Palace appeals to media for fair reporting

Malacañang appealed yesterday for "fair and objective reporting" by the media in the wake of fresh coup attempts against President Arroyo.

Palace officials made the appeal but refused to soften its controversial efforts to clamp down on critical media outfits.

In separate statements, Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita and Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez maintained the right of the government to utilize all legal means to clamp down on media entities reporting seditious statements.

"I think we should be concerned in our reporting on what should be good for the country and not just make news that would be alarming to the people just because there are more news that can come out of bad news," Ermita said.

"I hope that media can contribute to bringing the country back to normalcy," he said.

Ermita joined Gonzalez in lashing at some television stations, which they said, had chosen to report and focus on the moves by disgruntled elements from the military during the height of the failed coup attempt last week.

Both officials noted the television networks highlighted the statements made by Marine Col. Ariel Querubin who had called for people power to protest the relief of their commandant, Maj. Gen. Renato Miranda.

Querubin’s statements triggered hysteria among opposition groups who wanted to seize the opportunity to launch another EDSA-like popular revolution to force Mrs. Arroyo to step down, they said.

Gonzalez claimed some television networks chose to give full coverage to Querubin’s relief as Marine brigade commander by showing him tearfully bidding good-bye to his troops after he was among those accused of participating in the coup plot against the government.

"Why don’t you also report the other side, where soldiers were disciplined and adhered to the chain of command, instead of reporting those who broke away or those threatening government with an armed overthrow?" Ermita said. "Some members of media are not reporting (the) news but out and out propaganda."

"And then we will be hit because we are allegedly clamping on press freedom," he said.

Ermita and Gonzalez said the guidelines released by the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP) are not a form of interference from the government as they emphasize self-regulation.

Ermita said journalists can still interview fugitives from all sides but not to actively, or unwittingly participate, in any moves to overthrow the government.

For his part, Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye pointed to criticisms by media organizations against what they perceived was "an over-reacting presidency" in Proclamation 1017.

"They (media organizations) belabored the point that the crackdown was being undertaken during the week of the EDSA celebration. We maintain that press freedom was never under threat, but due to poisoned politics, the qualities of fairness and sober reporting were," Bunye said.

A number of media firms criticized the President for declaring a state of national emergency under Proclamation 1017, including the crackdown on critical media entities.