Fact vs truth

Last week’s column, In or Out, sparked a lot of feedback on the whispered Cabinet revamp. Among them was a letter from the Secretary of the Presidential Communications Operations Office, Herminio Coloma who explained —

It’s true, as you wrote, that: “Lately, Coloma has been unseen and unheard, opting to keynote numerous conferences instead.” Yes, I have been “unseen and unheard” at the regular press briefings for the Malacanang Press Corps. The conduct of these briefings is the primary responsibility of Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda and his deputy Abigail. Secretary Ricky Carandang is next in line in performing this duty. I may be called in only when all three of them are preoccupied. This has not happened since early October 2010.

I have already written the editor of your paper previously to clarify the Facebook issue. I did not “commandeer the 2M fanbase of two Fil-Ams who were volunteers during Noy’s campaign.” My New Media team simply informed Facebook management about the establishment of the President’s website beginning last August 2010 and pointed out, too, that, in accordance with Facebook’s own protocol, there should only be one fan page for President Aquino.

On my role in the Donald Tsang “missed call at the height of the hostage taking”, let me point out that I had no role at all in that alleged “missed call”. I only commented that it was impossible for that call not to have been received and this was later clarified by Secretary Carandang.

On the “pandemonium of ouster calls” for myself and Sec. Carandang, let those who are making such calls express their sentiments in the spirit of democratic discourse.

A number of readers also asked why there was a glaring omission from the list. Wilson wrote: “I think P-Noy should replace Jojo Ochoa as his Executive Secretary for incompetence with no right sense of priority... the fact is there is nothing he has done that can instill confidence for his competence. I won’t even trust him for any legal opinion...If P-Noy really need him by his side, just appoint him as presidential assistant or adviser, but not as ES.”

The liberal use of “fact and truth” led me to reflect on two words that are related concepts, defined closely with each other and often used interchangeably. Are there any distinctions? A fact is objective, verifiable, exists in reality, therefore perceivable empirically by the senses. It is more permanent, universal and often answers what, where, when and how. Truth on the other hand is what one believes to be true at least of that current situation. Thus it can be temporary, subjective and normally answers the question “why?” Fact is indisputable information because of undeniable proof. Truth can be the interpretation of data, according to one’s opinion and life experience.

The blog clearevidence, however challenged this notion, debunking the differentiation between fact and truth. “Everything that is true is part of truth. In every trial, the man is either guilty or innocent, never both, never neither. Despite what the fallible court may rule, a truth exists. Hidden from all human knowledge, perhaps, but true nonetheless. The thing that is true is also a fact. Fact, in scientific terms is something that is ‘observably’ true, but not different in substance from truth.” Was Hubert Webb the “perp” of the Vizconde massacre or not? As the essayist Mary Flannery O’Connor once said, “the truth does not change according to what we can stomach.”

I have often wondered what could have happened to the child who cried out, “He’s not wearing anything at all!” in the fairy tale, The Emperor’s New Clothes. Hans Christian Andersen should have written a sequel. It might have provoked a spirited exchange on the difference between fact and truth.

To the chagrin of the crowd, the child blurted out an incontrovertible fact — the Emperor wore no clothes. The truth however, was more complex, depending on what one believes. The two weavers who offered to make a new suit of clothes warned that the finery would be invisible to those not fit for their position, incompetent or stupid. So although the Emperor and his ministers could not see the fabric, they all pretended to praise it for fear of being exposed as inept. But the naked truth was: the weavers were spinning a tall-tale. The Emperor and his court played the fools. Eventually, the subjects saw the truth thanks to the child. As the German philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer noted, truth passes three stages. First it is ridiculed, then violently opposed, and finally accepted as self-evident.

It has been proposed that a lie told often enough becomes true. This dim view gets more alarming with the opinion forwarded by British biographer and critic, Edith Sitwell that, “the public will believe anything so long as it is not founded on truth.” The film The Invention of Lying is a story about people genetically unable to lie. Pure honesty proved disastrous. It reminded me of what Harry Truman once said, “I never did give them hell. I just told the truth and they thought it was hell”. Then the protagonist, Mark Bellison, invented lying and his life dramatically improved, even getting the girl in the end. The movie’s disturbing plot elicited comments that the theme aggravated societal dysfunction.

Applied to a modern grim-tale, here are some facts. Former AFP comptroller, Maj. Gen. Carlos Garcia was charged with perjury by the Ombudsman for his grossly undervalued SALN. He was convicted by the military court for violation of the Articles of War 95 (Fraud against the Government), 96 (Conduct unbecoming of an Officer and a Gentleman), and 97 (Disorders and Neglects to the Prejudice of Good Order and Military Discipline) for being a green card holder. His sentence was two years of hard labor and dishonorable discharge. The Sandiganbayan, on the other hand, agreed to a plea bargain. The question is, could Garcia have stolen P300 million without partners-in-crime from the top brass? Former DND Secretary Angelo Reyes is in the hot seat. There are facts, but what’s the truth?

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