Fight, Ninez, Fight!

Dear Ninez:
When I was the National Security Adviser of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo from February 19, 2001 to January 5, 2004, I was a frequent subject of your vitriol and diatribes through your columns, editorials and even news articles.

I took it in stride, never accosted your Malacanang reporter, jousted with him every now and then using humor, never wrote you to complain and never threatened to sue even if at times I thought the attacks became personal and unfair.

I thought your opinions and your very critical newspaper were part of the democratic system, a necessary component of democracy and I just happened to be in the line of fire because of the position I held.

1017, a morphed 1081 (the accident of numbers, i.e., only one digit differentiates 1017 from 1081, betrays the draconian intent of 1017), is an assault on the democratic space that I hold dear. And I condemn even the existence of a policeman's shadow as a fixture in or near your office.

I condemn the statement of PNP Chief Lomibao, as reported in the papers, that the PNP "would take over any media organization that would not follow 'standards set by the government' during the state of national emergency" and that "the standards are if they would contribute to instability in the government... we will recommend a takeover."

The police has no business censoring and overseeing media in a democratic country, not to mention it has no competence to decide what is good for the country's stability beyond its basic peace and order role.

For example, if a group of voracious public officials raid the fertilizer fund or a few lucky AFP generals gobble up millions of AFP money through conversion or if Garci conspires with the President to steal the elections and these are reported by media, the ensuing public outrage and resulting instability cannot be blamed on media but on the dishonest officials. The PNP should run after them, not the messenger. Those corrupt bunch are the real destabilizers, not those reporting on them or investigating them.

I would agree that the ground rules are different when it comes to reporting on sensitive military matters like troop movement and classified plans.

On general news items, if a newspaper errs in its reports, the recourse is not censorship or closure but to take the case to court... the very exact words that Malacanang has for those complaining about 1017.

I join you in your fight for press freedom, in the halls of Congress and in every arena guaranteed by our Constitution.

Thank you.

ROILO GOLEZ