Media can set the tone

SO far, the peace and calm in our communities are holding generally, thanks to our traditional celebration of Yuletide and New Year season.

However, the indicators are already there that what we are witnessing is the calm before the storm, the storm being the campaign period preceding the 2016 elections. Emotions between and among followers of national and local political combatants are already beginning to run high. Translate this to seeing neighbors, friends and relatives emotionally divided on their choices of national and local candidates and issues. How bad can it get?

A preview of this was already seen months back when local media practitioners turned on each other like their personal lives depended on their virulent attacks against each other. If the perceived catalysts, the media practitioners, cannot see themselves above the fray in order to help elevate the level of debate to a sane and sober level, will the electorate conduct themselves any better?

It is for this reason that we propose that formal and informal leaders of media groups quietly get together to forge a covenant and a short simple-worded code of ethics specifically for the discussion and coverage of political issues and events. Then encourage individual media practitioners to come forward, without much ado, to signify their intent to conform and to comply with these rules on decency and professionalism as the starting point for self-regulation during the campaign period.

The local media can and should set the tone for our people.

 

Poe on the ropes

DON’T you find it strange that election matters will have to be resolved by the Supreme Court—with finality? Weren’t the Constitution framers sure only the Comelec should have exclusive jurisdiction over such issues? Wasn’t the SET (Senate Electoral Tribunal) enough to provide the check and balance of what might be a Comelec abuse of discretion?

Look, after a 5-4 SET verdict allowing Grace Poe to run for president, the Comelec would next deliver four stinging setbacks to Poe’s bid in 2016.  If two divisions of Comelec were identical declaring Poe ineligible, and next we saw two Comelec en banc decisions upholding both rulings of Divisions 1 and 2 for a 4-0 swamping of Poe, what does that tell us?

But as the final referee, the Supreme Court can either make Poe eligible or not.  Don’t you find this weird—a Constitutional body like the Comelec not having a final say on issues that are supposedly exclusive to its own province of existence?  Bizarrely funny.

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

Back to Homepage

Share your Comments or Reactions

comments

Powered by Facebook Comments