THE NATIONAL Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) slammed
yesterday plans by the Armed Forces of the Philippines to embed
troops among media organizations, calling this "a heavy-handed
attempt at news management and the latest sign of the constriction
of democratic space in the country."
In letters to AFP Chief of Staff, Gen. Narciso L. Abaya; AFP civil
relations service chief, Brig. Gen. Victor Corpus, and the Kapisanan
ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas, the NUJP questioned how the embedded
soldiers would be able to maintain objective, much less critical,
reportage. The letters were signed by NUJP chairperson, Inday Espina-Varona
and NUJP secretary-general Carlos Conde.
The NUJP urged the KBP to uphold independent reportage and warned
that allowing soldiers to pass themselves off as regular reporters
"could mislead the public into accepting outright propaganda
as legitimate news."
The organization, an affiliate of the International Federation
of Journalists, also warned that the move "could be a prelude
to more news blackouts and a ban on media coverage of conflict situations."
The result, the NUJP added, could be tantamount to the wholesale
violation of a basic right - that of the people's right to know.
"This is unacceptable, given the tens of thousands of lives
affected by conflicts in Western Mindanao and elsewhere in the country,"
the NUJP said in similar letters to Abaya and Corpus.
While the NUJP appreciates the AFP's desire to air its own version
of incidents, it would better serve the public by "allowing
quick and substantial access to military information officials,
and respecting journalists' freedom to report on events, especially
when these affect innocent lives."
The NUJP said the AFP move sets a dangerous trend, coming on the
heels of news blackouts imposed by the government. It cited the
ban on media during the testimony of former Abu Sayyaf captive Gracia
Burnham.
"The problem with news blackouts and overly tight news management
is that it allows unscrupulous officials to peddle disinformation.
Thus, in the Burnham case, media initially reported the DOJ's erroneous
claim of Burnham clearing the military of collusion with her captors,"
the NUJP pointed out. Had media been allowed into the hearing, even
on a pool basis, reports would have been more truthful and bereft
of the government's self-serving spin.
The NUJP was reacting to news reports on the training of 30 Western
Mindanao-based soldiers, in preparation for their deployment to
radio and television stations.
The reports quoted Maj. Gamal Hayudini, AFP regional civil relations
chief, as saying the soldiers would "do coverage regularly
like the other mainstream media." The officer claimed the move
was the brainchild of Corpus, former military intelligence chief
and now head of the AFP civil relations service. Hayudini said it
was not a plot to spy on print and broadcast journalists.
"To sweeten the idea by saying the AFP would pay the salaries
of the embedded soldiers completely misses the point. That would
only ensure that soldier-reporters' loyalty would always focus on
the military. Loyalty to the public's right to know would only come
second," the NUJP pointed out.
The organization urged all Filipino journalists to resist the AFP's
move, saying it would only worsen assaults on press freedom.
Refer to:
Inday Espina-Varona (0916-751-25-22)
Carlos Conde (0918-942-52-92)
