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Wednesday, December 18, 2002
Seines: Resolution 1695
By Cris G. Sienes
Perhaps, what Militar should seek in his resolution is responsible media reporting, particularly in cases of sexual abuse involving children. Responsible media reporting in such a way that Section 23 of Republic Act No. 7610 will not be circumvented.
IN a previous column, we said two things have made Councilor Boni Militar controversial. One is the anti-smoking ordinance, which we already took up. Now for the second one, which is City Council Resolution No. 1695, which, Militar also sponsored. Like the anti-smoking ordinance, this resolution has also become controversial. It has earned the ire and criticisms of media people.
City Council Resolution No. 1695 seeks "to strictly prohibit media coverage on the filing, investigation and prosecution of cases involving sexual and physical abuse of children."
While Militar's motive for sponsoring the resolution is unassailable, media people are of the opinion that it infringes on the time-honored freedom of speech and of the press. Hence, they strongly oppose the resolution.
Militar, however, has solid legal basis for his resolution. As cited by City Prosecutor Raul Bendigo, Section 23 of Republic Act 7610, the Anti-Child Abuse Law, prohibits media people from covering sexually-related cases involving children.
The Section states in full: "All records pertaining to cases of sexual abuse (involving children) shall be strictly confidential and no information relating thereto shall be disclosed except in connection with any court or official proceeding based thereon."
However, the Constitution also enshrines freedom of speech and of the press. Section 4, Article III of the Constitution clearly states: "No law shall be passed abridging the freedom of speech, of expression, or of the press..."
The Constitution, remember, is our fundamental law. It is the highest law of the land. All laws must conform to it. In this light, even Section 23 of Republic Act No. 7610 can be challenged as unconstitutional.
But there is no gainsaying the fact that children who are victims of sexual abuse must be protected from undue media exposure. While the public has the right to know, there is a need to balance this right with the need to protect innocent children.
Perhaps, what Militar should seek in his resolution is responsible media reporting, particularly in cases of sexual abuse involving children. Responsible media reporting in such a way that Section 23 of Republic Act No. 7610 will not be circumvented.
In Western countries, many media outlets have installed ombudsmen to police their staff. Perhaps Militar should also work for the appointment of ombudsmen in local media outlets to police their staff and to ensure responsible reporting, not the sensationalized kind.
To completely ban media people from reporting cases of child abuse would indeed be an infringement on the freedom of speech and of the press and of the freedom of information that we are all heirs to.
To quote the words of noted American libel lawyer Harold Cross in his book, The People's Right To Know, "Public business is public business. The people have a right to know. Freedom of information is their must heritage. Without that, citizens of a democracy have but changed their kings."
* * * * *
We join the many who hail the appointment of Luisito "Cito" Lorenzo as the new agriculture secretary. The new agriculture chief has his roots in Davao. More importantly, he has a wealth of experience in agriculture as one of the top executives of Lapanday Agricultural Development Corp.
We're not saying this because we know him. Rather we're saying this out of the belief that he is equal to the task, which has been heaped upon his shoulders.
We came to know the new agriculture secretary when we covered some of the activities of the Lapanday Group of Companies before upon the invitation of one of its top executives, Salvador "Buddy" Aquino.
And yes, of course, Mr. and Mrs. Pablo Lorenzo Sr., whom we knew during our Ateneo de Davao days, have remained very good friends. Their sons, Pablo Jr. and Francisco "Quitoy" Lorenzo, who runs the local office of the Lapanday Group of Companies, were our students in high school.
Likewise, Cito Lorenzo's better half, Ma. Elena Lorenzo, or "Malyn" as we fondly called her, a US-schooled economist and functional management specialist, was our boss at the then Regional Development Task Force (now the Regional Development Council) organized by Chito Ayala during the time of former president Corazon Aquino.
We are more than confident that with Cito Lorenzo at the helm of the Department of Agriculture, agriculture in Mindanao will get the needed push that it deserves.
Point to Ponder: "Success is getting what you want, happiness is wanting what you get." --Dave Gardner |
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