PNoy on second term: Loss of context and meaning
THERE WERE two parts to PNoy’s answer to the question that fired up such heated reactions to the idea of a second term for PNoy. Apart from some political allies in Congress, reactions were mostly of dismay or alarm, with snarky comments from usual quarters about anything that has to do with PNoy.
Raissa Robles talked to the host and interviewer of the show, Interview with the President, lawyer and dean of the FEU Institute of Law, Mel Sta. Maria, to get the background of the story, as until Sunday, all anyone got from the statements were based on the teasers aired by TV5, and snippets from the interview reported in their daily news program, Aksyon.
Robles wanted to get the context of the teaser portions which had PNoy talking as though he was now considering a second term for himself – In short, whether PNoy’s answer was crafted beforehand.
Her blog shared the information:
Sta. Maria told me,
“I gave questions in advance excluding that.”
“That” referred to the question on whether PNoy was open to amending the Constitution, including removing the six-year presidential term limit.
The full interview did not air until Sunday, August 17. Actual interview text:
Atty. Sta. Maria: Kamakailan po ay—hindi ko ho lang ito maiwasang itanong sa inyo—kamakailan po ay ‘yung mga usap-usapin na baka kayo ay i-extend niyo pa ang term niyo. Ito ho ay umiikot-ikot na. Meron hong nagbabalewala, meron namang nagseseryoso. Kayo po, ano po ang pananaw niyo dito? Kayo nga ba po ay may binabalak o talagang wala naman sa isipan niyo ‘yan?
PRES. AQUINO: Well, ‘nung pinasukan ko ho ito, ang tanda ko one term of six years. Ngayon, after having said that, siyempre, ang mga boss ko ho kailangan kong pakinggan rin e, at hindi ibig sabihin noon na automatic na hahabol ako na magkaroon pa akong dagdag dito, ano. Pero ang tanong nga doon: Paano ba natin masisigurado na ‘yung mga repormang nagawa natin—at ‘pag nina-natin ko, lahat ho ng—mula ‘yung nagbigay sa akin ‘nung mandato nandiyan nakikidamay sa akin, nasa gobyerno, wala sa gobyerno—na maging permanente na itong pagbabago natin. So pagkokonsulta ho sa mga boss ‘yon. Paano ba ang mas may katiyakan tayo na ‘yung pinaghirapan nating lahat ay talaga namang magkaroon na ng ugat at magkatotoo ng permanenteng pagbabago.
While the president said, he will listen to this “bosses”—he also qualified this immediately to say that he would not necessarily go after more time in office.
The president’s response is undoubtedly intriguing; was he looking for an opening so he could run for a second term.
This is where Sta. Maria’s information is helpful: The answer was given to what one might describe as an “ambush” question, on a question he had not prepared to speak. It comes to the President out of the blue, and he responded in the same manner, speaking spontaneously, or “off-the-cuff.”
Maybe he should have just dismissed it, but he resorted to what is now a standard PNoy reference his “bosses” and having to consult them. Actually, since this was an interview, it would have helped to see his face as well, as he uttered these words. Whatever else one might add to support the belief that he really is thinking of running again, the last sentence is clear that he would not necessarily seek and additional term (“…hahabol ako na magkaroon pa akong dagdag dito, ano.”).
The further reporting of which and consequent commentary owed more effort on the part of journalists to get it right. There are situations where spoken words require the context for these to be better understood.
But the current media culture and the 24-hour news cycle do not look kindly on delay or postponement, even if such a lapse of time would result in getting things straight. I wonder what we gain, as it is clear what we lose, by not waiting to check the context.
It did not help that TV5, seeking more audience for their show aired snippets, cut in a manner to mislead, as their teasers and their Aksyon portion on this subject did not provide the complete exchange.
Channel 5 was clearly trying to get everyone to watch the show that would beam only on the following weekend. Newspapers gave PNoy’s quote extensive coverage, with headlines flagging the supposed “open-ness” to a second term.
It also provoked responses and commentary that presumed that the president was now considering a second term.
I am now convinced that people don’t bother to wait and find out more about the reference of the question before they jump in with their two cents worth. A Cabinet secretary, senators, pundits and media chatter-ers did not resist the opportunity to speak on the subject even though they had not even heard the brief portions of the interview as aired and were relying only on what the media had relayed to them.
What’s the harm in saying: “Let’s wait to hear the entire interview.” I guess is that most people do not want to lose the airtime to anyone else.
It was a little difficult to listen to the coverage, the ceaseless questions of reporters insisting this plan for a second term must have been talked about among the Palace officials. Even before the airing of the full interview, Christian Monsod who served under President Cory did not hold back his scolding the president for turning his back on his parents’legacy and for his presumption in thinking that only he can undertake the necessary reforms (He’s “not Superman.”). He goes further and says “that if the president is allowed re-eletion, there will be strong temptation for him to use his discretionary funds to ensure his victory in the polls.”
The same TV news show recalled President’Cory’s active campaign against FVR’s decision to extend his term with Charter Change. It went on to air an old clip of Ninoy Aquino in the US, speaking on the Marcos dictatorship.
Too many to document here, columnists began to insult the president for what they understood was already a presidential decision.
More distressing is the media’s manipulation of text. Even before the complete interview was aired, headlines screamed “PNoy open to 2nd term.” One Aksyon segment said that the president focused the need for constitutional ammendmens on the removal of term limits. Actually, PNoy said there may be other things to consider as nothing is ever perfect. Quite important, he also had misgivings that the process of amendments might end up getting rid of good provisions now in the Constitution.
Unfortunately, readers do not always have the time or inclination to read the stories and sometimes carry the headlines as the news of the day. Which I think headline writers know and those working to hype the news inject all kinds of false innuendos and nuances in that one line of text.
Other readers who do not read beyond the front page and fail to pick up the the jump story which in this case, relegated the pertinent text or context to the inside page: “. . .necessarily mean that I would automatically go after an additional term.” I needed to read that twice to make sure he wasn’t referring to a third term.
The Philippine Daily Inquirer provided a follow up story on Saturday, with the Palace clarification and denial that there had been any discussion of a second term for this administration. But their editorial on Sunday still sustained the belief that PNoy was set to run.
Lame.
I actually thought the President did a very informative interview, showing his grasp of details and the breadth of his understanding of the different policies his administration is shaping. But media did not seem interested in these matters.
Maybe, this is the reason he still keeps his distance, barring himself from this kind of close encounter with the media.
i wonder though if the president knew, and approved, of channel 5’s plan to tease, and keep the public hanging and speculating, for some days before airing the entire interview.
Let’s face it most news media outlets in the Philippines are acting more like tabloid outfit and it does not help that quite a number of Filipinos tend to jump to conclusion.
Is there ever hope for our people to get out of the corner sari-sari store gossip congregation mindset when even “respectable” and “intellectuals” personalities including wannabe’s and celebrities are acting like rumor mongers?
Thank you, Ms. de Jesus.
…This is why am I really wary of the FOI Bill. It is in principle a legitimate piece of legislation, but FOI falling into the hands of the kind of media that we have (where the bad ones sorely upstage the good ones), broadsheet and broadband will be ruled by pseudo-legislators-executives-judges rolled into one who are comfortably caged inside their booths.