Cong Corrales .
“And when the band plays ‘Hail to the chief.’ Ooh, they point the cannon at you, Lord.” — Fortunate Son, Creedence Clearwater Revival
FUNNY how the sparkling new Armed Forces chief of staff has just admitted to red tagging us journos because of our bias to the truth and actual reality. It is nice to know that the he is folding like a cheap suit without actually needing to. However, the thought that he has trained its cross-hairs towards us is disconcerting.
Late last week, CNN-Philippines quoted newly appointed Armed Forces chief of staff Lt. Gen. Noel Clement advised journalists to avoid showing their “biases” towards the armed communist insurgents.
He was quoted as saying that journalists who have the tendency to “favor” the enemy than the state forces will most likely get red-tagged.
“Red tagging is a very strong word to be used actually kung sasabihin mo na may article kang isulat then automatic ire-red tag ka na agad,” CNN-Philippines quoted Clement as saying.
Please don’t get me wrong. This is not something new to us. The state forces have been red tagging journalists, rights defenders, and even sitting lawmakers. The secretary of defense himself has said something to that effect. Earlier, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana challenged the Makabayan lawmakers, a minority bloc at the Lower House, to condemn the communist movement so that the red tagging will stop.
However, as a red-tagged journalist, how can I denounce something I have never been a part of?
As journalists, our role in society is quite well-defined. We are the fourth estate — our mandate is to inform the citizens of the republic for the latter to arrive at intelligent and well-informed decisions. This means that we cannot just take only your side of the story, hook, line, and sinker. Doing so will negate that mandate.
We are not stenographers of events. As journalists, we present the facts whether or not we like or agree with those facts. Objective reporting is meant to portray issues and events in a neutral and unbiased manner, regardless of the writer’s opinion or personal beliefs.
Freedom of the press cannot operate on a culture of fear, Sir.
How can we practice our profession when you have blurred the distinction between an unarmed civilian — which you have sworn to protect, by the way — and an armed guerrilla? Pfft.
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