On press freedom

Throughout the ages, leaders marched up and down the world's stage. Many were unmourned and unsung. Some became heroes. Others became heels. And a few became tyrants.

Who categorized them? The press from whose accounts history was written.

Name them, Idi Amin of Uganda, Francois "Papa Doc" Duvalier of Haiti, Juan Peron of Argentina, and Marcos... They supressed press freedom.

* * *

I sympathize with President Arroyo. I have always supported strong leadership. Except for just one thing, her administration is corrupt and graft ridden. If only she can fire those corrupt, not just in press releases, she'll surely come out a hero. She pretends to be strong. But if she cannot check corruption, then she is weak. Her ranting against media is okay with me as long as she does not go beyond those big words. And that she withdraws 1017 as soon as possible.

Randy David and Cito Beltran were "arrested" but were soon released. This could have been done even without 1017. But understandably 1017 was announced for some purpose. Arresting leftist leaders? Wrong! With many leftists joining the opposition people will keep distance from them. People are more afraid of the Communists than Arroyo.

* * *

The President should have never threatened media. If media people were not afraid with nearly 100 of them killed since 1986, how can they be afraid of arrests? They enjoy the threats. Even the arrests.

PNP Chief General Arturo Lomibao wanted the press to follow the government "standard". What is that? We will follow our own standard.

But we grant Lomibao the right to say that. Acoustics war is always interesting.

Former President Aquino is still focused on her call for GMA to resign. Former President Ramos also said 1017 killed the spirit of Edsa and added that his support of GMA is waning, waning, waning.

If the President does not act to avert the trend, she might not be around to celebrate the 21st anniversary of Edsa. I want her to stay but first she must fire the notoriously corrupt in her government.

* * *

I got calls from abroad asking what was happening here. I always answered, they had the latest news than we have in the provinces. International news agencies, especially CNN and BBC had the latest news.

Romy Niere from Austin, Texas called me up five times and the latest was Saturday evening. I said the President should be warned but I was not worried.

I looked at 1017 as a desperate move to stop the massing of people at Edsa reminiscent of 1986 with Cory Aquino leading. A survival move.

But I said I was confident after Saturday it would be withdrawn, the latest is today.

But on interviews with local media and later the Manila media, I gave a warning that threats do not work on media. On the contrary, it would solidify and strengthen media and they will fight back.

Media has fought many battles and wars and some got killed but in the end press freedom won.

* * *

Progressive countries continue to be progressive because of an independent media which, while it gives poison, it also gives antidote.

An enslaved media cannot do this.

People are afraid of a licentious press. There's no reason to be, wrote Charles Colton on the Anthology of a Free Press:

"A licentious press may be an evil, an enslaved press must be so. For an enslaved press may cause error to be more current than wisdom, and wrong more powerful than right.

"A licentious press cannot affect these things for while it gives the poison, it also gives the antidote with which an enslaved press withholds."

The acceptance by government of a dissident press is a measure of the maturity of the nation.

In 1802 "The Salem Register" had its maiden issue. I like this poetic motto on its masthead. "Here shall the Press the People's right maintain,/ Unawed by influence and unbribed by gain; Here patriot Truth her glorious precepts draw,/ Pledged to Religion, Liberty, and the law."

I know President Arroyo will soon withdraw, if she has not yet done so, her State of Emergency declaration.

And this will be the triumph of the press.

* * *

The common reaction to an issue of deputy traffic enforcers was the same, "What is that? I have not heard of that." And this was the reaction of no less than Bacolod PNP Director Col. Pete Merced and local NBI chief lawyer Philip Pecache.

If there are still these so-called deputy traffic enforcers, the police must arrest them. I am happy, too, to hear from Col. Merced he will rationalize and put under his control the operation of tricycles in Bacolod. This needs some political will. For sure, they will go to politicians. But we'll support Merced not the politicians.*

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