Just a little bit of fairness
IF you have been following the news lately, a leading broadcast network said a homegrown church, Iglesia ni Cristo (INC), was alleged to have called for a boycott of the “family” network for its “biased reporting.”
The tiniest incidents involving the INC’s internal affairs have purportedly been blown out of proportion, making every move of expelled members Menorca, Samson, Manalo- Hemedez, et. al., worthy of coverage and airtime.
The INC has clarified it hasn’t issued any official boycott orders because it couldn’t prevent individual members from expressing their displeasure about the one- sided reporting through social media.
Should the INC be defensive and apologetic about the boycott? No. It’s a private religious organization with its own set of rules and accountability to members.
Whether it authorizes a boycott or not is its own choice, and should not be judged negatively for it.
Is the “family” network’s reporting biased and unfair? The facts: Menorca and company have repeatedly made premeditated, preplanned efforts to forcibly enter the INC compound in Tandang Sora. The “family” network’s crews and ex- military personnel are always in tow.
Do these former INC members have a right to be allowed inside? Of course not. They’re already expelled. They filed strings of cases against the INC leadership. The last thing Menorca, et. al., should expect is a red carpet welcome by the INC. Still, the network has made a big fuss about them being denied entry.
The network often gets exclusive access to press conferences of these “tiwalag” members. The smallest complaints are made national news. It eagerly reported Menorca’s “plan” to file charges against PNP officers serving validly- issued warrant of arrest.
The network has kept mum about Menorca and company’s criminal complaints against the INC having been dismissed by the Justice Department for being baseless.
The broadcast network wouldn’t of course publicly reveal if it’s aiding an obvious demolition job against the INC by disgruntled ex-members and its financiers.
The least it should do is to show some semblance of fairness. Both sides should be allowed to air their sides.