MikeLigalig.com

Commentary: Battle for public perception
by Henry S. Lagasca
SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union (27 June 2005) -- Media can help ventilate public opinion and provide enlightenment on issues brought about by the controversy hounding the national leadership as well as alternative systems on solution to our economic and political problems. The current situation has become fertile ground for rumors to proliferate and for militants to take advantage and launch attacks that will set back the gains made by President Arroyo.

As one writer, Florangel Rosario Braid, said: It is quite possible that such initiative writing about the administration’s stand to continue focus on the economy and a show of political will in carrying out reforms centering on the need to improve the quality of life of the people may sound like propaganda for the government but it is also easy to explain that many of these gains were achieved inspite of prevailing opposition and media tirades against the current leadership.

The opposition is determined to take control of the media agenda that will shift the focus of controversial issues. The group of opposition politicians and militants are parading a solidifying front to aggaravate the perception of civil disorder The perceived public disgust for the administration to paint a picture of political chaos would sabotage our economic gains as the government remains determined to stay the course of urgent change and reform.
The battle for public perception predicated on the “tape tale” and jueteng and the impact of the successive rise in world oil prices being played by the media, for sure, became the main arena in the battle for hearts and minds of the people. That media’s intervention as an objective catalyst to “report the facts” in today’s volatile political environment contributed to the controversy through “sensational’ reporting. Listening to radio commentaries and scanning the broadsheets clearly shows that the opposition is escalating the political noise at a time of uncertainties. That media reports are freely quoting the opposition maligning the leadership of President Gloria and trampling on the economy to the detriment of the poor people. And that her detractors will use all means to get back to power even if the whole nation lies in ruin.

Nakailang EDSA people power na ba tayo? May katuturan ba? Sa pagkakataong ito, samu’t sari ang naglalabasang akusasyon para mapababa ang Pangulong Arroyo sa gitna ng kontrobersiya ng wiretapped conversation at sa jueteng scandal kung saan isinasangkot ang mga Arroyo. Kung talagang may kaso at malakas ang ebidensiya laban sa Pangulo, may mga legal na pamamaraan at tamang lugar upang madinig ang mga usaping ito. Wala na tayong makitang dahilan pa para ituloy ang Kongreso at Senado ang imbestigasyon, maliban na lamang kung gusto nating patuloy na manood at makinig sa smear campaign na ito o sa siraan ng mga saksing humaharap sa Senado.
We are not saying that media should project the President as a martyr in the face of the destabilization plot and at a time of severe economic difficulties facing the people. No, sir. We only hope that media can also help unmasked an insidious conspiracy to discredit the President and the administration by exploiting the jueteng issue and the wiretapped tape in the interest of unscrupulous politicians hiding behind the cloak of innuendo and rumor. That media can also exposed these unseen peddlers of disinformation together with their dark ambitions and their incorrigible thirst for power through foul means.

At the same time, provide enlightenment on the issues on the anti-corruption drive, increase tax collections and prosecuting tax cheats and the starting momentum of the second phase of the economic reform agenda. Sensitivity should be projected such as the impending signing of an EO to reduce tariffs on petroleum and other oil products as well as LPG to cushion the impact of surging world oil price and the implementation of the expanded VAT law.

In short, media could become a unifying force to rally the country around amidst all the controversy to spare the economy so as not to amplify the sufferings of the people. (PIA Ilocos)

Linkback: https://tubagbohol.mikeligalig.com/index.php?topic=87806.0