They didn't use the word "liar" but, to me, TV5's strongly worded statement meant the same thing. The Kapatid network issued the statement in reaction to DSWD Secretary Dinky Soliman's comments toward a TV5 report on March 26 about relief goods left to rot at a warehouse in Tacloban. The storage space is dubbed 'DSWD Hub.' According to Secretary Soliman, the footage was "manipulated." Soliman further tried to deflect accountability by saying the warehouse was being manned by the World Food Programme, an agency under the United Nations system, and not by the DSWD.
I commend and celebrate TV5's courage and commitment to reporting the truth, in standing by what it knows to be true, never mind that the person they are challenging is no less than a cabinet secretary, an alter ego of the president himself. And most especially because what the network exposed is government inaction that directly affects the victims of Yolanda who-six months since the monster storm-continue to struggle to get back on their feet.
Knowing that relief goods have been left undistributed, and worse, left to rot, drives me to murderous rage. Soliman has herself witnessed the full extent of the damage and the countless lifeless bodies scattered all over the place in the aftermath of Yolanda, and still she remains unperturbed. One wonders if she is heartless. I say unperturbed because to have all the resources-resources collected from the Filipino people who readily came to their countrymen's aid, and from the nations of the world who in an unprecedented show of unity, responded to our call for help-and still refuse to move, still fail miserably to carry out one's mandate, there is just no other excuse. Heartless. Pahilak-hilak pa kuno siya. Kapal.
Moreover, why deflect accountability to the World Food Programme? The WFP is not accountable to the Filipino people the same way she is. How must the WFP feel after Dinky passed the buck onto them? Hay. I believe it isn't premature to make this call: Dinky RESIGN!
At a time when most mainstream media choose to kowtow to the faultless and perfect king who resides along the banks of the Pasig, in an age where oligarchy-owned media is subservient to (and in the service of) an oligarch president, TV5's decision to challenge Dinky and put her on the spot represents a glimmer of hope. It provides a sense of promise that media in our country can truly act as a fiscalizer, keeping government and its leaders accountable and always in check, and making sure the interests of the people are not undermined by the abuse or inaction of our leaders. Mabuhay ang TV5!
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Most of the newspapers printed mere snippets of TV5's statement but I feel it should be read in its entirety. Here is their official statement:
"TV5 reiterates that it stands by its March 26, 2014 story on the spoiled relief goods found inside a warehouse identified as a DSWD hub in Tacloban City. The network also takes offense at the DSWD secretary's charge that its footage and report on the matter were 'manipulated.' Any suggestion that the network or its crew contrived the scenes aired must be viewed as malicious and irresponsible coming from a public official.
"We challenge Secretary Soliman to substantiate the charge that any scene in the report was staged or manipulated in any way, beyond the standard edits necessary to produce the news story for the broadcast audience.
"TV5 has conducted an internal inquiry into the production of the story and has found the report fair, credible and truthful. The conduct of our reporter and camera crew were professional as well as transparent.
"Raw video footage bear out the claim that the warehouse in question was prominently identified as a "Task Force Yolanda - DSWD Hub". In fact, this warehouse is within the National Food Authority (NFA) compound and it was the very same facility that Pres. Benigno Aquino III visited days after Typhoon Yolanda struck in November 2013.
"TV5 also sought the side of DSWD personnel in the area as well as that of Secretary Soliman but failed to get a response. A day after the story aired, DSWD Region 8 personnel called up the TV5 news team in Tacloban City to ask for pertinent details, including the location of the warehouse, which it promptly gave. Once again, TV5 asked them for an official statement and update, but none came.
"The DSWD is splitting hairs to deflect accountability. As a "DSWD Hub," the warehouse was under the jurisdiction of the national government, specifically the DSWD. Its assertion that the warehouse was being manned by the World Food Programme does not change nor negate what is ultimately at issue here: the unkempt, irresponsible, wasteful, and hazardous handling of relief goods that continue to be sorely needed by citizens devastated by Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan). Official ownership of the warehouse is not the ultimate problem.
"Rather, it is the need for accountability, which the DSWD continues to shirk, and from which the Secretary's emotional and irresponsible conduct attempts to distract."