Nothing has done more to improve President Estrada's sagging popularity than his recent decision to revoke the conditional pardon he gave Norberto Manero. Here, we think is a fine example of how media can be of service to the President. It was media that pointed out that the killer of Italian priest Tullio Favali had been granted a pardon by Malacañang. President Estrada immediately admitted that he had unwittingly signed the Manero pardon.
Some Department of Justice officials immediately defended the President's mistake. They said, first, that the pardon was perfectly legal; second, that a pardon cannot be revoked. But as the press pointed out, certain facts were withheld from the Board of Pardons and Parole that recommended Manero's pardon. Manero tried to escape while he was in prison. How could they cite him for exemplary behavior? And, as the press revealed, he has a pending kidnapping and double-murder case in Mindanao. All this became public knowledge, thanks to media.
Last Friday, Associate Justice Artemio Panganiban pointed out in a speech delivered during "Judiciary Night" that, thanks to media, the Judiciary is now more transparent and accountable. "Heightened media focus on the courts," he said, "has even helped the high tribunal in exposing corruption in the courts." We wish that President Estrada would take this same attitude towards media. There should be more rapport between Malacañang and the press. Perhaps, it is time for Erap to see the press as the Fourth Estate. Admittedly, there are undesirable elements in the press. There are tabloids and there are envelopmental journalists, but there are also corrupt government officials and crooked businessmen. And the fact remains that we cannot have a democracy without a free press.
Justice Panganiban was right when he said that the judiciary and media are "natural partners" in the search for truth and justice. We believe this holds true for the executive and the legislative branches of government. The "four estates" are not perfect. But the four are indispensable in running and building our nation.
If there is a lesson to be learned in the Manero case, it is how the office of the President and media can work together for the betterment of society. The press did not blame the President for Manero's pardon. It merely asked him to look into the circumstances that led to the pardon. Now, Manero is back where he rightfully belongs.
There is only one last element missing. Undoubtedly, there were influential persons who used their influence to obtain Manero's pardon. It will be great if both the press and the President take an interest in this matter so that the person or persons involved are exposed.