Pangilinan defends press: Media strengthen democracy

MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Francis Pangilinan on Friday defended Philippine press following invective-laced speeches of President Rodrigo Duterte against two news organizations, saying that presidents have come and gone but the media are still there.

Pangilinan, president of the opposition Liberal Party (LP), said Philippine democracy was strengthened with the reporting and coverage of news outfits.

“Marami nang pangulo ng bansa ang nakipag-girian sa media. Wala na ang mga ito sa Malacañan ngunit nariyan pa rin ang media,” Pangilinan said. “Ang ating demokrasya at kalayaan ay mas higit na tumitibay kapag nariyan ang malayang pamamahayag.”

On Thursday, Duterte lambasted broadsheet Philippine Daily Inquirer and television station ABS-CBN for their alleged proclivity to lie and distort his pronouncements.

The chief executive used as examples their reporting of some of his statements on the war on drugs and his presidential campaign last year. The president was specifically angered by the newspaper’s alleged twisting and cherry-picking of his words to make it appear that his campaign against illegal drugs was a war on the poor.

“Alam mo kung maniwala kayo diyan sa mga [media], maraming ano diyan virulent ang ano... Lalo na yung mga istasyon...lalo yung ABS (ABS-CBN), Inquirer, natalo yung kandidato nila,” he said.

The president added: “Tingnan mo yung Inquirer. Ang sinasabi ko sila ang may sabi na pinapatay ko raw ang mahihirap. Alam mo ang Inquirer kahapon, talagang ... Basura talaga yan pati yung eleksyon. ‘The poor will be killed.’ Tingnan mo kung mag-slant.”

Duterte also denounced last year’s coverage of his campaign especially the reporting on the alleged P200 million in his bank accounts.

“Tell them to get a statement. Bakit ako magbigay sa kalaban ko? Is there really P200 million sa account ko, I will resign tomorrow. Yan ang hamon ko sa lahat. If my children get involved in corruption, I will gladly step down. Yan ang totoo,” he said

The Inquirer and the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) immediately issued statements debunking the president’s pronouncements.

RELATED: Journalists on Duterte's tirade: Mindset of a petty tyrant

According to the paper’s executive editor, Jose Ma. Nolasco, since its founding in 1985 it has been upholding the highest standards of excellence in journalism as shown by the awards and citations it has received over the years.

For NUJP, the president’s words showed little appreciation of democracy and governance as it called his latest statements a “brazen abuse of authority.”

ABS-CBN has not yet issued any statement as of press time.

Pangilinan said the president might be used to media reporting in Davao City and not to the critical coverage of the national press.

“Maaring hindi sanay ang pangulo sa mga batikos mula sa media dahil sa kanyang karanasan bilang Mayor ng Davao ng halos tatlong dekada ngunit iba ang usapan kapag buong bansa na ang ginagalawan niya,” the Senate minority member said.

Pangilinan declared: “Kasama sa ating demokrasya ang pambabatikos ng media.”