Insensitive, inhumane

JEERS TO ABS-CBN 2 for its insensitive coverage of the plight of former child actor Jiro Manio who was found roaming the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 in Pasay City on June 30.

According to reports, Manio, whose real name is Jiro Katakara, had been staying at the NAIA’s departure area for four days. He was taken into custody after photos of him at the airport circulated online.

Initial reports in GMA-7’s Chika Minute segment in 24 Oras (“Dating child star na si Jiro Manio, palaboy-laboy umano sa NAIA,” 24 Oras, June 30, 2015) and ABS-CBN 2’s Star Patrol segment in TV Patrol (“Homeless Jiro Manio seen begging for food at NAIA,” TV Patrol, June 30, 2015) aired short video clips and stills showing the former actor loitering in the airport. The reports also provided a backgrounder on Manio’s success and decline in recent years.

ABS-CBN’s Bandila did a follow up report in the evening, showing a seemingly distraught Manio who was reluctant to grant an interview to the media (“Jiro Manio roamed for days at NAIA 3,” Bandila, June 30, 2015). Also in the scene with Bandila reporter Jeff Fernando was TV5’s Celebrity Aksyon segment reporter MJ Marfori. Aksyon, unlike 24 Oras and TV Patrol, aired their report on July 1.

The following day, an unedited version of the interview was uploaded in ABS-CBNNews.com (“FULL VIDEO: I’m not an actor, homeless Jiro Manio says,” ABS-CBNNews.com, July 1, 2015). The nearly six-minute video showed how the reporters plied Manio with questions despite his refusal to answer questions. “Tama na, tama na,” Manio was saying right from the beginning. At some point in the interview, he was asked whether he would return to showbiz if given the chance. Manio answered, but added, as if to tell the reporters he’s had enough: “Step by step kasi. Hindi ganito, sapilitan”—a cue that went unnoticed or was deliberately ignored by the reporters. Towards the end of the video, a voice could even be heard saying “Roll lang, hintay tayo dun sa pamilya.”

ABS-CBN reporter Jeff Fernando was relentless in asking questions despite Manio’s repeated refusal. TV5’s Marfori was also there, but she was merely at the sidelines, and asked only a few questions.

According to ABS-CBN’s ethics manual, “[an] ABS-CBN journalist shows integrity, impartiality, persistence, accountability and humility when covering stories” (Section 5-2 (1) Integrity, ABS-CBN News and Current Affairs Standards and Ethics Manual). Bandila reporter Jeff Fernando Fernando ignored Manio’s obvious distress and repeatedly ignored Manio’s request for the interview to be stopped.

The Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility (CMFR) Ethics Manual reminds journalists to always minimize harm. Practitioners are “urged to be compassionate, to treat sources, subjects and colleagues as human beings deserving of respect…”

On the same principle, the Society of Professional Journalists Code of Ethics also reminds journalists to “[balance] the public’s need for information against potential harm or discomfort.”

The issue was called to CMFR’s attention by netizens via Twitter.