Since the start of the new year the online journalism outfit Rappler and the Philippine Daily Inquirer have virtually joined forces to determine the national media and political agenda, specifically on the impeachment of Chief Justice Renato Corona.
Both media outlets are free to attempt to do so, but not at the expense of the public who demand a modicum of fairness in their respective reportage of events surrounding Corona’s impeachment.
leaguered Philippine Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona. Pic: AP.
While we do not begrudge them of their right to take editorial positions, methinks both Rappler and the Inquirer should be more fair. It is quite obvious to the readers that they are supportive of the Corona impeachment, whatever their motives may be.
When Rappler recently tweeted an “infographic on the Corona impeachment”, there was never a disclosure that the infographic was purely and exclusively anti-Corona. True, it was an infographic but it was one-sided and should have been identified as such. No subsequent infographic showing Corona’s defense has since been posted.
Both the Rappler and Inquirer appear to swallow – hook, line and sinker – the Aquino administration’s claim that the Corona impeachment seeks to remove the chief justice as a stumbling block to the prosecution of former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. There is no critical reportage whatsoever on the basis of this administration claim.
The public is not served when media outlets that swear to present both the broadest and most substantial reportage on current affairs are wittingly or unwittingly reporting merely on the basis of the say so of the administration or the House prosecutors now appearing before the Senate.
I am writing this because the Aquino administration has been getting away with its gross incompetence and wily responses to demands that it deliver its promises. The biggest failure thus far is the prosecution of Mrs. Arroyo and her cabal. The administration could only show one puny case against Arroyo: That of electoral sabotage, which was abruptly filed purportedly to provide the Aquino administration a legal basis to deny Arroyo’s attempts to flee the country. The various complaints of corruption and human rights violations filed by citizens, those recommended by the Senate and those which could be filed based on the previous impeachment complaints against Arroyo, are all pending in the Office of the Ombudsman, the Department of Justice, and rotting in the files controlled by the impeachment-crazy members of the majority bloc of the House.
For if the Aquino administration is genuinely concerned about Arroyo’s prosecution, it could have mobilized the ruling party and gave marching orders to prosecutors to speed up and priotize the bringing of Arroyo before the courts. The House itself, especially the justice committee of Rep. Niel Tupas, has in its possession boxes upon boxes of documents pertaining to the criminal acts of Arroyo which were the basis of impeachment complaints against her in the past. We see nothing moving towards the judicial system from either Padre Faura, Commonwealth or the Batasang Pambansa.
Rappler and the Inquirer could argue to the heavens that such views may be too political. Or maybe too political as to put the Aquino administration to shame. But that’s part of the job expected by the public from journalists, to check administration claims, to hold it accountable to its own campaign promises, and to check whether the public’s minimum expectations that Arroyo is prosecuted are being met.
The least Rappler and the Inquirer could do is to insert in their hectic Corona impeachment coverage special, in-depth reports on what has transpired since Aquino assumed office insofar as Arroyo’s prosecution is concerned. What is the status of each citizen complaint filed with the Ombudsman, DOJ and other government entities? What has the Liberal Party done to the many pieces of evidence it has in its possession and control that could make and win cases against Arroyo.
I think more people would support the impeachment of Corona if there is ample proof that he indeed is a threat to Arroyo’s prosecution. As things stand, all that the Aquino administration has done is to waste precious time and file the flimsiest of charges against Arroyo.
Which brings us the role played wittingly and unwittingly by the Rappler and the Inquirer: The laser-like, lopsided focus on Corona has allowed Aquino get away with the ultimate offense: letting Arroyo get away sans prosecution.
