Searching for the truth

Media's penchant to sensationalize is not contributing at all to the search for truth, insofar as the alleged P500,000 congressional payola is concerned. For instance, before the facts are in, there is already a public perception of a payola in the House. Yet, a payola connotes things that have not been established as facts.

Let us consider these questions. If there was a payola, why was the money given AFTER the House approval of the controversial power bill? Isn't a payola supposed to be the thing that should convince the receiver to act in the desired manner? Since the congressmen had already voted FOR or AGAINST the power bill, there was no reason at all to give them a payola.

Another matter that makes a discerning analyst doubt the credibility of the payola story is the allegation that even the solons who voted AGAINST the measure were recipients of bribe money. If they voted against the power bill, why reward them with a payola?

And then, there is also the charge, actually a speculation, aired by party-list representative Rene Magtubo, that Meralco paid the alleged payola. But why should Meralco do this, voluntarily kill itself, by working for the removal of its virtual monopoly over the electricity sector? It just does not make sense that Meralco should dole out money for something that will be adverse to its economic interests.

I am not saying that no money passed around among the congressmen. I am just bothered by the sensationalism that has attended the media stories about the allegation. But if money, indeed, was passed around, it probably was not a payola, but something else. This is now the matter that the House probers should look into. And the results of their investigation should be interesting to the general public.

Apparently, lawyer Ruben Almadro, former head of the Philippine Stock Exchange's compliance and surveillance group, enjoyed the limelight so much when he staged a walkout at the height of the PSE's probe into the BW stock manipulation scandal that he is eager to get more of it. Once again, he is in the news, taking on a crusader's passion to restore the integrity of the stock exchange. As he says it, he wants to form a private sector watchdog composed of credible personalities, which he will chair.

But a question arises: How credible is Almadro? And has he attained the stature that would entitle him to head the watchdog group? It seems odd that he should preside over the likes of former Finance Minister Cesar Virata and former Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Gabriel Singson. For definitely, Almadro has not yet attained the stature and caliber of the two eminent personages.

Those being enticed to join Almadro's crusade should think twice. For word is being circulated that his goal is not so much to restore confidence in the stock exchange, but to boost his ambitions for the congressional elections in 2001. Apparently, he believes that media exposure as a crusader can land him a seat in the coming Congress.

This letter from Rosette Paulyn D. Correa of Las Piñas City got buried under a pile of pending papers. But despite the lapse of time, its message needs to be heeded, and those concerned must be persuaded to take the needed corrective action.

Ms. Correa was stunned when, last February, she saw an episode of S-Files on GMA 7, which featured Senator Ramon Revilla, who was given a banner entitled "Fathered 88 Children!" in the show, with an exclusive interview. According to Ms. Correa, an interviewer bombarded Revilla with questions regarding his being a "ladies man" and his numerous affairs, and the senator unabashedly answered the questions with "I always tell my children to be good. "At one point of the interview, as Ms. Correa saw it, Revilla even admitted to having one of his girlfriends abort their yet unborn child because "it would not be good for both our showbiz careers."

"I was stunned. The same people who will decide on the anti-family bills are violators of the law themselves, so we can expect from them an outright passage of the bills in question," Ms. Correa said. "I cannot fathom why the producers of the show allowed such a devastating interview. Much of this will go into the subconscious of the viewers and now families will maintain that it is acceptable to have more than one family, 88 children and the killing of the rest who do not matter."

Ms. Correa asked me to let the people know of this TV interview so that "the rest of us who love our families dearly and who are outraged by the policies our government is seeking to justify its evil intentions take a stand." She added, "We have to make it known that the institution we all grew up with and guided us through life with the help of our parents and our individual faiths will be given the chance to survive the inequities of our lawmakers and government officials."

Here are some excerpts from letters I received during the past several days:

LUCILA ROMAN REYES, Ayala Heights, Quezon City: "I got an early Easter gift from Zeny Tañada, your book entitled Walking Through the Pathways of Life. After reading some articles on my way home, I decided to pass by a branch of National Bookstore, and lo and behold! there were copies of your book. So I got hold of several copies and will give them to my children Regine and teacher Baba. Congratulations, and we hope and pray that there will be more people like you."

AL LORETH, Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA: "I read the online version of the STAR at least once a week. I enjoy your editorials. I asked my friend in Manila, Jun Lozada, which Philippine newspaper is the most even-handed. He recommended the STAR."

RENE G. PEREZ, 45-C Mapagkawanggawa St., Teachers Village, Quezon City: "If the government is really serious about implementing the Clean Air Act, there should be an honest-to-goodness drive against smoke-belching tricycles in residential areas, like Teachers Village, where smoke has the most hazardous effects on health. There is apparently some dispute over which agency can regulate smoke-belching tricycles. We do not care who does the job, but just get the smoke-belching tricycles off our streets."

ALEX ESCAÑO, president, Meralco Foundation, Ortigas Avenue Extension, Pasig City: "I read in your column about your suggestion to Mayor Vicente P. Eusebio to put up a library in Pasig City. I am happy to know that they have implemented your suggestion and that they have already finished the construction of the library. I know you are very persuasive and would like to help those in need. For this reason, we would like to request you to intercede for us in having Pasig City construct a pedestrian overpass at Ortigas Avenue Extension in front of the Meralco Foundation building."

RAMON P. CUMAGUN, director, Heartbeat International, 13 Torres St., Villa Rosa Carmel Subdivision, Lipa City: "The used pacemaker from Visitacion Caminas of Binondo, Manila, which you assigned to Ma. Cristina Gabriel, was not implanted because the Philippine Heart Center could not accurately assess the longevity until the pacemaker is actually implanted. However, we were able to implant a brandnew pacemaker to Ms. Gabriel on March 29, 2000. She is recuperating well and is now enjoying a new lease on life. We would like to thank you for your most valuable help. It is our fervent hope that our joint humanitarian work will be sustained, so that we can touch more lives."

Art A. Borjal's e-mail address: <[email protected]>