CATBALOGAN, Samar –
Military authorities here clarified that they cared less whether
reports are in their favor or against them as long as the media
pursues factual reporting.
Maj. Mangintonong
Tocalo, who heads the 8th Infantry Division’s Civil Military Office (CMO),
urged members of the media during the organization of the Army Press
Corps Tuesday to report events as happened as the military do not have
the intention to control them.
This, after some
members of the media aired their apprehensions that the military might
expect the Press Corps to work always on their side in building the
image of the organization.
Maj. Tocalo reminded
the media that there is no substitute for factual reporting if they
want to perform their task in informing the public of the events that
took place in the community. “By this I mean factual reporting devoid
of any bias,” the army officer stressed.
The CMO chief noted
that the military really need the partnership of media in informing
the people what is happening to their anti-insurgency program in the
face of the strong propaganda campaign launched by the left to
discredit the government and the military.
He cited the case of
the aborted coup staged by some military officers, in collusion with
elements of communist rebels, last May where the military was placed
in the limelight because the media and the people gave in to the
propaganda of the left.
He said the report
that a group composed of disgruntled soldiers and opportunist
communist rebels were planning to overthrow the government was true
but nobody heeded them. “Munitk na tayong tumaob
noon pero ayaw ng mga tao na maniwala,” he admitted.
The military officer
noted that the army might be able to address the communists’ armed
threat but that would come to naught if there is no one to inform the
public of what the issues really are.
