Bong Go: Black
propaganda should have no place in fair elections
By OSBG
PASAY
CITY, Feb. 27 -- During an ambush interview, Senator Christopher Lawrence
“Bong” Go on Wednesday, February 26, reiterated key points he raised in the
Senate hearing last Monday on issues surrounding ABS-CBN’s franchise,
particularly the network’s decision to air the anti-Duterte ads paid for by
former senator Antonio Trillanes IV during the 2016 election campaign period.
Go
emphasized that black propaganda does not promote or equate to fair elections.
“Pwede
raw ‘yung ads? Bakit hindi pinayagan ng ibang network? Para sa kanila, hindi
fair ang ads na iyon. It was pure black propaganda para dumihan ang isang
kandidato,” Go reacted during the interview.
“‘Di ba
ang Commission on Elections (COMELEC) dapat, fair elections? Kung paninira,
hindi na fair iyon. Iyon ang tinatawag na unfair elections,” he added.
Go also
called out the malicious motives of Trillanes for the ads, saying that he could
have instead promoted himself as a candidate since he was then running for the
vice presidency, instead of attacking another candidate.
“Bakit
siya nagbayad ads para sa paninira? Bakit hindi na lang niya pinromote ang
sarili n’ya? Bakit siya gumastos para siraan si then Mayor Duterte? ‘Yun talaga
medyo madumi,” he said.
During
the Senate hearing last Monday, February 24, Go explained that legislators
should take this opportunity to ensure that the legislative franchises being
granted are geared towards the protection of public interest, and are not used
to mislead or misinform the public.
He used
the airing of the anti-Duterte ad as an example, saying “Paano ito naging
political ad? Are you promoting a candidate here or are you destroying a
candidate? Gusto ko lang malaman, ano ba ang priority ng network? Kumikita ang
network through the airing of political ads.”
Go
stressed that in this case, airing the black propaganda video appeared to be
more important than earning income from airing legitimate ads that have already
been paid for. The non-airing of ads already paid for and the subsequent airing
of ads for the purpose of maligning a person display an intent to oppose a
particular candidate, according to Go.
“The
RTC which granted the TRO even pointed out that the propaganda video shows
minors being used in black propaganda. Thus, as pointed out by the court, the
ad must be suppressed at once, as repeated broadcasting of the same will be
irreparably inimical to the children's welfare and interest,” Go cited.
“Hindi
mababaw ang rason ng Pangulo sa kanyang grievances against the network.
Nasaktan ang Presidente. Nababoy ang Presidente. Hindi vindictive ang Pangulo,
but it is clear that someone went overboard in trying to malign him,” he added
during the hearing.
The
Senator also cited provisions in the Fair Elections Act: "All members of
media, television, radio or print shall scrupulously report and interpret the
news, taking care not to suppress essential facts nor to distort the truth by
omission or improper emphasis. They shall recognize the duty to air the other
side and the duty to correct substantive errors promptly."
“Nawalan
ng mahalagang oras sa kampanya ang isang kandidato dahil mas pinili ng ABS-CBN
na i-ere ang black propaganda for a slot that could have been used by ads that
have already been paid for,” Go also said explaining that it is unfair to allow
a negative ad a week before the elections and then not approve legitimate ads
for then presidential candidate Mayor Rodrigo Duterte.
“Media
networks are supposed to be neutral and impartial. But if this is the case--if
some media networks and some political elites and economic elites can get
together and destroy the candidacy of one candidate--tama nga ang Pangulo na
labanan ang mga elitista at oligarkiya na kasalukuyang naghahari sa ating
bansa,” Go also said.
Meanwhile,
he reacted to the news that opposition Senator Leila de Lima submitted to the
US government a list of people who should be banned from the country for their
involvement in her detention. “Sa tingin mo maniniwala sila doon? Kung
saka-sakaling may maisubmit niya, maniwala lang ako kapag sinama niya pangalan
niya dahil may kaso siya,” Go said.
“You
think papayagan siya na magsubmit na mayroon siyang drug case?” he added.
Go
further reiterated that de Lima’s detention was a result of prosecution, not
persecution.
“Hindi
nga ito persecution, prosecution nga ito upheld by the Supreme Court. Wala ba
kayong tiwala sa ating judicial system?” he said.
“Kawawa
naman tayo kung ganon. Kaya nga meron tayong Supreme Court, judges,
prosecutors, magtiwala tayo. Sundin natin ang ating judicial process,” he
added. (OSBG)
