Standoff ebbs, but
situation still precarious

In a way, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is correct - the crisis situation is not yet over. It bears watchful waiting, and vigilance.

But the problem is that the state of emergency declaration may just have aggravated the situation instead of easing it. True, the standoff at the Marine Headquarters had been resolved. But the ramblings of discontent in the Armed Forces of the Philippines had been exposed as "true" and not just speculations or rumors by the Press.

Col. Ariel Querubin, a Marine brigade commander, may have lapsed into silence on orders of his direct superiors. But it does seem that the order for his arrest had not been served. Perhaps, because he is highly honored among the ranks of the Brigade.

And those reportedly being eyed for arrest are some of the top political leaders of the country.

But there are others whom one could not imagine to be in that thing with the destabilization plot against the government or the Arroyo administration. I suspect that what the administration did was a panic reaction. Not a very well thought out preemptive move.

For example, there is the order to assure that private media organizations adhere to the standards of coverage of the news and editorials of the government. But even PNP chief Arturo Lomibao never provided media establishments the guidelines nor the standards which editors, news managers, etc. have to follow.

Apparently, such as open-ended and motherhood statements are bound to create a backlash. As it already did with the raid on The Daily Tribune.

Now, even that seemed more a warning gesture to other widely circulated periodicals, including the Philippine Daily Inquirer. And the worst thing is that the government seems to have failed in providing the necessary supervisory personnel for media organizations and establishments. Imagine a mere lieutenant reviewing the output of an editor or a reporter!

There was a suggestion asking the Philippine Information Agency personnel to do the chore. But that was an afterthought. Even then, the question arises - what do these government personnel possess versus the collective wisdom and experience of journalistic veterans?

What could happen is thought control imposed on editors and reporters. Shades of Martial Law!

Frankly, I was one of those invited to join the Mass Media Council then under the late Primitivo Mijares. But I resigned soon because I knew it was impossible to ride herd over media practitioners.

Journalistic ethics had been devised by mediamen after a prolonged period of time. Most of these have been enshrined in the consciousness of journalists that it had become a second habit with them.

Thus, except for the very few who are abusive or reckless, the country's journalists are professionals and adhere strictly to the code of ethics drawn up for them and by them with the Philippine Press Institute.

Thus professional journalists hardly find themselves subjected to libel suits. The reason - most of them are fair and comment on vital matters responsibly. Others, of course, engage in advocacy journalism. But then the readers, themselves, decide which ones to read or listen to.

The final test of a journalist is credibility. Neither style nor technique is the gauge. It is whether one is respected because he is considered fair or trustworthy.

But the point of the current debate is simple. Who judges the worth of the free speech provision of the Constitution? Or, for that matter, can an ordinary officer pretend to know more about journalism than the professional journalists?

As earlier pointed out by Primo Esleyer, government bureaucrats are interested only in the thinking of government. So, how can we expect them to be able to rightly put their fingers on public opinion. What constitutes destabilization or threats to national security? I think many journalists actually are more patriotic than even the outstanding political leaders of the country, many of whom raid the national treasury for money supposed to be for the people.

That is why the most common talk about journalism - it is a profession that only gives you back a little. That's the reason why so many taking up mass media or communication tend to gravitate toward advertising, PR, or even broadcasting or other media of communication, or entertainment.

Control or supervision of the press is one thing the government should never attempt to enter. It is a pitfall that can earn the Arroyo administration flak, which it is already reaping.*

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