The editorial in Freeman today, 20 February 2015, is indefensible.
In a meeting with the press last Tuesday, 17 February 2015, I said "if they insist on what they want nga dunay caretaker government, mao na nga dunay constitutional crisis nga mahitabo. We have a duly elected president, vice president, duly elected officials, senators, congressmen, and local officials. Unsa may purpose sa caretaker government and number two, kinsa may ibutang nila sa caretaker government. Who are the personalities?"
The next day, The Freeman reported that "Davide opined that (the) creation of a caretaker government will only provoke a constitutional crisis." SunStar reported that "He (referring to me) said if the group insists on the creation of a caretaker government, a constitutional crisis will arise." Cebu Daily News' version quotes me asking "who is going to replace the entire government? We have a functioning government, a president and other officials" as my reaction to the creation of a transition group of still unidentified leaders to act as caretakers.
My warnings of a crisis, obviously, involves the resignation of top officials and their replacement by the still unidentified personalities.
The Freeman editorial labored to explain to its readers that "No constitutional crisis will ensue from mere calls for the president's resignation" and that "the constitution itself has made sure of that by providing a constitutional line of succession…" and pointed out that "there is the vice president, for example, ready to take over." And I agree, with a qualification on the third declaration.
The second paragraph of the editorial accuses me of saying "a constitutional crisis could ensue if the calls for Aquino to resign should persist." I could not find any such quote in all three versions of the press conference conducted last Tuesday, the 17th of February. Nor could I find the same in my review of the tapes on what I said in that press conference.
I continue to respect media freedom to enlighten its clientele. I would suggest, however, a bit more care on attributions and a bit more respect for the prestige of the paper that previous officers carefully built.