Thursday, September 25, 2008 Seares: When access is denied By Pachico A. Seares News Sense
LAMENT about access comes from journalists as well as news sources.
Cebu journalists complain that Visayas Deputy Ombudsman Pelagio Apostol has been sitting on their request for public officials' SAL, or statement of assets & liabilities.
That's denial of access to public information, which is guaranteed by the Constitution. Apostol says he's waiting for new rules from Manila and protecting the filers' right.
For an excuse, that's as limp as water-drenched mop.
They didn't withhold SALs from the press before. Only Apostol does.
At the last Cebu Citizens-Press Council (CCPC) meeting, RTC Judge Meinrado Paredes gently reminded Apostol of SAL's reason for being. Apostol promised release before end of June.
It hasn't happened. Meanwhile, he keeps talking on radio about the need of the people to help the fight against corruption.
On a bad day, that can make one puke.
Works both ways
But the press can deny access too. In Manila, a public official went to court when a columnist and his paper refused to print a letter and a paid ad answering several published attacks.
In Cebu, right to reply is offered routinely to a news source accused of wrongdoing. Often, it's the news source who clams up or hides.
Must access to the press be legislated? There's more than enough access.
The way some news sources hog microphones would make you think they owned them.
How about media access to information? There's no law enforcing the Constitution. Just like the ban on political dynasties: all precept, no ban.
Whatever the cause, impeding flow of information hurts public interest.
