EDITORIAL - Violent response

It may be funny when you read about it, and punching a critic is so much better than committing murder. But politicians should be constantly reminded that violence is not the answer to criticism. Last Wednesday morning, radio listeners in Iligan City were surprised to hear dxRJ anchor Albert Loyola shouting repeatedly that he was being assaulted by Councilor Chonilo Ruiz. In the background, Ruiz could be heard repeatedly telling Loyola that he was vile.

Ruiz later said he went to the radio station after his efforts to get in touch with Loyola failed. The councilor reportedly resented being called a liar by Loyola, who had been questioning the way the city council’s budget for committee hearings had been spent. 

Punching a critic is better than shooting him dead, but there are non-violent ways of countering bad press. Physical assault, if tolerated, can escalate into deadly violence. In the light of what was done to at least 30 journalists who were covering an election-related event in Ampatuan town in Maguindanao in November, any tendency to physically attack media members is a cause for concern. What looks like a comic situation can deteriorate into tragedy.

The Maguindanao massacre was just the most atrocious manifestation of certain public officials’ contempt for journalists in this country. Even after democracy was restored in 1986, scores of journalists have been harassed and murdered in connection with their work, making the country one of the most dangerous places in the world for media members.

Most of those attacks have not been solved. Inevitably, that failure has encouraged more attacks. International human rights and journalists’ groups have often lamented the culture of impunity in this country that has left hundreds of journalists, left-wing militants and legal professionals dead or missing over the past two decades. In several of the cases, the victims or their heirs believe politicians are the brains.

In a free country, public officials — especially those seeking elective office like Ruiz — should realize that criticism comes with the territory. If they feel that they are victims of unfair or irresponsible reporting or commentary, there are non-violent ways of seeking redress.