Punchline
The sloppy cowards
By Ermin Garcia Jr.
FIRST of all, I must apologize for the blunder of my staff that appeared in our last issue. I refer to our headline story about Rep. Amado Espino Jr.’s manifestation to abide by the Sandiganbayan’s suspension.
Horror of all horrors, when I directed the use of Cong Spine’s pic to accompany the story, my staff mistakenly picked up Guv Pogi’s photo, and used it! Toink!
Capitol PIO’s Butch Velasco called me about it, complaining that he’s been getting calls from allies about it. I apologized and promised that it will be corrected. What I failed to get from him was the object of the complaints he got. Was it because Cong. Spine suddenly looked young and handsomer or was it because they weren’t sure whether it was Guv Pogi who was suspended. So I’m not sure whether I should apologize to Cong Spine or Guv Pogi.
So to both, I sincerely apologize for this major faux pas. So sorry, Guv and Cong.
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EDITOR’ S ACCOUNTABILITY. While we are at it, there’s something I’d like our news subjects to know and understand how newspapers, like The PUNCH operate.
As editor-publisher, it is I who’s responsible for everything that’s printed in the paper, not our reporters. Nothing goes to print unless and until I say so. So if anyone has any objection or grievance about what was published, it is I who’s accountable.
My reporters’ main responsibility is merely to submit facts and I verify and decide which of the facts are relevant to the stories. It is also the editor’s task to rewrite any story submitted by reporters. In fact, I do rewrite all stories, including submitted “praise” releases. So, if there are inaccuracies or missing facts, I always welcome a call, text, email or a letter pointing out perceived inaccuracies, and it is my responsibility to make sure the reaction or response sees print.
I thought I should make this clear because every so often, reporters get the brunt of news stories perceived to be negative and unacceptable to news subjects.
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ATTACK ON EVA. Here’s a recent situation.
Our headline story (that also saw print in Philippine Star) drew a misplaced personal attack on Eva Visperas’ (PhilStar correspondent) person. The obvious over-solicitous paid hacks of a political boss, orchestrated a text blast, a copy of which was sent to me (as only cowards who hide behind their patron would do): “Yung sinasabing idedemanda daw ni roland rea si cong. espines. Gawa gawa lang ng putang eva vesperas . Dapat malaman ng philippine star na gawa gawa lamang ni eva vesperas ung sinulat niya sa star. Sigurado na tuloy tuloy pa rin ang binabayad ng mga tinalo sa pulitika ng mga espino sa putang eva vesperas na yan. Samantalang malaki ang napakinabangan nya ke gov espino noon. ikalat natin ang masamang gawain ng putang babaeng ito.”
I got news for these ignorant cowards. I heard the interview of Roland Rea on Eva’s tape. Every quote was accurate as I always expect from Eva which was why I did not hesitate to include some of her submitted story to PhilStar with her permission in ours.
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UNFAIR TO CONG SPINES. What the sloppy black propaganda operators didn’t (and still don’t) realize is that they actually did and continue to do a lot of harm and injustice to the image of their patron, who in this case is obviously Cong. Spines!
If they think they are delivering the goods to justify their fees from Cong Spines, they actually just completely damaged his persona to the hilt. They only succeeded in picturing Cong. Spines as a vindictive, childish and a foulmouthed politico.
I always knew Cong. Spines to be a decent, seasoned and fair politico. To this day, he never had to intimidate me or insult me for my commentaries adverse to his decisions. But his paid hacks are now telling me Eva and the rest of professional media practitioners out here that he is no better than his jukebox operators.
Worse, being incompetent black propa operators, they don’t seem to realize that all these attempts at discrediting and maligning the persons of responsible and ethical journalists ostensibly “to protect” the agenda of their political patrons, they actually only make their bosses the primary suspects for police investigations should anything violent happen to the journalists.
They just succeeded in making Cong. Spines a primary suspect. Tsk-tsk.
But I give Cong. Spines the benefit of the doubt that he’s not behind these vile personal attacks but his vast network should be able to identify these inept operators. If he finds out that these pea-brained operators are actually in his payroll, then he should fire them this instant before they get him further into trouble, completely destroying everything that he worked for as a respectable political leader.
To all amateur political pr operators out there, I say to you – grow up and learn to be professional in your techniques. Bottom line: Know where to draw the line for your bosses’ sakes. To the political bosses – Ang pikon talo!
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WORSENING CHOKE POINTS. The traffic experiment inside the busy business district of Dagupan City must continue, including the use of the installed traffic lights.
The choke points particularly at the intersection of A.B. Fernandez Ave. and Rizal St., and the intersection of Dagupan-San Fabian Road and Paras St. leading to Tondaligan Park have worsened.
Here are unsolicited recommendation from motorists regularly plying the areas:
- Consider making the narrow Rizal St. a one-way street from A.B. Fernandez.
- The narrow Herrero-Perez St. be made a one-way street from Perez Boulevard.
- Vehicles from San Gabriel St. in Bonuan Boquig should not be allowed to turn left on Dagupan –San Fabian Road, instead turn right and make a U-turn in the area of Blue Beach Subdivision.
- Paras St. in Bonuan Gueset should be considered a one-way street from the Dagupan-San Fabian Road.
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Here’s a sincere wish to our PUNCH readers. May you all have meaningful time with your families, remembering why Jesus became man.
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