This Week in Media (May 30 to June 3, 2022)
THE MEDIA are giving significant attention to transition teams and processes, now that the Duterte administration has less than a month in office. Filipinos saw the Cabinet, the House and the Senate hold their final meetings this week, while some of Duterte’s ad interim appointees in key constitutional bodies failed to secure the approval of the Commission on Appointments (CA), the members of which are also from the House and Senate.’
Marcos Jr. and his officials
Journalists are still keeping track of the would-be appointees of President-elect Ferdinand Marcos Jr. as these are announced. But there is no real scrutiny of their track records or qualifications. Former broadcaster Erwin Tulfo was the most recognizable of the announced Marcos Jr. choices this week, and while netizens had questions about his appointment as secretary of the Department of Social Welfare and Development, his media colleagues readily interviewed him, and quoting his statements that he would ensure a smoother and more systematic distribution of aid and that he would “open the gates” of the agency to immediately address citizen concerns. He also promised to organize the list of those qualified to receive aid to avoid problems in distribution. Tulfo’s suggestion in a DZBB interview that the monthly conditional cash grants of 4Ps beneficiaries be given in lump sum went unchallenged.
Meanwhile, Arsenio Balisacan, incoming Socioeconomic Planning Secretary, told TV Patrol that he would review the “Build, Build, Build” infrastructure program, the continuation of which the Marcos-Duterte team campaigned for. Balisacan said the review was necessary as the country is still in the middle of crises in health and education. Marcos Jr.’s choice of Balisacan as NEDA secretary was praised by the business and economic sector; but it remains to be seen whether they could work with him in addressing crucial economic matters.
Media also reported that Marcos Jr. can choose the heads of the Commission on Elections (Comelec), the Civil Service Commission (CSC) and the Commission on Audit (COA), as the ad interim appointees for these posts had been bypassed by the CA due to lack of quorum during the confirmation meeting. Two Comelec commissioners were also bypassed. Reports also quoted Sen. Miguel Zubiri’s statement that Marcos Jr.’s incoming Cabinet had lobbied for the bypass so that the President-elect could choose freely who to work with. Media did not raise concerns with this claim, particularly since constitutional bodies supposedly enjoy a degree of autonomy and independence.
A Frontline Tonight report pointed to the possible effects on post-election work of the bypassing of Comelec Chair Saidamen Pangarungan and Commissioners Aimee Neri and George Garcia. The story cited former Commissioner Luie Tito Guia, who called attention to a still unresolved disqualification case against Marcos Jr. in the Comelec en banc, as well as the special elections still to be held for Filipinos in Shanghai, which just ended its months-long lockdown.
Duterte’s legacy
The outgoing Cabinet held a two-day summit at the Philippine International Convention Center to deliver a “final report” to the people. The event was clearly a showcase of Duterte accomplishments, and media echoed those touted in the event, such as the Universal Health Care and Free College Tuition Acts that Duterte signed into law. Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea claimed that Duterte leaves the Philippines in a “far better” condition than when he assumed the presidency, but newsrooms did not challenge this claim. As for the “war” on drugs, reports simply said that human rights groups believe that the casualty count is higher than what the police claim.
Media also reported the last day of the 18th Congress, airing clips of the valedictory addresses of the House and Senate leaders. News accounts said Sen. Zubiri is poised to be the next Senate President after Sen. Cynthia Villar, another strong contender, ended her campaign for the position. Media reported that the committee chairmanships have already been distributed among those who expressed their choices for which post, but the senators still have to vote officially in the 19th Congress.
The Senate’s Pharmally report, however, failed to gain the required 11 signatures so that it can be formally endorsed by the Blue Ribbon Committee. Reports said nine members of the committee refused to sign it. Sen. Zubiri and Sen. Win Gatchalian were quoted in reports as saying they refused to sign because the report recommended charges against President Duterte. Both senators claimed there was no direct evidence implicating him in the scandal. Sen. Risa Hontiveros, an opposition figure and key Blue Ribbon Committee member, told the media she would make sure the probe is resumed in the 19th Congress.
Sadly, the media have not fully provided critical analysis of Duterte’s troubling legacy. They still have three weeks to do so, but the Duterte record of governance must be recalled not only for the sake of accuracy but also to prevent any repetition of regime errors and lapses.
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