After PRRD hurled invectives at Inquirer and ABS-CBN, National Union of Journalists of the Philippines Secretary General Dabet Panelo made a statement calling the President “bastos” and a “petty tyrrant” while promising that they will continue to report the “truth”.
For me, this only shows the arrogance of mainstream media and justifies the need to change the definition of journalism in the Philippines. The same arrogance that caused the indefinite suspension of Mocha because some Yellows hiding under the cloak of media practitioners used their KBP badge and prevented Mocha from speaking her mind.
Mr. Panelo, hindi porke’t nagmumura kami ay bastos na. That is hypocritical and worst, fallacious. There are so many “disente” and prim individuals that do not curse pero ambabastos nila. Andaming politiko na nasanay sa talumpating magalang pero bastos kung magnakaw sa bayan. Andaming media practitioners na angkop at disente ang pananalita pero bastos dahil sinungaling at bayaran. Andaming banal kung umasta pero bastos dahil ganid sa tawag ng laman at kahayukan.
Nagmumura si President Duterte dahil galit siya. Nagmumura ang pangulo dahil hindi siya plastic. At higit sa lahat, nagmumura ang pangulo dahil binigyan namin siya ng pahintulot murahin ang bulok sa lipunan. AT KASAMA KAYO SA BULOK NA DAPAT MURAHIN.
The NUJP should be aware that when they called President Duterte “bastos”, it is calling the 16 million Filipinos who voted for him “bastos” as well. So, I am asking all those who voted for the President to put the NUJP in its proper place.
“Putang-ina niyo, you are not above the President because he has the support of the people. So you have no right to speak to our constitutionally-elected President in such manner because we elected him and gave him the right to be bastos to the ills of this society, you included. We did not give you the mandate to be disrespectful and untruthful. Hence, your arrogance deserves our wrath.
The reason why people rely on social media bloggers like me for information is not the President’s doing. It is an indication that mainstream media and journalistm in general have lost its credibility. But instead of self-introspection, the NUJP resorts to self-denial and ad hominem attacks. Hence, this should be the impetus to call out for an overhaul in the regulation of the Fourth Estate.
The Filipino people gave media the power to inform and influence. It did not include the right to be arrogant to the Filipino people.
(c) By: Atty. Bruce Rivera
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