The offensive defense or low blows from low lifes

Malacanang Palace must be missing the services of former Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez.

Ever since Gonzalez was put out to pasture, President Arroyo has become the target of never ending criticisms and attacks. In fact things have become so bad that even guys like me are beginning to get an OD or overdose on the exposés and anti-Gloria rhetoric.

It is clear that Malacanang is experiencing a season of media crisis where they end up stepping on land mines one after the other. The prevailing mindset in Malacanang is that they can have their cake and eat it too.

They go on international trips even against public sentiment, they eat out at a cost of $20,000 and are indignant at the public indignation, they post a statement of assets that many financial wizards find unbelievable and can’t believe why so many questions are being raised about their wealth.

In the past, Malacañang had enough people to deal with nine years of the typical mess.

They had Sec. Raul Gonzalez as the “Martyr of Malacanang”, a man who would step in front of the firing squad or a willing lightning rod or defender of the fake. What made him particularly effective was that he did not really try to justify or infuse morality into the debate. In the absence of such, what would have been the point?

Sec. Gonzalez simply made statements that were certain to piss off somebody or a sector and he would stand his ground as stoic as granite. While everyone was busy attacking him, Malacañang conveniently steps away from the fray to screw up another day.

In recent history, Malacanang was fortunate enough to have the likes of Lorelei Fajardo, Anthony Golez and Gary Olivar. Fajardo has proved to be a vital asset for her disarming ability to deal with issues. Golez has had his good days and his bad days, but what works for Golez is that he does not come across as someone so desperate or willing to tell a lie. Olivar on the other hand, does his homework and knows what battles to fight.

For some strange reason, the Three Musketeers have been pigeon-holed or must be away on vacation, because very little has been heard from them compared to the very public performances of Secretary Cerge Remonde, who unfortunately regularly gets himself shot down at by his former comrades in media.

I sympathize with Secretary Remonde knowing he is doing his best when truth, fairness, and common decency have gone out the window. But that in itself is not license to lay blame or pick a fight. Remonde is a fighter at heart and he knows the true character of some media people enough to be indignant at their hypocrisy.

This unfortunately is also his bad card.

Remonde would save himself the grief by letting the Three Musketeers deal with the scrimmage because at the end of the day, it is not personal for any of them. In the case of Secretary Remonde, the mere fact that he knows the devil he deals with, already makes him their enemy.

The people in Malacañang should also avoid using others or pointing to others in order to redirect public or political criticisms. Don’t use the threat of a hospital holiday as a distraction for your New York holiday. Don’t blame PHAP for what PHAP plans to do, if you don’t know the distinction between the PHAP, which is the Private Hospitals Association of the Philippines, and the PHAP that is the association of pharmaceuticals in the Philippines.

Likewise, don’t send your lawyers to take care of your public affairs issue in the court of public opinion where you are least popular if not the most unpopular.

Veteran broadcaster Mike Enriquez gave a lot of play time to the sound byte of Presidential lawyer Romy “Mac” Macalintal and Lakas-Kampi-CMD-etc, deputy secretary general Reggie Velasco who were obviously responding to the media treatment of the $20,000 Le Cirque dinner and the Bingo Bonanza Jackpot profit that the Arroyos made playing the stock market.

Atty. Romy “Mac” gave a major contribution to the school of public relations by giving us a classic example and material to show students on “what not to say or do to the media”.

Romy Mac tried to turn the tables on media in general and asked the reporters present if they were any better, or more righteous than his clients who were being crucified for eating at Le Cirque and making a lot of money. He even went further to add: what about media who make millions as well, are they not tainted as well (translated from Tagalog to English).

In a full circle, his tactic now looks like an accidental admission that his clients are no angels either. Ooops!

Velasco’s sound byte on the other hand called for balance or fairness by suggesting that media should also make mention of a certain politician who used to drink P50,000 per bottle wines.

This strategy unfortunately belongs to the school of low blows from low lifes.

 In the court of public opinion, one either answers the issues or avoids them completely. It would also be folly to think that by starting another war with the media, the President’s apologists can actually distract or lead the media to something different to pick on. The first mistake is to answer a question that cannot be answered or give an answer no one will believe. The second mistake is to even try. The third mistake is to actually believe you can get away with it.

Just remember the other unwritten commandments:

A) Thou shall not get caught B) Thou shall not push thy luck.