Balanced, fearless advertorials, too

Although other newspapers are also willing to print news stories and commentaries on the reproductive health (RH) law debate, it is the Inquirer that I would like to give credit to for living up to its “Balanced News, Fearless Views” mantra, which the paper applies as well to advertorials that it allows to be published.

The Inquirer has proven it is willing to print an advertorial no matter who or what group or institution may get offended. The same cannot be said of most other papers that seem to treat the Supreme Court as a “sacred cow,” an untouchable institution that is beyond the reach of fair commentary. This is unacceptable in a democratic country like ours.

For example: The temporary restraining order (TRO) on contraceptives, which has undermined the family planning program of the Duterte administration. I suspect that other media outlets do not have the guts to run the advertorials seeking the lifting by the Supreme Court of this TRO as they are afraid to offend the high court possibly because they have pending interests before that Court.

But not the Inquirer. Thus, kudos to this paper for standing up for the public’s right to be heard no matter what the consequences.

LOUIS “BAROK” C. BIRAOGO, TAong-bayan para sa iYO (TAYO)