Media Out of Focus

"A journalist is only as good as the last story he wrote."

It did not surprise me to see media practitioners and even networks included in the list of the Incident Investigation and Review Committee (IIRC). Clearly, broadcast media overstepped the bounds of press freedom. They need not be told by any authority what they can and cannot air. It's a lame excuse to say that the police did not give any guidelines on what can broadcast. Either these people were stupid or simply ambitious. I am appalled by the way broadcast media handled the situation. Their actions contributed to the deterioration of the situation.

I do not understand why they have to show the actions of the assault team or show on national television Mendoza's brother screaming like a stuck pig. Things may have ended differently if Erwin Tulfo and Michael Rogas of RMN did not tie up the line of communication for almost an hour.

All rights have limitations. Press freedom is not exempted from these limitations. Media should know when lives are endangered. At the end of the day, broadcast media should know when they should act as reporters and when they should act as human beings. The media I saw on that fateful August day is a horde of predators out to squeeze every drop of ratings they can get out of the incident. They should be brave enough to accept the consequences of their reckless actions.

Legislators now would like to repress some of their rights. Media has only itself to blame. They said that the PNP failed to give them orders so they just let their cameras roll. Now that congress wants to regulate them, they raise a howl. If only media knew how to regulate itself, congress wouldn't step in. Alas, the temptation of becoming stars was just too irresistible. The networks should be reprimanded, the more guilty ones (Tulfo and Roags) should fry.

Broadcast media at least on this matter was clearly out of focus.

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Creative Writing

Whenever the opposition exposes suspicious actions by Gloria's allies, Malacanang would quickly respond and call it figments of imagination. But when caught red-handed or when going after its detractors, expect them to eat their words and become creative writers. This has been the case with Gloria's government, they are bestselling fiction writers masquerading as public officials.

Take the case of unemployment. Our officials are masters of creating new definitions to hide their incompetence. A simple twist of words and viola, unemployment or employment whichever the case may be has been redefined. I wouldn't be surprised if hidden in the deep recesses of the palace, neatly tucked away is a pool of writers pirated from big media outfits whose sole responsibility is to weave a web of lies and half truths. No wonder we don't have very poor shows on local television.

But this is not limited to the palace. Every single government office has its own team of creative writers. Notice how police incompetence was exposed in the Faelon case, they were reported as rescuers of the kidnapped ICRC volunteer. The DOJ so far has the best team in government. At its helm is the best and brightest, most prolific creative writer the Philippine literature community had ever seen. Often times accused of senility, he had proven time and again that creativity does pay.

Not to be outdone is the House of Reprehensibles. They have a fantastic team of writers that churn out some of the best stage plays of the land. Worthy of a crack in Broadway. the lower house not only bewilders the imagination but can actually cloud the people's senses. No wonder Filipinos have become self-centered cynics instead of patriotic movers.

Looking for a rewarding career? If Gloria succeeds in her Cha-Cha bid and declares herself perpetual ruler of the land, our kids should consider the field of creative writing. With the kind of leaders we have, they'll surely need thousands of writers.

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An Ax To Grind

I was shocked to hear of the tragedy that happened to the the family of ABS-CBN newscaster, Ted Failon. I've been an avid listener of his program for quite sometime now. With the tragedy, the Philippine National Police now has something to go after Mr. Failon. I heard his explosive and passionate commentaries against the police following the spate of rub outs elements of the PNP had been involved in.

With the way this case is going, it is so obvious that the PNP is doing everthing to get back at Ted. I hope that the PNP could also employ the same tenacity and passion they are displaying now with the cases their own personnel are involved in.

I also saw clips of how elements of the PNP totally disregarded the suspects rights when "inviting" them to shed light on the case. I am not siding with anyone here, but I don't trust the PNP. They are to me the epitome of what "legal bandits" are. It is also obvious that they are going to pin this on Mr. Failon no matter what. The SOCO should watch the Discovery Channel so they would learn a thing or two about forensics. Even the way the PNP top brass have been throwing around statements indicates that they are bent on nailing Ted.

The PNP now has Ted by the balls. I'm sure they'll exert pressure on the witnesses(?) to get back at Ted. Maybe this will somehow stop Mr. Failon's tirades. I'm sure the truth will come out in the end. Legal harassment is always a better option than an outright threat.

*BTW, I'm still alive and kicking although hampered by my waning sight, I'm still here still here, full of passion and patriotism. Thanks to all who have expressed their concern.

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