Much ado about “not running”

JEERS TO several  news organizations for amplifying Senator Christopher “Bong” Go’s  announcement that he would withdraw his candidacy for president. These include: ABS-CBN 2, CNN Philippines, GMA-7, TV5, ONE News, The Manila Times, Manila Bulletin, Philippine Daily Inquirer, Daily Tribune, Manila Standard and The Philippine Star.  

Go made the announcement on November 30, a national holiday when Comelec was closed. Clearly, he had yet to actually file his document of withdrawal. The following day, media asked him during a public event when he intended to file his papers. But he only showed irritation at the question, and without  giving a definite date. 

Coverage should have emphasized that, notwithstanding his statement, Go still had not withdrawn his COC and his candidacy remained on the record. However, media accounts made much of the statement as newsworthy, enlarging the actual story by citing Go’s internal conflict, his family’s resistance and his consideration about having President Duterte campaign for him. 

CNN Philippines and ONE News dedicated two to three minutes of airtime to Go’s announcement, while reports of ABS-CBN, GMA and TV5 averaged five minutes each. The six broadsheets all gave the news prominence through banner or front page treatment on December 1. 

Media then missed the opportunity to pursue more significant concerns: Without the presidential and vice-presidential candidates, what happens to the PDP-Laban and its recent offshoot, Pederalismo ng Dugong Dakilang Samahan? Comelec itself said that voluntary withdrawals mean that these candidates cannot be replaced by any substitute. Media could have turned to the party leaders who had endorsed Go and probed  beyond their initial reactions. What does this say about the party? 

When Comelec reopened on December 1, supporters of Go flocked to the office to urge him not to withdraw, but the candidate was not there. This did not get as much airtime or print space, although there were enough reports to indicate that some reporters were fixated on the supposed drama of Go’s withdrawal. Only ONE News followed up with a report on Go and his failure to act on his advance announcement. But for the most part, reports were clutching at straws and coming up empty, with more quotes from Go and his parties. For example, ANC’s After the Fact got the opinion of PDP-Laban’s membership committee head, Astravel Naik, and she interpreted Go’s ambivalence as “still having hope.” Huh?

Go formally withdrew on December 14, two weeks after his announcement. His announcement seemed typical of the non-news that his media followers can’t resist as an opportunity to give the man more than he deserves in media time and space.