This story
was taken from Bulatlat, the Philippines's alternative weekly
newsmagazine (www.bulatlat.com, www.bulatlat.net, www.bulatlat.org).
Vol. V, No. 14, May 15-21, 2005
Negros Media Slam Mike Arroyo
Jose
Miguel Arroyo, husband of the President, sent Negros journalists in uproar after
he was inducted as honorary member of the Negros Press Club despite being a
non-media person and making remarks that undermine press freedom. BY
Karl G. Ombion
Bacolod City – Negros journalists
belonging to the Negros Media Council for Press Freedom (NMCPF) hit Jose
Miguel Arroyo’s “divide-and-rule tactics” and “anti-media” position. Arroyo,
husband of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, earlier told members of the Negros
Press Club (NPC) that he is glad that there’s not much killing among Negros
media because they are responsible and adhere to the rules and ethics of
journalism. He was the guest speaker
when the Negros Press Club held its induction ceremony on May 4 in Bacolod. Edgar Cadagat, NMCPF
secretary-general, scored Arroyo in a press statement. He said, “In an obvious
move to flatter the local media, (Arroyo) implied that the Negros media were
better than their national counterparts, and urged them to tell Manila-based
journalists to be truthful in their reportage. Unfortunately, he used the
flattery as a springboard to mount an attack against local mediamen’s colleagues
– something which smacks of divide and rule tactic.” In addition, Jaime Espina,
NPC secretary and Today reporter, said “the implications of speech are
wide ranging and chilling. It not only reinforces attacks against the media
practitioners but promote a culture of competition, division, intrigues and
violence.” Espina called Arroyo’s statement “grossly irresponsible.” Ranie Azue, chairman of
Liga Journalista, agreed with his colleagues saying, “Arroyo has only added
insult to injury, especially in the current climate that media practitioners
nationwide are under siege from the forces of anti-press freedom.” Acerbic
tirades Cadagat said that Arroyo’s
“acerbic tirades against national journalists were evidently triggered by what
he said were untruthful reporting citing as examples his supposed stay in a
$20,000 suite in Las Vegas and the alleged jueteng pay-offs he and immediate
members of his family are getting from gambling lords nationwide.” Meanwhile, three NPC
officers – Arman Toga, vice president; Jaime Espina, secretary; and Henry
Cestina, director – tendered irrevocable resignations May 9 in protest over what
they called the “serious damage to the integrity and honor of the NPC by the
unwarranted and undeserved induction of FG Mike Arroyo as a member of the
organization” and “the refusal of NPC President Primo Esleyer to rectify this
grievous error.” In their resignation
letter, the three said, “We cannot abide serving under a leadership that
wantonly violates the NPC rules and tradition and refuses to publicly correct a
mistake that has put the Club’s integrity and honor in question, both to its
members, the Philippine media community and the general public, whom we, as
journalists, serve.” The three also said that
“while we respect Arroyo’s right to free expression, as FG and husband of a
President under whose watch the number of murdered journalists is reaching
record numbers – 23 since her ascencion to power in 2001 – 13 last year, and
five this year alone – the implication in his speech that our murdered
colleagues deserved their fates was not only irresponsible, but reinforces the
culture of impunity and violence that has led to this sorry state. How can we
reward him with membership in the Club?” they asked. Short-lived membership Meanwhile, Arroyo formally
tendered resignation last week, three days after his controversial induction.
“I regret that I had been
misunderstood by some members of the organization but I would like to assure
that it was never my intention to hurt the feelings of anyone,” Arroyo said.
Bulatlat © 2004 Bulatlat
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3 NPC officers resign in protest over Arroyo’s membership
Bulatlat