Alleged Romualdez extortion to erode public trust

THE alleged robbery by extortion case involving Peanut Gallery Media Network (PGMN) founder Roberto Ma. Franco Cruz Mabanta has raised concerns over the use of exposés as political leverage in the Philippines, with analysts saying the issue could erode public trust in both institutions and legitimate media organizations.

The controversy follows accusations by Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez that Mr. Mabanta and several associates sought millions of pesos in exchange for withholding the release of online content purportedly linking the lawmaker to anomalies in flood control projects.

Analysts said the issue risks reinforcing public perception that unethical practices are widespread across the Philippine media system, even if such practices do not reflect legitimate journalism.

“At present, there is a perception that what PGMN did is ‘normal’ for the entire Philippine media system, i.e., that all media do ‘kill fees’ and that this kind of corruption is so prevalent that this is an open secret,” University of the Philippines Diliman journalism professor Danilo A. Arao told ����ý via Facebook Messenger chat.

“This explains why both the media and the academe should continue to clarify how the press works. PGMN ‘reportage’ also needs to be critically analyzed to show that these do not pass the highest standards of journalism. This way, PGMN may be exposed for the pretentiousness that it does,” he said.

The National Bureau of Investigation earlier said that Mr. Mabanta and four others attempted to extort P300 million from Mr. Romualdez in exchange for not releasing a supposed video exposé. Mr. Mabanta denied the accusation and described the operation as a setup.

In the Philippines, where allegations of corruption regularly confront high-ranking officials, exposés have become an alternative mechanism for public oversight.

“Journalistic output like investigative reports is necessary to unearth important information on corruption and other scandals through the years. As the fourth estate, the press is expected to perform a watchdog function to the three branches of government while maintaining independence from bureaucratic trappings,” Mr. Arao said

“It is effective because it has an ‘out-of-the-box’ character and cannot be considered part of the governmental system,” he said.

Anthony Lawrence A. Borja, an associate political science professor at De La Salle University, said the public turns to exposés due to weak institutional accountability.

“We have barely functioning anti-corruption institutions, and given the public’s distrust towards the efficacy of such institutions, they turn to exposés as an alternative mechanism to hold politicians accountable,” he said via Facebook Messenger.

“The weaponization of information in the context of a lack of government transparency can convert a reasonable need for information into a rabid and partisan consumption of exposés. It harms legitimate news media because such a culture can make citizens turn to whatever source can satisfy their need to confirm suspicions. It feeds a culture of gossip than knowledge, transparency, and accountability,” he said. — Erika Mae P. Sinaking