The Role of Media

In crises like where we are now, the importance of mass media properly doing its job can easily be realized. In fact, it can be seen that if mass media is performing its role, "People Power" is not needed in a country where there is freedom of the press. If press can be one in denouncing what is wrong, and when they denounce such wrongs consistently and strongly, even the thickest-faced politicians will be put to their proper place (shame or prison).

On the other hand, when media is made a vehicle of propaganda, the only recourse available to people who are disgusted by what's happening in the country is to voice the issues themselves by literally shouting and joining mass actions on the streets. Such is what happened during the Estrada Impeachment (the successful EDSA II). Unfortunately, wrongdoers and their propagandists now learned that they can also launch their own mass actions by paying and feeding some people to join, even if where surely those paid rallyists do not have any clear issue to voice out. Therefore, "People Power" is not anymore the miracle that it used to be.

EDSA II is proof that there is something wrong with our mass media. The lack of professionalism in our mass media is the one main reason why our country cannot move forward and why we now look ridiculous to the eyes of the world.

As an example, let us look at what is happening in the country right now.

Everyone knows that there was a supposed wiretapped conversation between PGMA and Garcillano which condones (to put it most conservatively) cheating in the 2004 elections. A former lawyer of Joseph Estrada, Atty. Paguia claimed that he has this recording while the Presidential spokesperson Bunye admitted its existense (and more) to somehow preempt moves by Atty. Paguia or his group. Meanwhile more recently, an on-leave NBI official (Sammy Ong) said he has the complete 3-hour recording of the same (which is now available in the internet such as in the PCIJ blog), and that he is with a certain Sgt. Noble, an agent from ISAFP (intelligence arm of the AFP) who is supposedly the source of the recordings.

Now, what should have the media done? Obviously, media should have first evaluated the recordings. They should have checked the veracity and authenticity of its contents. They should have verified the identities of the voices in the recordings and have studied whether these recordings are tampered to benefit a certain theory or not. When convinced that the recordings where true and accurate, the media should then broadcast their findings to the world and denounce the wrongdoings exposed by it, denounce up to a point where the wrong doers cannot hear anything else but calls for their resignation (or imprisonment).

Of course, mass media in the Philippines do not have the tenacity to do this. They are not used to doing proper work and diligence. Instead they first speculate on what will happen to the country, or with whom the Vice President would side, or will there be People Power, etc. Then they get opinions from parties with obvious agendas other than the truth and from parties that do not have any credibility as far as the issues are concerned (i.e. we do not need to hear any condescending interview with Cong. Chiz Escudero or Sec. Bunye, for everyone knows already what they have to say). Then they discuss at length the contents of the recordings which are yet to be verified, they assume some things, and compose theories somewhat akin to the link between man and monkey. Mass media gossip and theorize with gusto but without any kind of direction. In short, they became the big black elephant in the circus rode on by circus masters and chimps in colorful costumes. They turn the events into a joke. Never mind the country deep in muck, muck created by those same circus characters.

I clearly know what is happening in the country, what our mass media has done to it and where we are headed. Sadly however, I do not know how to save it from its continuing downward spiral path. I only hope and pray that sometime soon, someone will rise from somewhere, someone who knows the cure and lead our country back to decency.

Nonsense until we confirm it is real

Everyone knows by now that there is an audio recording (downloadable even from different sites in the internet such as in the PCIJ blog and the PDI website) of a supposed wiretapped conversation between Comelec Commisioner Garcillano and PGMA, talking about their dag-dag/bawas or vote-shaving operations during the last election. Of course, everyone also knows what it means if the conversations are proven true - that the resignation of PGMA is the only honorable thing to do.

But unless we prove to ourselves that the audio recording were indeed true and accurate, then we are talking a lot of nonsense here.

PCIJ's Shiela Coronel and Alecks Pabico wouldn't even confirm if they think the voices were from Garcillano (it is easy to identify PGMA's voice). I am sure they are familiar with the Comelec Commissioner and they could at least easily identify his voice. Instead, they post articles in their blogsite about how bad Garcillano really is. The reasoning escapes me. With their lack of capability to authenticate the recordings, are they trying to defend it by just saying that the people indeed are bad and so the recordings must be true? I am sure that at this time, they are trying to figure out how to authenticate the recordings, but in the meantime, they jump in the bandwagon by being in the heat of things.

One source of comfort is a piece by Solita Monsod in the PDI where she seems to be sure that the voice is Garcillano's. She said:

...Certainly, before any conclusions can be made, the voices must be identified. Why such a simple thing as getting voiceprints hasn't been done by either side arouses suspicions against both...

...The female voice sounds like Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. I can't place the male voice in A, but the D male voice, I am certain, belongs to Garcillano....

That is one piece of information we need, especially coming from someone with credibility. Had she said otherwise, then there is no use for all of us talking about authenticating the recordings, or proceed with whatever, is there?

The next step now is to formally get the confirmation that the voices are really from the purported persons and then to authenticate the recordings. Determine whether it is doctored or spliced. I am not a techie guy but my gut feel is that all these can also be easily done. Of course authentications made by oppositionists including Lacson do not count. Of course, the media should have spearheaded these moves, but I am not surprised they have not done so.

And these should be done, before we even ask PGMA to resign, or speculate what will happen to her or our country, or whose side the Vice President is on... the kinds of talk that get us nowhere but the country losing credibility in the eyes of the civilized world.