Charles Teves
A TV5 cameraman was brutally attacked by three customers after documenting people mass gathering inside a resort.
According to the victim, Arnel Tugade, they received a call that a number of people were bathing at the “Gubat sa Ciudad Resort” in Barangay 171, Caloocan. Before heading to the resort, they contacted the mayor’s office for confirmation.
When they arrived, people were notifying each other that the media was on site.
Tugade initially recorded a jeepney leaving the resort with mostly children. This was the first violation seen as children are not allowed to step outside their homes under a modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ).
WATCH: Actual incident taken by TV5 cameraman Arnel Tugade while 3 men ganged up on him when he covered the overcrowded Gubat sa Ciudad resort in Caloocan on Sunday (May 9, 2021). Two were arrested, 1 escaped. | via Robert Alfiler; 📹: Arnel Tugade pic.twitter.com/kUIGF03kLR
— Philippine News Agency (@pnagovph) May 10, 2021
“Sa dami nang nakunan ko, may natiyempuhan ako jeep palabas na siya, sakay niya karamihan bata. Puno yung jeep. Ilang metro lang itinigil, yun pala yung mga kasama pala nila nandoon pa.” Tugade told DZRH News.
All of the sudden, Tugade was confronted by a man asking him why he was hurting his younger sibling. He did not know what the man was talking about and continued recording. Tugade then realized that he was getting cornered by two more men.
“May nagsabi “Bakit mo sinasaktan yung kapatid ko?”. Hindi ko maintindihan nagshoo-shoot ako eh ýun pala [yung nasa harap] hinaharangan na pala ako.” he shared.
https://twitter.com/SyLicoNgaAko/status/1391487762587557889?s=20
After taking some hard shots from the three customers, Tugade staggered and almost got removed from consciousness.
“Nanlabo yung paningin ko. Hindi naman nasira pero ang problema ko nawala yung mic ng camera ko.” he said.
His reporter later found out that two of the suspects are brothers. Unfortunately, he wasn’t able to get footage of the third attacker.
“Mga construction worker, magkakatrabaho, nag-ambag-ambag para mag-celebrate, nakainom na Sir.”
“Nagpa-medico legal na ako. Napag-alaman ng reporter ko magkakapatid pala ito.”
He said the resort never really closed despite the implementation of numerous lockdowns. People can enter and leave whenever they want to.
Tugade tried to avoid the confrontation but was still beaten up. He will not let this one slide as he was just doing his job.
“Hindi natin palalagpasin itong mga ito. Para ho magtanda. Tayo trabaho lang tayo eh. Mula doon sa taas ng mata hanggang ilong.” he added.
Caloocan City has ordered the closure of the resort after allowing a mass gathering within its premises. The city is also looking to file complaints against the resort and officials of Barangay 171.
Gubat sa Ciudad Resort sa Brgy. 171, Caloocan ipinasara ng @CaloocanCityLGU matapos payagan magsagawa ng mass gathering ang kanilang mga customer sa gitna ng MECQ | @edwindu36836256 #DZRHNationwide pic.twitter.com/FuScAIeKWz
— DZRH NEWS (@dzrhnews) May 9, 2021
