FOR DECADES now, Moro civil society have been complaining that the media never airs their side, that the media like the military automatically assume that Moros are presumed guilty unless proven otherwise.
A few practitioners have shown the courage and professional integrity by not following that path. For that, for airing the side of ordinary Moros, they are harassed and even labelled terrorist sympathizers.
Unless Moro civil society want to discourage more journalists from respecting fair conflict reportage, they should now support journos who are being harassed for airing the side of the families of the Patikul 7 along with that of the military. Kapag hindi, walang sisihan kung lahat ng mabasa ninyo balita ay terorista ang tingin sa inyo. – Julie Alipala
