Soriano to media groups: Keep calm, relax

By LITO RULONA
Correspondent

FORMER vice mayor Antonio Soriano yesterday has this unsolicited advice to media groups outraged by President-elect Rodrigo Duterte’s tirades: “Just keep your calm and relax.”

Soriano, who is now the convenor of the Citizens Watch on Good Governance, said this as different media organizations in the country and abroad issued statements decrying Duterte for blaming the murders of journalists in the country to corruption.

Soriano said media practitioners should understand that Duterte is now undergoing pressures as the President-elect, and media should not be judgmental.

“We have to consider his pressures as the incoming President. Ang iyang gapanghimoun karon has nothing to do with his performance. It has something to do with his performance as mayor of Davao. Kanang iyang gipaabuton nga mas taas nga posisyon mas grabe ang pressure ana,” Soriano told Magnum Radio.

He said Duterte should be given his first 100 days in office. During the period, he said citizens may observe his mannerisms and conduct as President.

“Very premature pa gyud karon to all the press nga mo-boycott sa iyaha,” said Soriano.

The call for a boycott came from the Repoters Sans Frontieres (Reporters Without Borders), a foreign organization of journalists. Many Filipino journalists disagreed with the boycott call.

Soriano said many are aware about the problem on corruption in media especially “in the big television networks” in Metro Manila “although wala kita’y evidence… pero nay gakahitabo ang ‘demand and collect.’”

He said Duterte is even entitled on his attacks and criticisms toward Roman Catholic priests.

“Hulatan ta lang, ayha na kung sitting President na siya. Supportahan ta sa siya. Mag-lumba-lumba lang sa ta,” Soriano said.

“Let’s all sit down and relax lang. After 100 days, unya mao gihapon iyang batasan, that’s another story,” he said.

Duterte Challenge

In Davao City on Thursday, Duterte said he would not apologize for his remarks, dared the media to boycott his activities, and challenged them to “remove the veil of hypocrisy” so that “we can understand each other and live in a democracy that is run by truth and not by vested interest.”

Duterte clarified that while corrupt journalists who are extorting money become the subject of attacks, he also acknowledged that the upright ones also run the risk of getting killed for exposing controversies like corruption.

Apparently irked by reports he was endorsing the killing of journalists, Duterte classified journalists into three categories: the crusaders, mouthpieces, and the lowlife.

“The crusaders are telling the truth, baring it all before the public. Sometimes they hit big business or those who cannot tolerate the truth being exposed in the public. And they do not accept money. What is very important to them is their profession and telling the truth to the whole world,” Duterte said of his first category.

The second class of journalists, according to Duterte, are the “mouthpiece of vested interest (groups). It could be mining–defending the miners. It could be anything, something, which is an agent of whatever and those engaged in business or enterprises which need to be defended and therefore (are) called the publicists and the PROs (press releations officers).

“The third is lowlife of journalists. Ito yung nagba-byahe accepting money from illegal sources, in return keeping their mouth shut and (they) receive money. These are the guys whose greed is unlimited. They are paid now, (they) ask for more. If there’s nothing coming their way, they talk more, they destroy people and family and they die,” he said.

While the protection of life is guaranteed under the Revised Penal Code, he said, “what is written there is not the emotion of a person” and just because there is free speech and free assembly should not be enough reason to disparage one’s honor.

“There are politicians who can accept it and swallow it, not me. That’s why I said I can lose the presidency any time… I can lose my life and honor anytime. I will not die if I don’t become president. I am willing to throw my last card,” he said.

He said all journalists are faced with threats when they married into their profession who invite danger when speaking for the truth.

“If you belong to the first group, the ones that are bona fide journalist, you run the risk when you expose something–corruption and all. It’s like soldiering. You join the army, then there is always a chance when you go out today for a patrol then get into an encounter and you are killed,” he said.

Duterte was unfazed by the call of RSF to boycott his activities.

“I do not want publicity, you know that. It would be good if you disappear. Mag-boycott na kayo. I am urging you make this trip your last in Davao City. I don’t care if nobody is covering (me). You know very well before I ran, nobody knew me or knows my face. I would be content with a camera taking pictures of me… Make it the first in the history of the republic. Do not cover me,” he said. (davao report from antonio colina IV of mindanews)