MikeLigalig.com

By Joe Espiritu
Columnist
Bohol Sunday Post

A few days ago, Sen Antonio Trilanes and his co accused were brought to a Makati Regional Trial Court for a hearing. The former Navy senior lieutenant and several other soldiers were charged with rebellion. The hearing was not made as Trillanes and his group together with their military escort walked out of the courtroom and preceded to the Peninsula Hotel to hold a press conference. The presiding judge immediately issued a warrant of arrest citing Trillanes and company for contempt.

What happened seemed to be planned beforehand. The military escort joined the walk out and escorted them. They might have been waiting for the group from the Makati Regional Trial Court. As the group walked to the hotel, former Vice President Teofisto Guingona, some members of the media and several others joined them. They forced their way into the hotel and there a bishop, a priest and some members of a militant group swelled their numbers. A marine contingent and a police special action force came to enforce the arrest. However, the military escort, which was supposed to be a custodial force, prevented the arrest and guns were about to go off.

With civilians around, the arresting officers consulted their higher authorities for further instructions. They did not want anyone to get hurt in case of resistance. A three PM deadline was given to the Trillanes party. Some people including a few members of the press left but several media personalities stayed. A tear gas canister was lobbed to force those not involved to leave but the media stayed put. It was not clear whether the media was forced to stay or they stayed of their own volition.

Whoever planned the move miscalculated. They expected people to beef up their numbers during the walk to the hotel. Perhaps they expected people to flock to them while in the hotel. There were no buyers. The great unwashed were not motivated enough so they would risk their necks for a very few. Or they are just tired of rallies and EDSAs and all that ballyhoo. At the three PM deadline, Trillanes decided to surrender. Several members of the media were handcuffed and were taken to the PNP headquarters in Bicutan, Rizal. Nothing was mentioned of Guingona and the two churchmen

Of course, the media came to join those who covered the aborted hearing. The media had to be there, that is their bread and butter. DILG Secretary Puno revealed that several appeals had been made to the media to leave Trillanes so that they would not hamper whatever action taken by the arresting officers. Still the media would not leave. Even after the teargas was lobbed.

Sec Puno has all the rights to ask the media to leave. Their absence will take away h wind for the Trillanes sails. There would be no propaganda mileage for him.

However, all true media practitioner lives only for a scoop, and exclusive reporting of news of the headline breaking variety. They may be kicked, punched, slapped, shoved around or even killed. But that goes with the territory. We wonder what the scenario would be if the arresting force met the Trillanes group on they way to the hotel. A gun battle might erupt and when the bullet leaves the muzzle of the gun, it does not discriminate between friend, foe or media man.

They may have been released from Bicutan with a reprimand, as technically, they may be guilty of obstruction of justice. Their equipment will be returned but first, they would be stripped of videos with inflammatory statements. The government would do anything to deaden the Trillanes propaganda. The reporters would refuse to have his scoop tampered or watered down. But that is democracy.

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