The Inquirer reports (Comelec bares plot to disrupt elections) that the COMELEC has a list of people who will try to disrupt the upcoming elections by creating chaos and delays in the precinct level by different means. I am not sure if the Inquirer is reporting the news accurately, which they seem to regularly fail to do in the past, but all these are supposedly aiming to discredit the process and its results. In any case, what is clear here is that the COMELEC projects a proactive character this time while successfully trying to maintain or avoid pointing blame to any of the candidates. I say this news piece goes well for the COMELEC while it does not affect any of the candidates.
The news about a report by the group called Reporters without Borders (RP militias on int’l list of ‘predators of the press’) gave space to the NUJP linking the Arroyo government to the killings of journalist in the country. While the report by the french group itself did not tag the Arroyo government as a "predator", the local journalists seems to be so happy to link the government to the killings. There are no reference to the Philippine elections though except for a mention of Kabataan partylist.
Meanwhile, it seems to me that the news on election violence (PNP deploys 1,000 cops in Abra) and the preparations to curb it did not touch on the national candidates. Unless the supposed killing reported are only those of one party or another (as one of the comments I received in a previous post pointed out regarding the special report on dynasties), it seems to me that it did not favor anyone.
The news report (No end to ‘horror’ tales 6 days to polls) on the wrong things that could happen in the automated elections did not so much refer to any of the Presidential candidates. Again, unless the groups that aired their concerns (more of complaints), like the supposed IT engineer Jun Lozada's Kontra Daya are directly linked to any of the candidates, we can only say that this news report is neutral to everyone. This report by the way is negative to the COMELEC.
There is a news report today about the JBC forwarding its list of Chief Justice nominees (JBC paves way for Arroyo to name new Chief Justice) to President Arroyo. Except for a brief reference to Satur Ocampo on a symbolic protest, there is no other mention on the national candidates. Again, this news seems neutral politically while somewhat negative to the Arroyo administration (as it pointed out the fact that the possible appointees are to stay on as CJ beyond the term of the next president).
In an apparent crack in the Catholic church, a news report on the possibility of a People Power (Church militants oppose cardinal on people power) quoted supposed church militants Sr. Mananzan, Bishop Cruz and Fr. Joe Dizon to have contrasting opinion with Cardinal Rosales. Surprisingly, although the news report also quoted Aquino and Estrada, I say that the news report positively favored the former President:
Deposed President Joseph “Erap” Estrada cautioned Aquino against calling for people power but added he would back such a protest if there would be glaring cheating in the elections.
“I would like to tell my good friend, Sen. Noynoy Aquino, not to speak too soon as if he had already won,” Estrada said.
“He might like to take a lesson from his mother [Cory Aquino] and speak with more humility. After all, the race is not yet over…. (May) the best man win,” he said.
A news report (Senate bet outshines foes with ‘kurakuted’ on a forum of senatorial candidates) surprisingly gave space to Ang Kapatiran's Manny Valdehuesa Jr., although it did not mention his own Presidential candidate. The report gave both positive and negative treatment though of Sen. Aquino and not of the other Presidential candidates.
Lastly, the feature today on Former President Estrada (JOSEPH EJERCITO ESTRADA: I want to finish my plans for the poor) gave almost purely positive report on him. While his life and supposed accomplishments are given good space, there is only a scant mention on the plunder conviction he received. When the only candidate with proven corruption is featured, hence everyone is justified to give a negative treatment, the Inquirer chose to be unaffected. I do not anymore wonder why a pardoned plunderer still has a chance to win back the Presidency, even if his win could surely throw the country in more legal and socio-political debacle. I say this report seems again to be coming straight out from a campaign brochure.
Obviously, the Inquirer front page news today in sum gave favor to Estrada and no other.
The score:
Aquino: 12
Estrada: 2
Villanueva: 1
Teodoro: 1
Madrigal: 1
All others: 0
No comments:
Post a Comment
Spam comments and comments using foul language will be deleted. Comments by readers does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the owners of this blog.