EDITORIAL - Persona non grata

Former Cebu archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal reportedly wants Bryan Christy of National Geographic Magazine declared a “persona non grata” over the controversial piece he wrote on the illegal trading in ivory that has place Cebu, a Cebu priest, and the Church in a bad light.

Persona non grata maybe. But not for the reasons cited by Vidal, or does the archbishop emeritus want to stifle freedom of expression? Certainly, it could not be what Christy wrote that merits some sanction but how he got around to writing what he did.

To recall, the Christy article featured in lengthy detail an interview he had with Msgr. Cristobal Garcia, who is known to have an extensive collection of religious icons made of ivory, a collection he is so proud of he even regularly exhibits them in a mall.

In that article, Garcia was quoted issuing very incriminating statements, including tips on how to smuggle ivory. And that is where the great mystery lies — why Garcia would do such a thing if he knew Christy would be writing about it for the whole world to read.

Had Garcia called for a press conference, then he presumably was ready for anything and there is no reason for anyone to complain. On the other hand, had the interview been by chance, what journalists call an ambush, it is possible he was misquoted or taken out of context.

But judging from what is known, the interview was arranged, meaning Christy sought for, and was granted the interview. Under such circumstances, especially when setting up the meeting, the purpose and nature of the interview is laid out very clearly.

Now, for Garcia to be quoted saying very controversial and incriminating statements, it is very possible he did not know the article would turn out the way it did. It is possible that Christy never told Garcia what the basis was for their conversation.

Only under such circumstances would Garcia, or any other person for that matter, would open up the way he did. Otherwise, Garcia would be a fool — which he isn’t — to even go to the extent of giving tips on ivory smuggling if he knew Christy would write about ivory smuggling.

Again, Christy cannot be chastised for what he wrote that left a lot of red faces in Cebu, for that would be in violation of freedom of expression. But he can be sanctioned by his magazine for violation of journalistic ethics by not being open about his real intent.