Biased column writing

What awesome power media have. They can make black, white; and white, black. When a journalist is sympathetic to a person, the latter can do no wrong; when he isn’t, the latter can do no right.

Solita Monsod fiercely defends Sergio O. Valencia as a victim of circumstances (“50 days in jail and counting,” Inquirer, 11/24/12). Valencia is charged with plunder. Monsod vigorously defends him for merely performing “a ministerial duty to confirm on three occasions the release of additional confidential and intelligence funds of the PCSO as requested by general manager Rosario Uriarte and approved by President Arroyo.”

How convenient. How simple she makes it sound. As she had done in her past columns, if she is antipathetic to a person, she denounces that person in the vilest language.

The approval of the board was essential to make the release of the P366-million intelligence fund fait accompli (without which it would be patently illegal). What for is a board of directors if it were not responsible for preserving and protecting the interest of its organization? If, in the final analysis, the board believes the act of its organization’s executive officials is illegal, irregular, anomalous or immoral, it is the board’s duty to disapprove the same. Or its chair and members could resign rather than be a party to an anomaly.

—WENCESLAO PANGANIBAN,

Malvar, Batangas