Why journalists are killed

NO one argues with President-elect Rody Duterte’s perception that corruption in the ranks of journalists exists. Not even news media practitioners will deny it. However, citing it as a reality in journalism practice today is one thing but citing it as the reason for murdering journalists is unacceptable.

Where Mr. Duterte sorely missed out on is the traditional work and mission of media in pursuit of journalism practice – to be adversarial. It is the duty of the journalist to comfort and afflict the comfortable. It seeks to be the catalyst when confronted with contentious issues. It takes sides for the good even if the cause is unpopular.

As in other sectors, there are extortionists and blackmailers and they get their due. They have no place in the legitimate journalism practice. What is commonplace in news media’s workplace is the abhorrent habit of politicians and businessmen to pay-off reporters and editors in exchange for positive reports in order to influence public opinion to favor them regardless of facts. So while accepting ‘envelopes’ by journalists is grossly unethical and deemed unacceptable in professional practice, it cannot be viewed as a deathly proposition.

Rather, it is the exposé of a corrupt politician or businessman by a journalist that risks violence. (Our founder-editor Ermin E. Garcia and many others were killed by politicians because of their critical articles and exposés). It is for this reason that press freedom and free speech are protected by the Constitution, and government is mandated to bring murderers of journalists to justice not because journalists belong to a special class but because the freedoms have been violated.

What should anger the President-elect instead is the fact that only 15 out of 170 recorded murder cases, have been solved, and none pointed to the dead journalists as corrupt. Reversing that trend requires real change as well.

 

Exodus begins

LOYALTY is a word whose true meaning is not thoroughly embraced by many.  If there is one that truly practices loyalty to the hilt, it is your dog.

In sharp contrast, politicians are among the most un-loyal in our midst.  They pay allegiance to their parties “through thick and thin” But when their parties interests would run counter to their personal interests, they bolt their parties faster than Usain Bolt, the world’s fastest man, dashing to the finish line.

The exodus of non-Duterte allies to President Duterte’s PDP-Laban party is but a screaming proof to this.  The Liberal Party, with a 118-strong membership that controls the Lower House, is now a decimated wreck—with House Speaker Belmonte left holding the LP bag alone, literally.  Truly pathetic.

(For your comments and reactions, please email to: punch.sunday@gmail.com)

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