Veteran broadcasters on ‘1017’: What chilling effect?

To some veteran broadcast journalists, the recent state of national emergency was not enough to remind them of the harshness during martial law and few feel the "chilling effect" critics have warned about.

Veteran broadcast journalists Joe Taruc and Rey Langit, of dzRH and dwIZ, respectively, said in an interview with Vice President Noli De Castro on his "Para Sa Iyo... Bayan" radio program yesterday that it felt like "normal times" when Proclamation 1017 went into effect for a week after it was declared by President Arroyo on Feb. 24.

"Sa totoo lang, nabahala tayo noon sa Proclamation 1081 declaring martial law. In Proclamation 1017, in the succeeding days, nawala ang pangamba. Hindi ganoon katindi ang epekto," Taruc said.

He added that he did not feel he had to be overcautious on his radio program despite the state of national emergency.

Taruc admitted that he thought more media organizations would suffer the same fate of The Daily Tribune — which was raided by the police for its frequent jabs at the Arroyo administration — but there was no repeat of the incident. "To my mind, balik na sa dati," he said.

Langit said his experience during the martial law years was different from the atmosphere raised by Proclamation 1017.

"We did not feel the chilling effect when 1017 was declared. For me, maari kasing na-immune ako sa martial law na naipasara ang mga stations," Langit said.

Mike Enriquez of GMA’s radio station dzBB said it was a natural reaction for the media to be more careful in their reporting and commentaries.

"Sa buong panahon na pinatupad ang Proclamation 1017 wala dapat ikatakot kung balanced ang reporting," Enriquez said.