"Good-to-believe" stories

It is easy to write news. To get a story for a news item is another story. Thus, when news is scarce and nothing is worth-writing (-talking) about, the tendency is to create story that may evoke, provoke or at least entertain readers or listeners as the case maybe. When this happens, journalism is downgraded meaninglessly to a purpose of selling news (read: toilet paper). Well, it is really hard to find news that sells nowadays. The reason is either because few stories are of public interest (read: interesting) or our senses are getting immune with same stories day in and day out.

In most instances, to catch the eyes (ears) of the public with the news, the police or the armed forces in the headlines top the best alternatives to start making stories with. Surely, with a “PNP” boldly written at the front page of dailies indicates big stories are on the pages. This is why some news writers take a pleasure in making speculations on irresponsible intelligence reports, negligence of duty, violation of human rights, etc. of law enforcers. This kind of writers can even craftily make probabilities and deduce inferences of perceived irregularities out of the “careless whispers”. They even presumed the existence of anomalies in law enforcement operations where proper police operational procedures and respect for human rights are impeccably observed. Yes, this is what it takes for some writers when news is hard to find. I call it a compromise. I call it a subtle form of marketing strategy! (Remember, it's a jungle out there. Others really need a strategy to survive).

Recently, this practice was clearly shown in a speculative venture that involved big personalities of Police Regional Office (PRO) 6 in the alleged kidnapping for ransom incident last year. There's nothing wrong with making news out of speculation. In obvious ways, half-cooked information gives the public particular shot of adrenalin rush to get a copy of dailies. The effect is somewhat similar to a movie trailer of “Can this be love.” It drives SCQ fanatics wild in anticipation of Hero and Sandara tandem in a major role. Expectedly, the movie's premiere and even the showing days following the big day belittled other movies in a row.

Contrary to the trailer of “Can this be love”, what makes me feel uncomfortable with the Kidnapping issue is not only the speculation on the denial of the alleged (?) family-victim, or how the negotiation turned out a success but also the attempt of putting once again in the limelight of negative speculation the big names of police officers. The kidnapping incident was in itself a speculation. A family-victim is unknown. And, implicating indirectly one or two of well-loved personalities at PRO 6 is aggravating the futile attempt to make “good-to-believe” story.

Well, we can't discount the possibility that someone in power (or with power) like a PNP Regional Director was behind the case. As I always put it clearly, the PNP has no one in its ranks an angel with sterling purity. Besides, anyone can be a suspect in a case which is under investigation. However, with all the big names in Western Visayas, what in a world that a police general and a colonel are easily implicated in the speculated case? Why not a politician? NGO leader? A businessman? Bishop or Monsignor? Is it because police officers are the most vulnerable subjects of negative speculations? Or, is it because we can just hardly trust the PNP? Or, because it is the truth? Whoever first dropped an ink with that story, (his/hers/theirs) is the burden to protect its credibility and integrity!

Speaking of negative speculations, I am grateful that the death of police trainee, PO1 Lemuel Lasafin, did not lead to question PCSupt Doroteo A Reyes II's supervision over training instructors handling the Police Internal Security Operations and Orientation Course (PISOOC). When I heard of PO1 Lasafin's demise, I expected that speculation on hazing and other physical abuses towards police trainees will again flood the front pages of local dailies and fill the airwaves. Luckily, it never did. I also suspected that the incident would prompt to re-open the alleged scandals and other anomalies in the recruitment procedure of police members. Fortunately, it did not also. Should the contrary happens, I can't help but think that plaguing the PNP with negative speculations is but a way to survive in the media industry!

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My Condolence to the family of PO1 Lemuel Lasafin and may his soul rest in peace!

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If you have comments and suggestions, I am near than you think. You can reach me thru rogatepnp@yahoo.com or 0919316119 0.