Tensions rose in the Municipality of Sigma after its Sangguiang Bayan (SB) approved early last week a resolution declaring radio blocktimers India Lapaviez (a.k.a “Mamang India”) and Jay Lavapiez (a.k.a “Papa Jay”) of Baskog Radyo as persona non grata.
In Resolution No. 87-Series of 2025, the wife and husband tandem are accused of “disseminating false, misleading information and outright lies, effectively making them purveyors of fake news.”
The resolution stated that their repeated accusations against members of the legislative body were made “without cause, fairness, or factual basis.”
The resolution was made after Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) President Katherine Marie Mendrozo delivered a privilege speech and urged her colleagues to make the declaration.
According to Mendrozo, the two Baskog Radyo commentators claimed on air unverified accusations including the alleged corruption of Sigma’s public officials.
“Ginapakanubo sang sini nga klase sang paghambal ang dignidad sang serbisyo publiko kag ginaguba ang aton mga institusyon (This kind of rhetoric diminishes the dignity of public service and destroys our institutions),” Mendrozo said.
But Baskog Radyo claimed that the SB resolution is part of a larger pattern of “harassment and intimidation” against its station and anchors by the local officials of Sigma.
According to the station, Mamang India recently received a subpoena from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) over a complaint filed under the Cybercrime Prevention Act.
Baskog Radyo also claimed the Sigma officials are out to get them for reporting the alleged anomalies including cemeteries with no proper permits and the questionable enforcement of the speed limit ordinance.
