Pinoy in HK seeks probe over 'super bug' report

MANILA, Philippines – A Hong Kong-based Pinoy human rights activist has lodged a complaint against a local newspaper there over a report claiming Filipinos could be carriers of a "super bug" or infectious disease.

Danilo Reyes, a staff member of the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC), filed separate complaints against a local newspaper, a reporter and the newspaper's editor-in-chief, said an article posted on the group's Web site Thursday night..

"As a Filipino and person belonging to an ethnic minority, I trust that your office would be able to impartially inquire...whether (they) could be held to account," Reyes wrote in his complaint to the Hong Kong Journalist Association (HKJA) and the Hong Kong Press Council (HKPC).

Reyes asked the HKJA and HKPC to "impartially inquire into whether or not The Standard and their reporter, Patsy Moy; and its editor-in-chief, Ivan Tong, could be held to account regarding the actions they have taken."

The HKPC is an association of newspaper and magazine publications that accepts complaints while the HKJA is an association of journalists that deals with complaints on violations of their Code of Ethics.

Reyes was complaining about a report written by Patsy Moy and published by the The Standard last February 25.

In the report, The Standard said an infectious disease, Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus or the MRSA, "could be getting carried here from the Philippines." Moy quoted an "expert" supposedly from the Center for Health Protection (CHP) who made the remark.

But CHP's Dr. Andrew Lau said in a letter where he pointed out that “the article does not represent the views of the CHP." When Reyes wrote to The Standard's editor-in-chief Ivan Tong by mail and fax, seeking the newspapers clarification and appropriate corrections, he got no reply.

On the other hand, reporter Moy, also stuck to her story, though she communicated with Reyes through e-mail to respond to some of his concerns.

She made no mention about the remark in question. She also did not reply to the second e-mail to which Reyes has sent since March 3, the AHRC said.

"The AHRC has since been aware of the possibilities of filing a complaint against the newspaper and their staff writers; however, Reyes has opted to delay the filing of complaint hoping to receive a response; or clarifications and correction it has sough from the newspaper," the AHRC said.

But it said neither Moy nor The Standard showed the courtesy of making corrections, AHRC said.

It added that last April 6, The Standard once again printed an article, now written by another writer, reaffirming their previous story.

Reyes also added that he is "willing to cooperate in any part of this inquiry that would be called upon to satisfy my own and the interest of other Filipinos who felt aggrieved and who wish to seek remedies, legal or otherwise." GMANews.TV

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