Gen. Querol, unfriendly to the media?
There is no single event in Camp Delgado or any incident in Western Visayas that has not reached the tri-media. The members of the Iloilo Police and Defense Press Corps can attest to this. Hence, should the people have not read or heard about the event or incident involving police matters, we cannot lodge the blame solely to the good Gen. Querol. There are at least three factors to consider.
One, the tri-media have their own discretion to determine which is news and which is not among the voluminous information being brought to their attention. It is the media that assess the newsworthiness of event or incident. Thus, the oathtaking of 533 police officers recently could not be considered as news by some media outlets, though other media have considered it also to be of public interest.
Two, the Police Regional Office 6, particularly through its Public Information Office, has tried to maximize the dissemination of information by utilizing other channels of reaching the public. The piopro6.multiply.com and Tsip Western Visayas on Facebook are just two social networking sites that contain updates on the programs, projects and other activities of the region’s police force. PRO6 has also its website that publishes all information relative to the peace and order efforts of the police here.
However, these initiatives have their own constraints because not all people are literate in using these channels and not all areas in the region have access to online communication. Nevertheless, these online sites have somehow helped PRO6 in reaching out to some sectors of the community.
And, three, there are people who use the blanket of media and their so-called public interest to perpetuate their extortion activities against police officers. Legitimate media personalities call these people “AC-DC.” At one time, they attack people and organizations to collect and, in the other time, they defend these people and organizations to again – collect.
These are just a few points in an effort to clarify the malicious allegation of one local newspaper that Gen. Querol is far from media. Ironically, this newspaper is one that regularly invites PRO6 for publication and always gets advertisement contract for the purpose. Other newspapers seldom or never do this practice. Despite the favors it receives, this newspaper is not really that supportive to PRO6. By being supportive, I mean the publication of the achievements of PRO6 in equal space and prominence to that of the blunders of PRO6 and the PNP organization.
I understand that newspapers, in most cases, publish news that will help sell the paper. That is the money-making side of publication. But I strongly believe that newspapers must also consider that their readers need know the brighter side of policing. The public deserves to know that their police work for them and despite its many blunders, their police have also innumerable feats in public service to be proud of.
Legitimate media personalities could attest to the fact that Gen. Querol desires for wider publicity of PRO6’s programs, projects and activities. He also wants the public to be regularly updated on the progress of police actions on many issues and concerns in relation to the maintenance of peace and order in the region.
Querol does not want and never plans to shy away with the media. He acknowledges that media is one indispensable sector that will help strengthen police-community partnership in Western Visayas.*
Email: rogatepnp@yahoo.com
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