Eighteen former Marine officers showed genuine courage and love of country by coming out in the open last Tuesday, February 24, on the eve of the 40th anniversary of the EDSA People Power Revolution, to denounce several high government officials who are seriously involved in the flood control projects scandal.
They were accompanied by anti-corruption lawyer Levi Baligod of Leyte, who introduced the soldiers one by one, summarized the written affidavit that they jointly signed, and showed photos of how these men delivered tons of money, mostly in P1,000 denomination, to various offices and residences of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., then House Speaker Martin Romualdez, a couple of senators, some 25 congressmen and congresswomen, the Chairman of the Commission on Elections, former senator Antonio Trillanes for the expenses of the prosecutorial staff of the International Criminal Court (ICC) and to a known crisis PR operator.
On a normal day, this revelation is as earth-shaking as the Mt. Pinatubo eruption, and should merit front-page treatment in the newspapers.
But it did not.
No mention about oodles and oodles of money packed in suitcases delivered by the Marines themselves to houses in Aguado, San Miguel near Malacanang, Forbes Park, Bonifacio Global City, Manila Polo Club, House of Representatives, etc.
These are the same places and incidents mentioned by fugitive lawmaker Zaldy Co, who they now wanted to lynch as if Zaldy can by himself bankrupt the National Treasury without Bongbong Marcos and Martin Romualdez grabbing the biggest portions of the pie.
These are the same places and events that Marine Sergeant Guteza mentioned in his testimonies before the Senate blue ribbon committee hearings before SP Tito Sotto and Sen. Ping Lacson took over the hearings for a shameful coverup.
Suddenly, Philippine media fell silent, choosing to ignore the Baligod press con. Only SMNI and Net25 were there for the coverage, with the feisty Eden Santos asking relevant questions.
The next day, only the Daily Tribune carried the story. But in this paper, prominent was the denial and clarification made by the spokeswoman of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) saying some of the ex-Marines did not really serve the Navy. It was a tepid denial.
Ignoring the event were the Inquirer, the Manila Bulletin, the Philippine Star, Manila Standard, Manila Times, Malaya Business Insight and other tabloids. Also ignoring the event were GMA 7, ABS-CBN, TV5, DZRH, DZBB, and all the other broadcast media.
Many are shocked that Bilyonaryo News Channel, arguably one of the most active news organizations around, also joined the deafening silences on this piece of news. Lahat ba ng media, nabibili na ngayon?
But these media establishments cannot totally turn their eyes away—because this time around, unlike the original People Power Revolution some 40 years ago, we have Facebook, Youtube, and social media apps which can carry the news if the mainstream media do not want it. We also have independent bloggers, community journalists and concerned citizens whose devotion to the truth is unassailable. The spirit of the “mosquito press” and the Xerox journalism that characterized the First EDSA is alive through social media.
The owners of mainstream media in this country belong to the richest elite in the Philippines. It is hard to believe that Emil Yap, Sandy Prieto, Manny Pangilinan, Ricky Razon, Dante Ang, Martin Romualdez, Manny Villar, Allen, Antonio and Monica Macasaet, and the Lopezes can be bought. Being in media ourselves, we commiserate with the editors, announcers and news personnel of these media establishments. We recognize that this news blackout is an imposition from the owners, and we media workers really cannot do anything about it.
These families own the media, and their wealth extends in all sectors of business, with their radio-TV networks and publishing firms only there to buttress their clout in business and politics. If they cannot be bought by the scores of “maletas” filled with money allegedly flowing from the contractors and DPWH engineers to the PR firm of one Joey de Guzman, then why have they become deaf and dumb?
The news blackout shows the current deep and expansive level of control of the oligarchy over media, at a time when the Filipino people are expecting them to really show the true spirit of public service.
By not reporting the true and unadulterated news, the mainstream media have just changed the definition of news.
And for shame!
#WeTakeAStand #OpinYon #OpinYonNews