Mischaracterizing Purisima: Arrested, Nabbed or Surrendered?

Screengrab from Inquirer.net

JEERS TO several media organizations for the headlines in reports that mischaracterized the “arrest” — or “surrender” — of former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Alan Purisima, who was taken into custody by the PNP’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) on May 20 at the NAIA 3 after flying in from Butuan City. Purisima posted bail amounting to Php30,000 shortly afterward.

Many media outlets reported it as an “arrest,” although some did mention that Purisima had actually surrendered, according to Dexter Corpuz, Purisima’s lawyer.

The next day, the Philippine Daily Inquirer ran a banner story headlined “Purisima nabbed for graft.” The newspaper could have used a better verb than “nabbed,” which implied that Purisima was trying to evade arrest. The Standard also had the headline “Purisima nabbed over graft case” for its story on the second page. The Philippine Star and the Manila Bulletin also ran the front-page stories “Purisima arrested at airport, posts bail” and “Dismissed PNP chief Purisima arrested, freed after posting bail.”

Nearly all reports that aired on primetime newscasts the same day (ABS-CBN 2’s TV Patrol, GMA-7’s 24 Oras, and CNN Philippines’ Network News) said Purisima was arrested despite the soundbyte from Corpuz that he surrendered.

The Star, however, reported that Purisima had contacted the head of the CIDG-National Capital Region to arrange his surrender upon learning that a warrant for his arrest had been issued. TV5’s Aksyon had the most commendable reporting as it carefully used words in delivering the story, avoiding the use of “arrest” or its Filipino equivalent.

Graft and corruption charges were filed by Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales against Purisima early in May for allegedly awarding an irregular service contract to a courier service in 2011. Co-accused were retired Civil Security group chief Gil Meneses, former PNP Firearms and Explosives Office chief Napoleon Estilles, former Chief Supt. Allan Parreño, Senior Supt. Melchor Reyes, Senior Insp. Ford Tuazon and courier service Werfast Documentary Agency Inc. incorporators Salud Bautista, Mario Juan, Enrique Valerio, Lorna Perena, and Juliana Pasia. The Sandiganbayan’s order for their arrest was released May 19.

Given Corpuz’s statement and the fact that Purisima, by all indications, was not trying to evade arrest, the media organizations should not have described what transpired as an arrest or, worse, that Purisima was “nabbed.” The distinctions may be lost on journalists and the public but being accurate in situations like this is important for those in trouble with the law who have a right to due process and a right not to be branded a criminal – whether directly or by suggestion – while their cases are still being resolved by the authorities.