Press under threat

THE House leadership and its members may have just reacted to public criticisms of their favored mode of changing the Constitution and its dreaded ramification on our cherished social institution, but their over-reaction simply demonstrated their bravado to promote their naked self interests and trample with impunity on the others’ right to disagree.

Understandably, media is one of the targets of their demolition drive. Recently, House Deputy Speaker and Capiz Rep. Fredenil Castro proposed to amend Section 3, Article 4 of the Constitution’s Bill of Rights to read as follows: “No law shall be passed abridging the responsible exercise of the freedom of speech, of expression or of the press, or the right of the people to peaceably assemble and petition the government for redress of grievances.”

This seemingly innocent overture, however, coming at a time when fake news keep flooding the social media, will effectively curtain Press Freedom and related forms of expression deemed vital in a democracy. It reflects some of the legislators’ lack of appreciation of the more urgent need to further strengthen the press, the so-called ‘fourth estate.’

In a country where journalistic bravado often invite murder of media practitioners, the incisive written or broadcast commentaries should be deemed as reflections or symptoms of ails in a corrupted social order.

The media, in general, serve as an independent watchdog, divorced from the partisan intentions often associated with individuals, usually politicos, known to use their clout and bureaucratic authority as tools in abusing the very same people they are sworn to serve.

While there are also rotten media personalities who employ their license in maligning people and imputing evil on innocent parties, such distortion cannot be invoked as basis to weaken press freedom and related institutions.

Under our present laws, legitimate journalists convicted of libel are considered criminals. Conversely, politicos who commit multiple libels for their malicious commentaries only get a slap on the wrist, paying fines of only a few thousand pesos.

Media is not about the abuse of a privilege to expose the venalities of those in power. The key mission of the press is to inform the people of what transpires around them, especially matters affecting guaranteed liberties and the threats to democratic institutions.

Like everyone else, journalists are not saints. Doubtless, however, unlike many congressmen, most media people are more circumspect.