Puentevella on HB 3306: Nothing to fear if you are fair
BACOLOD CITY -- Bacolod Lone District Rep. Monico Puentevella, author of the controversial right to reply bill (House Bill No. 3306), said responsible and fair media entities have no reason to be afraid because the main purpose of the bill is only to level the playing field in journalism.
The solon reportedly filed the bill at the start of the 14th Congress last year because of his personal experience with some reporters in the province victimizing and destroying his reputation publicly without having given fair chance to reply. He is also aware that it's also happening in other parts of the country.
The bill seeks to punish the publisher and editor in chief of a publication or the owner and station manager of a broadcast medium if they fail to give equal treatment to a complainant's reply to a specific report. The idea is for the response to be accorded space "equal" to that of the report.
Attacks are malicious during the election season courtesy of newspapers supposedly controlled by people identified with his political opponents.
As a former mediaman he knew that the industry as a whole is noble, but he cannot allow unscrupulous people to use newspapers to malign others.
But this proposal is unpopular to various media organizations in the province. Edgar Cadagat, Provincial Chairman of National Union of Journalist of the Philippines and Negros Media Council said it would be a big threat to press freedom most especially to the ordinary reporters.
Because of the fear that his/her publisher, editor in chief or the owner and station manager will be penalized, the tendency of the reporter is to get news which are not controversial anymore because he is afraid of the consequences when he will write or report it on air.
Media considered as the fourth-estate need not to be controlled by any law. Even the 1987 Constitution recognizes the freedom of the press, Cadagat said.
Former broadcasters now City Councilors Greg Gasataya and Homer Bais said such should not be legislated because news organizations are obliged to get the side of their news subjects to balance the news and for fair presentation.
The best way is only to encourage and not compel journalists to give the same space to their news subjects' reply.
They said, this usually happens to blocktimers or "barkers" during political season who are being paid by politicians and not regular employees of the station. But it should be distinguished because legitimate media are different compared to paid broadcaster who are really one-sided.
Based on their observations, legitimate media in Bacolod are fair and responsible and need not be reminded of their role in the society.
Penalties are set for media executives and owners who refuse "equal treatment" of a news subject's reply.
Puentevella's counterpart, Senate Bill No. 2150 authored by Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr., was approved on third and final reading in June.
He is expecting his bill to be passed on third and final reading before the Christmas break.