‘Glaring imbalance’ noted in Inquirer report

This is to formally protest over the failure of Inquirer editors to observe the newspaper’s slogan of “balanced news.”

Last Sept. 15, the front page carried the story “Solons in scam won’t be suspended till convicted” written by Christian Esguerra and Norman Bordadora. It was based on the legal opinion of Senate President Franklin Drilon. The next day, Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago, who is a lawyer and former regional trial court judge, issued a statement directly contradicting Drilon’s opinion.

Instead of giving prominent, if not equal, space on the front page, the Sept. 17 issue of the Inquirer buried Santiago’s statement on page 15, as an insignificant continuation of a front-page story titled “Enrile, Revilla, Estrada vow to fight plunder, corruption raps.” By contrast, on the same date, the Philippine Star on its front page carried a news story, titled “Will lawmakers be suspended? Senators disagree,” which reported both views.

The next day, Drilon admitted that Santiago is right, and that he had reconsidered his erroneous opinion.

Clearly, there was no balance between a wrong opinion printed on Page 1 of the preceding issue, and the correct opinion buried deep within another story on Page 8 of a succeeding issue. This puzzle definitely invites suspicions of political motive on the part of the editors responsible. The imbalance is glaring, and a blot on the Inquirer’s editorial

judgment.

—CAMILLE SEVILLA, chief of staff, FATIMA LIPP PANONTONGAN, deputy chief of staff, Office of Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago