Tragedy in Philippine Media cries for Justice!

I Cry for Justice

The fourth estate or the media brings news to the people even in the far flung places through radio, television or newspaper.

Recently, the clash between two political clans, Ampatuan and Mangudadatu in Maguindanao was the cause of the massacre of several local media men in Mindanao. The national elections on 2010 here in the Philippines brought the first politically-related incident that also shocked the world.

Initial action of the incumbent President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo motivated the law enforcement agencies to investigate, including the Commission on Human Rights (CHR). People’s reactions vary from condemning the incident and the alleged connivance of the government to let the incident happened.

The Role of Media

Without the press or media, we will not know what is happening around the world. Being a media personality, I used to sacrifice my time to have a regular eight-hour sleep just to get the freshest news I could offer the next day.

Starting as a cub radio reporter in 1988, my initial beat was the local police station. I reported cases on theft, unjust vexation, public scandal, rape cases, car napping, homicide, sexual harassment or act of lasciviousness and other unlawful things happening in the local community. My dedication to my job often dragged me to the chief of police office because I did my own investigation and did not rely to the agency’s investigation alone. I also did hospital reports and saw the discrepancies in the medical industry in the country.

When I branched out in politics, the more I saw and experienced the corruption that’s eating the country’s democracy. I was nearly killed when I did an investigative report about the situation of the national road situated in my home town. The good thing was my relative, who’s also our municipal mayor, saved me from the wrath of his former classmate who was then our provincial governor. That was my close call to death. Some of my colleagues in media, especially radio commentators were killed if not threatened by the private armies of the so-called “traditional politicians” in the country. It’s still proliferating until now.

Until I call it quits in 1999 when I decided to go out the country and work as an overseas worker, a seaman.

The Shadow of the Media

The freedom of the press will not be oppressed by these unlawful forces: dirty politicians, rogue businessmen, terrorists or rebels, to mention a few. As long as many still believe in the works and dedication of media men around the world, the “truth” will always prevail.

Whatever incident they may inflict to the vanguards of nations, the future will always be brighter as long as we will continue our works to convey truthful information that will benefit the many.