In a speech delivered to members of the Philippine Press Institute last Monday, President Aquino cited one national publication for supposedly making it appear that a visit from a head of state was cut short and that he didn’t meet the official when in fact he did.
Then Mr. Aquino mentioned another pet peeve, an alleged date he had with a radio personality on a particularly busy day. The President clarified that he spent the whole day meeting with officials on priority projects in the country.
While he didn’t go ballistic and actually smiled throughout the speech, there was no mistaking the disappointment behind his folksy delivery.
Don’t just highlight the negative (and false) news, he said.
The news media can shrug off the admonition but knows there’s some truth to his complaint.
Why else host a national conference with the theme of “accountability” and as PPI president and Malaya publisher Jake Macasaet said in his welcome remarks, recognize that “self-examination” is long overdue.
The coverage of the bungled hostage taking crisis in Luneta was just one glaring example of media excess that need reining in.
However, rfforts to uphold standards of accuracy and fairness continue among professional journalists, and the President can be assured that the results outweigh his worry that the press is dragging the country to perdition.
The check-and-balance that a robust press provides to keep a government on track is a role that can’t be abdicated even if the President is the son of a legend of Philippine democracy doing his best to rid society of corruption.
Aquino may have blamed the media for his dip in ratings which now tip in favor of Vice President Jejomar Binay.
The President also didn’t win much support of late from Mindanaoans, who felt neglected over his position to sell hydro power plants to Big Business rather than rehabilitating them to ensure sustainable power supply in their island.
Then there’s the ongoing Spratlys Island dispute with China, which many quarters view as “macho posturing” by the Aquino administration, but which the President was quick to say had the support and admiration of the international media.
President Aquino shouldn’t over worry.
He has more pressing matters to look into, like rehabilitating the economy.
So long as freedom of expression and other fundamental rights are protected, the government can expect support from its constituents, and even the pesky media.