Monday, June 16, 2008

Sino Nga Ba Ang Pinagsisilbihan?

Broadcast journalist Ces Drilon is still under the custody of confirmed ASG (Abu Sayyaf* Group) in Mindanao. Negotiations are going on between the said group and the local government to where Drilon and her news team were detained. Meanwhile, key government officials refused to lend a hand. It was said that Drilon was about to accomplish a story before the kidnapping transpired. Drilon is a broadcaster for ABS-CBN newscast Bandila, ANC Prime News and a senior reporter for both affiliated stations. The station's news department has already released its official statement reiterating the security of Drilon and her team, and their safe release. There were murmurs that ABS-CBN2 paid two million pesos as ransom for the freeing of a team's cameraman (who is then the only allowed member of the team to be released).

It can be remembered that Drilon's experience as a journalist has gone so far from being a veteran of coup d' etat/s until the November Peninsula siege where many other journalists were restrained while doing their jobs.

What really is the role of journalism?
  • One of the most important counterbalances against the natural tendencies of government and other institutions to improper power exercise/ tyranny.
  • To pass along society’s social heritage. Mass media expand people’s horizons, permitting them to experience things impossible for them to envision in a face-to-face society
  • Political education.
  • Serving as a public watchdog.
  • Integrative function. Promoting the cohesion, solidarity, and degree of consensus necessary to sustain an integrated social system.
  • Capability to hold governments responsible, mandating them to explain their actions and decisions, all of which affect the people they stand for. In a democratic society, people should know their entire alternative if they are to govern themselves, and the media is a vehicle for the dissemination of such relevant information.
  • The assumption in some societies is that the press speaks for the people. The tripartite role of news media remains -- political, social and cultural.
"The Philippine media’s role in the society is to preserve and advance the democratic character of the state."

While, it has the prime duty to enforce media ethics and sense of responsibility to increase public awareness on the right to information, develop investigative journalism, promote the free media and strengthen the bond between the media and the citizens to be able to address issues and concerns. Recent government actions have sent a chilling effect on the media and restrained threats to journalists. For that reason, there is a need to fortify and bolster independent media groups accordingly to amplify transparency and accountability in government and for both the public and private sectors.


*Corrected (Thanks Ms. Eguico)

6 comments:

tintastic said...

pinalaya na sila. i still don't know the details yet because i just saw the headline this morning. i'm glad nirelease na sila. gusto lang naman nila maghatid ng balita sa taumbayan. :D

nano said...

Tila naging mas malabo ang naging pamamaraan ng pamahalaan at ng ABS-CBN sa pagpapalaya sa mga biktima kaysa sa tunay na dahilan bakit dinakip ng mga bandido ang mga ito. Kung iisipin, bakit nga ba sila dadakipin at papalayain ng ganun-ganun lang? Dahil magaling ang nagnegotiate? Dahil napagnilaynilay ng mga bandido na mali ang kanilang ginawa? Kumusta naman iyon?! Ano kaya talaga ang katotohanan sa likod ng kwentong ito? Nakakapagtaka lang.

P O R S C H E said...

Pinalaya na sila alas-onse kagabi.

Itatanggi siyempre ang pagbabayad ng ransom kung meron man:

ABS-CBN: Hindi kami nagbayad
Pamilya ni Ces: Hindi kami nagbayad
Pamahalaan: Hindi kami nagbayad

Hanggang sa nagkaroon na ng news blockout para sa mga isyung ito.
Sa gayon, maari pa itong maulit sa ibang mamamahayag at maging sa isang karaniwang tao. Nakakalungkot. Tsk tsk.

P O R S C H E said...

"Kung iisipin, bakit nga ba sila dadakipin at papalayain ng ganun-ganun lang?"

- Dadakapin sila upang humingi ng ransom, ang perang ito ay gagamitin upang palakasin pa ang armas ng mga bandido. SA kabilang banda, ipinatutupad ng pamahalaan at ng ABS-CBN ang "no ransom policy" dahil naniniwala sila na ang pagbibigay nito ay magiging sanhi upang maulit pa sa ibang mamamahayag ang nangyari kina Ces Drilon, kundi man sa isang normal na Pilipino.

Railey! said...

mabuti nga at pinalaya na sila!

Baka nareyp yan si ces!

P O R S C H E said...

Tulad ng nasabi ko, hindi pa maitatanggi ang isyu na maaring nareyp nga si Ces..

Sana hindi.