The previous week was marked by a solemn private burial of past Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos at Libingan Ng Mga Bayani (formerly known as Philippines National Memorial Cemetery). As usual, this was boisterously covered by mainstream media and reported as a sort of 'secret burial' of Dictator Marcos, although the different news networks were actually fighting for vantage points and covering the event live on free television for everyone to see! Secret? How then could you respect such journalism that won't even differentiate between a private and a secret affair in reporting the truth just to angle the information to suit their agenda? Worse was the reporting that thousands of protesters were converging almost everywhere as if another 'people power' to topple the present Administration was at the offing. A former Vice President even reported that thousands of protesters left the Ateneo University (to go home actually) and proceeded to join the more than ten thousand people at EDSA People Power Monument at a time when what remained at the latter location were just street sweepers and ambulant vendors! And still worst, the news reports almost have no mention of the legality of the burial as decided on by the Supreme Court. The bottom line here was the attempt of mainstream media to create a monster of a protest in people's perception whereas in social media, live polls were indicating a ratio of 6:1 in favor of Marcos burial at LNMB.
Now let us look at the past. Marcos was often demonized primarily because of Martial Law that a number of people have considered as evil per se although it was a legitimate option for a President under certain circumstances. Fact is the said Martial Law was legit as there was communist rebellion when it was declared. There was insurrection to fight and Marcos must defend the state. The trouble was there were abuses and such were committed against the enemies of the nation. These were expected as abuses happened even without Martial Law. As Commander-in-Chief, Marcos must be responsible following the chain of command rule. But must he be condemned alone? What about the Secretary of National Defense then? What about the AFP Chief of Staff during the time? What about the rest of the non-commissioned officers and their subordinates? To truly seek the truth, people must be fair and square to everyone especially in time of war. Truth is Marcos must be guilty of the abuses only when any of his military men was proven guilty. Has media presented it this way for truthful record of history? Has media for balanced reporting ever credited the Martial Law period for the major infrastructures such as the North Luzon Expressway, The South Luzon Expressway, the Pantabangan Dam, the LRT I, the San Juanico Bridge, the Marcos Highway in Baguio, the Pan Philippine Highway, the Cultural Center, Heart Center, Kidney Center, Folk Arts Theater, Philippine Trade Center and the controversial Bataan Nuclear Power Plant that if not for political bickering would have spared us of the recurring blackouts of the 80's and 90's?
The 1986 EDSA People Power Revolt was a spontaneous movement of the citizenry not for anyone or anything else but for love of country. It was never for Cory, never for Enrile, never for Ramos nor for any credit grabbing party, groups or factions. It was never presented this way so much so that the Liberal Party and its yellow minions hijacked the credits to advance their selfish interests. Years of consensual neglect by the establishments including the media turned it into a fascist like faction that ate into the national psyche much like during the Marcos era. The Marcos hysteria was replaced by the Yellow hysteria that also feasted on the moral fabric of the nation. It deepened divisiveness among the people that ultimately hindered our path to maturity as a nation. Only when the advent of internet presented the opportunity for alternative media had we as a people never look back to seek the truth. Finally, let us clarify that People Power has never been against Martial Law that was lifted years earlier. It was also much less against Ninoy's assassination. It was against Marcos attempt to perpetuate himself in power!
People can truly say that most of the Philippines mainstream media have been so adversarial to President Duterte during the last five months. Their constant forecasts of doom for the economy attributed to the President's colorful language were daily fares in their social media posts. They faulted him for disrespecting foreign leaders but never said a word about the undignified treatment the President received from the other end. They maligned him for his foreign policy as if it was the end of the world for the country. They highlighted the predicament of suspects in anti illegal drug operations more than the perils faced by law enforcers. They ignored reporting on the President's accomplishments and kept publishing negative opinionated articles about him. Their ignorance and bias purveyed in protecting hidden interests just came to fore with the currently surging foreign reports of accolades given to President Duterte's leadership and governance of the country.
These days, mainstream media can no longer twist the truth. Much like in the United States, their demise cannot be understated if they continue to fiddle with the powers that be. It used to be that a newly elected President is courteously accorded a honeymoon period by media months into his term. President Duterte never had it even before his election. Despite this, the President continues to enjoy unprecedented high trust and approval rating among his constituents. The unspoken truth by mainstream media is obviously passed along somewhere else. What a shame!
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