Following a hostage crisis in the Philippines, the country’s president, Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III, wants the media to cooperate with the government on guidelines in future crises.
According to reports, Aquino wants to put his “agenda” for media coverage during crises on the table. He is contending that the press played a role in the ultimate death of 8 hostages and the hostage-taker. The situation played out on a tour bus of Chinese nationals, and the perpetrator was a Filipino national.
Aquino’s lame attempt to shift the blame seems ridiculous in light of the fact that there was a bloodbath of journalists last year in the Philippines. The government should be doing everything they can to protect the media’s rights, not undermine them to suit their own needs.
According to a report from the Manila Bulletin:
President Noynoy Aquino said he plans to meet with media organizations to forward his agenda after he lamented that full media coverage of the hostage crisis apparently gave the hostage-taker a “bird’s eye view” of the situation while hampered government actions to resolve the problem.
In a press conference early Tuesday morning at the Palace, President Noynoy Aquino explained that the government did not impose any news blackout during the 12-hour standoff since it violates the freedom of the press. But he later recognized the need for “a redefinition of the limitations” set for the media to allow the government to do its job during a crisis situation.
Aquino was later quoted as saying, “We’ll come up with terms and conditions that will help each of us achieve our objectives.”
If Aquino and his government were truly operating a democracy that’s friendly to the free press, they would know that statements like these are off limits.
The media doesn’t exist to cooperate with the government of the country it operates in. It should be a free and independent voice. What’s worse, shifting the blame in a tragedy will do nothing to prevent future deaths or bring back the lives already lost.