A Chilling Message on Press Freedom

Publicly berating a journalist who was simply doing her job, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo once again showed, not just her arrogance and temper, but also her perception of the press: a mere megaphone of her views and programs. It also appears that under the Macapagal-Arroyo government, a journalist who interviews “the other side” now risks being charged with “abetting rebellion.”

BY ROWENA CARRANZA
Bulatlat.com

August 15, Friday, was at first just one of those days for the reporters covering Malacañang. They were in Oriental Mindoro, the last leg of the president’s five-province sortie. While having dinner at the Microtel Inn and Suites in Calapan, Macapagal-Arroyo came over the media table where Tina Panganiban-Perez, a reporter of GMA 7, one of the major media networks in the country, was among those seated. Arroyo was accompanied by Marita Jimenez, presidential adviser on official development assistance project.

According to witnesses, Macapagal-Arroyo reportedly started talking and several times glared at Perez who was unaware at first of the dagger looks being thrown her way.  The president then said that her interview with Honasan, which, the president charged, was conducted while the state of rebellion was still in effect, was “abetting rebellion.”

Perez then tried to explain that the interview was held on August 12, day after the state of rebellion was lifted. But the president cut her off, saying, “No, it was during (the state of rebellion) and that’s abetting rebellion.”

The president said that “assets” informed her that Perez was seen with Honasan.

When Perez explained that she was only doing her job, Arroyo allegedly retorted, “Really?”

When the reporter said that the GMA 7 management gave approval for the interview, Arroyo reportedly said, “We’ll just check with your management” and then instructed Jimenez to contact the station.

All accounts of the incident by major dailies – Philippine Daily Inquirer, Today, Malaya, and Daily Tribune – noted the arrogant manner of the president

Threats to press freedom

The incident was not just an exhibition of presidential temper which is nothing new to Malacañang reporters.

What was infinitely more dangerous was the implication that reporters are being surveilled by military intelligence agents

Secondly, no less than the head of state herself threatened that journalists who interview perceived “enemies” of the government are “abetting rebellion” and could therefore be charged as such.

It appears that the president believes the media should only publish the official views of the government.

Administration officials have repeatedly warned against “glamorizing” the mutineers and have in fact forbidden them from being interviewed by media.

Panganiban-Perez was the first to interview Honasan after the latter went into hiding after he was accused by Malacanang as one of the mutineers’ leaders. Honasan allegedly took part in a blood compact with the junior military officers before the failed mutiny.

Apparently recognizing how the incident placed the president and the entire government in a bad light with regards press freedom, the president’s apologists were anxiously mobilized to mend the rip.

Rigoberto Tiglao, the president’s chief of staff and himself a former newsman, dramatically declared, “I will be the first to protest any form of curtailment of the legitimate freedom of the press.”

Press Secretary Milton Saludo, a former GMA 7 executive, attempted to excuse the unpresidentiable action by saying, “The government is resolved to uphold the freedom of the press. At the same time, we are also foresworn to uphold national security.” 

Condemnation

Rightfully so, the incident was condemned by members of media.

Inday Espina-Varona, vice president of the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP), a nationwide association of media practitioners, said, “Journalists are duty bound to print/air views of all parties in a controversy. One does not build a strong republic by imposing prior restraint on media. The only thing that censorship advances is tyranny.”

Ely Saludar, head of the Malacañang Press Corps and reporter of the Radio Mindanao Network, said the incident “sends a chilling effect on press freedom.”

The Media for Peace, a network of journalists who signed a petition against the U.S. war, also expressed alarm. “Monitoring the movements of journalists brings us back to the dark days of martial law,” it said in a statement.

Lastly but very importantly, the incident has brought to the fore an ominous question: Is the “strong republic” so weak that the president worries over a mere media interview of its opponent, making her lash out at a hapless reporter?  Bulatlat.com

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