FORMER Senate President Aquilino “Nene” Pimentel Jr. stressed on Friday that a shift to a federal form of government should not compromise the media’s role in society.
In a forum on federalism organized by the Harvard Club of the Philippines on Friday, Pimentel said that it is important for media to remain free lest it be used as a “tool for oppression or corruption.”
“Media should be free. It does not have to be handled by any government entity,” said Pimentel, the chair emeritus of President-elect Rodrigo Duterte’s party, Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan.
In Friday’s forum centered on how the federal system of government, which requires shared powers among the central, regional and local governments, would work in the Philippine setting.
Pimentel said that a shift in the form of government would not stop the media from reporting on the goings-on of government, may it be on national or local engagements. He, however, stressed that the media should exercise responsibility as it comes along with liberty.
He also called on elected officials to stop being too sensitive and to honestly answer whenever questioned by the media.
“Don’t get angry. That’s part of the turf of being in public office,” he said.