The anti-wiretapping case against broadcaster Che-Che Lazaro is nothing but pure and outright harassment. A very blunt act of intimidation. It's not hard to figure out the underlying message in the filing of the libel case: Let this be an example. If we could do it to a Che-Che Lazaro, the Che-Che Lazaro, icon of Philippine media, then we could also do it to anyone of you.
Sad to say, this is really the state of media in the Philippines. While we continue and strive to remain free, invoking our constitutional right to freedom of the press, there is this constant and ever present danger post to anyone who dared question, to anyone who dared to inquire and to anyone who dared to expose.
One thing has to be made clear here. Media will always be adversarial. It's the core role of media. This is the essence of the job. While there are what maybe referred to as Developmental Media, there is and will always be the adversarial media, a sector that questions, investigates, exposes and to a larger extent, influence and inspire political and social changes.
To a certain degree, taking the case now confronted by Che-Che, facing not the usual libel case but a wiretapping case could be the safest form of intimidation. Of course all acts of intimidation are not OK, what I am trying to say is, at least if the judge is not influenced and coerced into deciding in conformity of the intimidation attached to the filing of the case itself, one can still be assured of a legal battle.
The other forms of intimidation we know in the Philippines, especially as far as media is concerned, are in fact more violent---say as violent as death itself.
In many cases, if you are not a big name or if you are not someone who is considered an icon in the industry, say, a reporter in a small provincial radio station or a community newspaper, the odds are, if you dared confront someone powerful and influential, you'll end up dead.
The Philippines remains one of the most dangerous countries for journalist to practice their profession.
The added danger lies in the reality that in a country like the Philippines with blatant corruption issues at all levels of government, media plays a role that is beyond the mere practice of their profession. Media has evolved as the link and the credible ally of the public in the delivery of basis services, an original function of government, and the execution of justice, which is again a function of government.
Public trust now rests in the media and not to those who were elected into public office.
The story in question was about a valid complaint of unpaid pension of public school teachers by the Government Service Insurance Service or GSIS. Instead of acting into the complaint of their very own members, the very people that allows those posted at GSIS to enjoy huge salaries and allowances, GSIS evaded the issue by not granting on-camera interview to the Probe Team, accusing it outright of being biased against them.
It is the duty of GSIS Vice President for Public Relations and Communications Ella Valencerina to answers the questions of anyone, Probe Productions and any journalist who inquired on the matter. This is what she is being paid for. Perhaps Ms. Valencerina needs to be reminded that public relations is not just about a good write up or a positive press release but also about the ills and malfunctions in the agency she represents. This is what public service should be. She cannot chose the types of stories and inquiries to answer. The truth is, she doesn't have a choice but to answer. But of course, she insisted she had a choice and interpreted everything as an assault to her right as a private individual. Duh!!
But you know what, other public relations officers in other agencies of government knew that part of their function is to address both the good and the bad news. Ms. Valencerina should perhaps listen to how Press Secretary Cerge Remonde handles bad news, answering it in a style uniquely his own, that at the end of the interview, while the issue is not really addressed, you still want to congratulate the man for having the will-power to confront the issue against the administration he serves.
Like a true and tested warrior and defender of truth, Che-Che Lazaro will weather this storm. Her colleagues are behind her not because we protect our own. We are behind Che-Che because we knew she did her job and responded to the highest call of public service and public trust.
Go on, intimidate media. But know this: Many will continue battling the media's right for freedom of the press. (end)
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