personal harassed ABS-CBN reporter Mike Navallo. Convergence.
— inday espina varona (@indayevarona) February 10, 2020
“No, Calida, @mikenavallo is doing his job as a journalist. You, however, seem to be working passionately to frighten Philippine media into submission. Your mandate is to work for our people, not to carry out the frivolous whims of Duterte.”
No, Calida, @mikenavallo is doing his job as a journalist. You, however, seem to be working passionately to frighten Philippine media into submission. Your mandate is to work for our people, not to carry out the frivolous whims of Duterte. https://t.co/OKdgOlKr4d
— Leah Navarro (@leahnavarro) February 10, 2020
“@mikenavallo Bata mo kami, kapatid. Wag kang papadala don. 🙄”
@mikenavallo Bata mo kami, kapatid. Wag kang papadala don 🙄
— David Y. Santos (@davidyusantos) February 10, 2020
“‘Sir, I’m just doing my job.’ @mikenavallo is all of us.”
"Sir, I'm just doing my job” @mikenavallo is all of us. https://t.co/V3kBS0x6eX
— Jeff Canoy (@jeffcanoy) February 10, 2020
“Kudos @mikenavallo for your professionalism.”
Kudos @mikenavallo for your professionalism. #standwithabscbn https://t.co/YbLdxI242x
— GING REYES (@gingreyes) February 10, 2020
“Proud to have taught Mike Navallo some of his political law. He was a great student and is an excellent, world-class reporter.”
Proud to have taught Mike Navallo some of his political law. He was a great student and is an excellent, world-class reporter. https://t.co/8X51cGGTaf
— Tony La Viña (@tonylavs) February 10, 2020
“Pasalamat si Calida na mabait si @mikenavallo and because professional journalists invariably treat their sources with respect, including those who hardly deserve it. Pero baka one day magtagpo nga in court at ilampaso siya ni Mike.”
Pasalamat si Calida na mabait si @mikenavallo and because professional journalists invariably treat their sources with respect, including those who hardly deserve it. Pero baka one day magtagpo nga in court at ilampaso siya ni Mike. https://t.co/AGGLFQzmtd
— nonoy espina (@EspinaNonoy) February 10, 2020
“No question. @mikenavallo is the better lawyer. And the better person.”
https://twitter.com/albutra/status/1226815296700178432?s=19
“It’s reporters like @mikenavallo who make our democracy stronger. Thankful for him and all our ABS-CBN colleagues who will not stop showing up, questioning authority and reporting the truth.”
It’s reporters like @mikenavallo who make our democracy stronger. Thankful for him and all our ABS-CBN colleagues who will not stop showing up, questioning authority and reporting the truth. #DefendPressFreedom https://t.co/E9elZIfX6p
— Matthew Reysio-Cruz (@mreysiocruz) February 10, 2020
ABS-CBN’s franchise will expire on March 30, with the Congress still sitting on bills that seek to renew the franchise.
In his petition, Calida has accused the network and its subsidiary, ABS-CBN Convergence, Inc. of “unlawfully exercising their legislative franchises.”
He also accused the network of having a form of foreign ownership through its Philippine Depositary Receipts (PDRs), in violation of the foreign ownership restriction on mass media in the Constitution.
But ABS-CBN denied this, saying everything that they do is in accordance with the law.
“We did not violate the law. This case appears to be an attempt to deprive Filipinos of the services of ABS-CBN,” the Lopez-led network said.
