Punchline
Writing about violence
By Ermin Garcia Jr.
HOW bloody is bloody? How much is too much? How true is true?
Routinely, police and crime stories make for perfect templates for writing traditional news stories guided by the 5 Ws (Who, What, Where, When Why) and 1 H (How). A reporter does not have to squeeze his creative juices to get the story right.
But writing the stories about the shooting of radio broadcaster Orly Navarro and the carnage at the Pangasinan National High School in context and in one blow has made many, including myself, stressed to the max, just making sense of them for the readers.
This was one time when local media certainly had their plates full of gory details of the separate violent cases that inevitably left many of us asking the above questions. How much is too much?….
But what was indubitably clear in everyone’s mind about the two incidents was there was nothing morally uplifting abut the stories that could make one feel good about reporting the two disturbing news events.
* * * *
THE PLOT MADE IN MAKATI. The shooting of Mr. Navarro that left him slightly wounded, thank heavens, initially had the local media shocked. That it happened to him had a chilling effect on many all because he has been critical of the worsening illegal drug situation in the province, particularly in the city. Was it a payback for pressing more official action against the drug lords? Many asked.
That it was his neighbor whom he reportedly often chided for being a drug user and pusher that shot him, does not diminish the danger posed by pursuing his advocacy. It could have been the handiwork of the mighty and shrewd drug lords. It was time for an all-out call to arms in the war vs. illegal drugs, or so I thought.
Then from out of the blue came the shrill voice from Metro-Manila, the voice of lawyer Ferdinand Topacio, insinuating that the shooting of Mr. Navarro was a plot concocted from the Dagupan City Hall! Mr. Navarro, he said, was critical of Mayor Belen Fernandez and Police Chief Christopher Abrahano. ergo, they had the motive. Duh? Not about Mr. Navarro’s anti-illegal drugs advocacy? The last time we heard of a plot about politicos eliminating journalists was during the campaign period in Maguindanao by the Ampatuans almost 5 years ago. And they had witnesses lined up to prove it! In Mr. Navarro’s case, not one in the city would even think the two were capable of plotting to kill anyone, much less even their hardcore critics.
Our “Go-Fight” balloon for Mr. Navarro just burst right there. Pak…prrrrrrssst.
Obviously, out to gain mileage (and sympathy?) for Mr. Antonio Cabangon Chua being the source and object of Mr. Navarro’s sympathy over issues that hound the MC Adore and Citystate Savings Bank, Mr. Topacio went to town with his pea-brain theory. I thought he had the eagle eye to discern the guilty and the innocent, now I know he doesn’t. I honestly thought he already read Mayor Belen down pat as a meek person who dislikes crossing swords with anyone which was why they succeeded in wresting the legal initiative away from the city government in the MC Adore court case. Mr. Topacio caught Mayor Belen flatfooted when he filed the case in the Supreme Court to have the case transferred to Metro-Manila. So why would he make himself believe that Mayor Belen has it in herself to plot a bloody scenario just to spare herself from critical comments? That’s really dumb or he’s plain desperate!
That he had to haul the likes of Dante Jiimenez of VACC to Dagupan to support his theory already says that he is grasping at straws for his ridiculous theory. Armed with his 2-minute glory for his opening statement in his managed presscon last Tuesday, I would not be surprised if he went back to Mr. Cabangon Chua to report his successful trip, meaning empty-handed. Leave it to a celebrity lawyer to think he can make his clients believe his lies.
* * * *
MR. NAVARRO’S CREDIBILITY . Gosh, did Mr. Topacio honestly believe he could make a monster out of Mayor Belen? Ha-ha! If Mr. Cabangon Chua believes his yarn, then I must say they were made perfect suckers for each other. Unfortunately, the “mastermind” plot ran rough shod on Mr. Navarro who was made to mouth the script prepared for him, that made him look like a heel.
To my own dismay, Mr. Navarro suggested to the police to spare the arrested suspect if there is one small doubt, with a gallant stance that he’d rather see 100 guilty person go scot free than to send one innocent man to jail. I fell off my chair right there. Then he repeated it. It was a desperate attempt to justify his support for Mr. Topacio’s theory. Too obvious.
Two witnesses positively identified his neighbor, and Mr. Navarro himself, affirmed the police’s initial suspicion that it could have been his neighbor with whom he has a running tiff because he was standing in front of the suspect’s house. And giving credence to the witnesses’ sworn statement, the police even determined there was no indication of any suspect driving away in a getaway motorcycle or car away from Mr. Navarro. Translation: the gunman was in the neighborhood and never left!
So why should now Mr. Navarro deny himself the justice he deserves? If he, indeed suspects, like Mr. Topacio, that there was a plot and mastermind behind the arrested suspect, he could have very well still pushed for the investigation to go further without negating what the eyewitness have already done for him.
Who will believe him the next time his neighbor wants another payback, and gets lucky? What credibility can he speak of now when people realize he is quick to turn against himself if it pleases his bosses? To quack and walk as told regardless of the truth?
There goes the hero that never was. Sayang. And sadly, his bosses, Messrs. ALC and Topacio couldn’t care less about his credibility, pretty much like how they treated Mr. Navarro’s former boss, and now his subordinate, Mr. Allan Sison –to the doghouse! I pray he will realize soon that he can be discarded once he ceases to be useful to their agenda at the drop of a hat! I know their kind.
* * * *
PERFECT BUSINESS FORMULA. Then there’s the heartless P03 Domino Alipio who suddenly became desperate over his moneylending business after literally making slaves out of hundreds of teachers over the years.
The wonder of all wonders was how and why his superiors didn’t see anything wrong with a policeman moonlighting as a moneylender and charges usurious interest rates. Nothing could be more dangerous than to allow a uniformed personnel, issued with a firearm and licensed to kill to moonlight as a moneylender. It’s more sinister than tolerating a corrupt cop to collect daily tong in a busy loading and unloading area for jeepneys, trucks and buses. Or moonlighting as a bouncer in a sleazy nightclub.
Mr. Alipio’s modus operandi was and is obviously known to some lucky ranking police officials then, and now and whom he has already helped become filthy rich. With P50 million as operating capital, he can make mayors and chiefs of police look like indigents who try to eke out a fortune protecting gambling syndicates.
As Mr. Alipio’s neighbors in Calasiao will attest, he certainly is living much beyond a PO3’s salary. A lifestyle check by an unsuspecting superior officer would have sent the latter running to the Napolcom to report the situation. Obviously, those benefitting from his sideline never had to check his lifestyle. Their weekly or monthly share of the interests are good enough to zip their mouths until they get transferred.
But give it to Mr. Alipio to know that moneylending in uniform makes for a perfect formula to keep a cash cow alive for decades. To be referred to as PO3 in Mr. Alipio’s business beats being called “honorable mayor, etc” anytime. (But there’s still one “honorable” today whom he can’t beat in the business – he who can skim more than P1 billion from constructing a parking building. Hehe).
So let’s wait for P/Supt. Reynaldo Biay to tell us his story after his investigation of Mr. Alipio’s racket.
Share your Comments or Reactions
Powered by Facebook Comments
