Recent examples: CFR bomb case; SC ruling on Sereno
[] Related Media’s Public columns: “Let’s make Bomb Joke Law clear. Seriously” (Sept. 12, 2016); “They’re Joking. It’s not a Bomb Joke Law” (Sept. 10, 2016)
THE news coverage that amply exemplifies an alleged failure of media to follow up is that of the so-called “bomb” hoax reported by Facebook “news site” Cebu Flash Report (CFR).
Last July 4, 2017, CFR reported that a bomb was placed near a store in Basak, Lapu-Lapu City. It was not true; the “bomb” turned out to be a cassette recorder. The panic caused by the “story,” resulting in deployment of police, led to a clamor to sue those managing the website.
Three regional police agencies, including the anti-cybercrime division, and the Lapu-Lapu police were tapped to investigate.
What we read
Last thing published about the case: the Lapu-Lapu prosecutor was drafting the complaint which was to be sent to the Lapu-Lapu City Council (the would-be complainant); the police knew who were involved in publishing the false information; Mayor Paz Radaza and other officials wanted the “perps” sued.
Also related to the case were the reports that (1) then region police chief Jose Ma. Espina on Nov. 10, 2017 assured a group of beat reporters that the complaint would be filed; and (2) Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque during a Cebu visit last May 10 assured the same group of beat reporters he’d inquire from then PNP chief Ronald de la Rosa why police had not filed the complaint against CFR.
Sources
There are specific sources where the followup reporting may be made: the Lapu-Lapu prosecutor, the city police, the mayor’s office and the City Council. There must be documents that can tell reporters why the complaint has not been filed and, if it’s already filed, as a CFR post said they had appeared before prosecutors, what’s stalling the case.
An interesting aspect of the case is whether Presidential Decree 1727 or the Bomb Joke Law would apply to the CFR incident. There’s no showing in the CFR report that there was “wilfull dissemination” or “malicious threat” to kill, injure or destroy property with a bomb.