LDP bets rap harassment of media men

Former Senate President Edgardo Angara and former Press Secretary Ricardo "Dong" Puno Jr. rapped yesterday the harassment of media by partisans of deposed former President Joseph Estrada.

Angara, lead senatorial candidate of the Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino—Puwersa ng Masa, appealed to the people at EDSA to keep the peace so there would be no reason for authorities to disperse them.

"They should also extend courtesy to media because media could be an ally. No matter what their personal feelings toward media might be, they should understand that members of the media are only doing their job," Angara said at a press conference at Club Filipino in Greenhills, San Juan.

He said that reportage of the arrest of Estrada and of the rally at EDSA showed the bias of certain media outfits.

"Crony press, which we thought had disappeared after the Marcos regime, is coming back!" Angara exclaimed.

Puno said it is to every one’s benefit not to harass media. He and Angara favored the filing of charges against persons who had hurt some reporters, or had destroyed some television equipment.

Puno said he does not believe that there is a media blackout by some outfits, saying the lack of live coverage could be attributed to the fear for the security of reporters and expensive equipment.

He expressed confidence that coverage of the EDSA rally would improve once he has talked with executives of ABS-CBN and of GMA-7.

The two broadcasting giants bore the brunt of irate Estrada followers who accused them of being biased. Ed Lingao of ABS-CBN was splashed with mineral water and forced to leave Polk street last Wednesday; Arnold Clavio of GMA-7 was shouted at, cursed, hit with bottles and with bare hands on the nape that same day; Connie Sison, a reporter of ABS-CBN, was mashed by some partisans; a team of ABS-CBN was forced to leave EDSA Thursday night and make a report at Meralco avenue after they were pelted with stones and their van given the heave-ho by a mob. Even a team of PTV-4 was targeted with stones and a makeshift arrow.

Reporters of ABS-CBN said they want to cover the event but they could not because of the hostility against them.

JV Ejercito, son of the deposed leader by Guia Gomez, said that GMA-7 and ABS-CBN could also be blamed for rousing the anger of Estrada followers.

"Kagagawan din nila ito!" JV said.

He expressed his misgivings over the "adverse" reporting by the two media outfits against their group but said he would do his best to guarantee their safety.

"But if they really like to cover, kaya nilang i-cover. This is a historical event," JV added.

Crispin Remulla, spokesman for Puwersa ng Masa, also apologized for the violence committed against journalists.

"There is a high emotional content out there in EDSA. Hopefully, the appeal of members of the Estrada family will be heeded. Hopefully, too, media will forgive people who tried to inflict harm on them," Remulla said.