“This commentary only aims to discuss the article in the provided link above in accordance with the Philippine Journalist’s Code of Ethics and the Code of Professional and Ethical Conduct of the Philippine Press Institute. The article is about the malversation of funds and several anomalies that were discovered at Benguet General Hospital (BeGH) through an investigation conducted by the Provincial Government.
“Under the Philippine Journalist’s Code of Ethics, a journalist “shall scrupulously report and interpret the news, taking care not to suppress essential facts nor to distort the truth by omission or improper emphasis.” Further, he/she “shall “recognize the duty to air the other side and the duty to correct substantive errors promptly.” Malversation of funds and other anomalies mentioned in the article are sensitive and critical issues that involve public interest; thus, getting the view from the other side is necessary. However, there is nothing in the article that expressly or impliedly states the act of the writer to perform the same. Likewise, the writer failed to exercise the necessary diligence and prudence in making sure that fairness to both parties is observed. The writer was not able to show Benguet General Hospital’s or Mr. Dison Balangue’s side of the story. Moreover, attempts to acquire the same for the sake of fairness and equality were not directly stated or implied.
“Under III.2 of and the Code of Professional and Ethical Conduct of the Philippine Press Institute, “single-source stories must be avoided as a rule.” In connection with the preceding paragraph, the writer only relied on the allegations of Provincial Legal Officer Danio Bolislis and the Provincial Government’s affidavit-complaint. The need to get more sources, especially from the other party involved in the issues, was not satisfied. The provision of the Code also mandates that a journalist “must strive at all times to ascertain the truth of sources’ assertions.” On the contrary, the writer plainly based the article on the allegations of the complainants; extra effort to validate, confirm, or get other views was not exerted.
“Under the Philippine Journalist’s Code of Ethics, a journalist “shall presume persons accused of crime of being innocent until proven otherwise.” Although the writer used the term “alleged” throughout the article, the previously discussed failure or omission to present Benguet General Hospital’s or Mr. Dison Balangue’s side also tends to taint the parties’ innocence. Likewise, the whole article appears to be favorable to the allegations of the Provincial Government and might be prejudicial to the other. The article might influence the public to believe that the allegations of the complainants are true, despite the pending actions in Court that have not been resolved by final judgment.”
“Ang balitang ito ay tungkol sa isang ina kung saan ay pinatay niya ang kanyang asawa at kambal na anak sa Negros Occidental dahil di umano sa mental illness na pinalala ng pagbubuntis at panganganak o postpartum psychosis. Sa ulat na ito ay hindi binanggit ang tunay na pagkakakilanlan ng ina na siyang pumatay umano sa kanyang pamilya. Isa itong paraan upang protektahan ang pagkakilanlan ng pamilya ng biktima at siyang dapat tularan ng mga mamamahayag lalo na may mga menor de edad na biktima at ang itinuturing na dahilan ay ang problema sa pag-iisip ng ina. Ito ay makikita sa Journalist’s Code of Ethics ng PPI:
“ “I shall presume persons accused of crime of being innocent until proven otherwise. I shall exercise caution in publishing names of minors and women involved in criminal cases so that they may not unjustly lose their standing in society.” (Philippine Press Institute and National Press Club)
“Kung mapapansin din sa video ay hindi ipinakita ang mukha ng ina at mga itsura ng mga namatay himbis ito ay tinakpan at pinalabo upang hindi matukoy ng mga ibang manunuod ang kanilang pagkakakilanlan. Hindi rin napansin ang mga dugo dahil nga pinalabo nila ang mga imahe na may mga dugo. Kung ihahambing ang mga videos dati ay hindi tinatakpan o kaya ay nilalabuan ang mga imahe na ng mga taong naliligo sa sariling dugo.
“Kung mapapansin din ay hindi lamang sa krimen nagpokus ang ulat kundi nagbigay din ng impormasyon ang tagapag-ulat tungkol sa postpartum psychosis at nag-interview siya ng isang doktor na eksperto sa mga usaping tulad nito. Sa ganitong paraan ay nabigyan ng karagdagang impormasyon ang manunuod tungkol sa pinagdaanan ng ina.
“ “I shall scrupulously report and interpret the news, taking care not to suppress essential facts or to distort the truth by omission or improper emphasis. I recognise the duty to air the other side. I shall resort only to fair and honest methods in my effort to obtain news, photographs and/or documents,
“Mapapansin din na hindi naging one-sided ang tagapag-ulat sapagkat sinubukan niyang kuhanin ng pahayag ang mga taong humahawak sa kaso tulad ng mga pulis at doktor na sumusuri sa ina pati na rin ang pamilya ng biktima upang nang sa gayon ay walang makaligtaan at maipahayag ang katotohanan sa krimeng naganap.”
