Enero 23 nang maging balita ang kwentong bugbugan sangkot ang “Kapamilya actor”  (– o  artistang nasa bakuran ng dambuhalang network na ABS-CBN)  na si Vhong Navarro — opo, ng sikat na programa sa tanghalian na “It’s Showtime.” Halos dalawang linggo na itong long-playing sa radyo, TV at dyaryo at iba pa. Sa tinatawag na “social media,” viral din ang paksa, lalo na nang magsimula ang isang DP (display picture) campaign ng fans ni Vhong sa hashtag na #JusticeforVhongNavarro.

Enero 29 nang ngumiwi ang grupong Center for Media Freedom and Responsbility (@cmfr). Ayon sa monitor ng CMFR nitong Enero 27, halos buong programa na ang inilaan ng TV Patrol (ABS-CBN) at 24 Oras (GMA) sa pagbabalita ng insidente hinggil kay Navarro “to the neglect of other, more important events.” Isnab o kebs na diumano sa iba pang mas mahahalagang pangyayari!

Sabi pa ng CMFR:

“ABS-CBN 2’s TV Patrol devoted 36 minutes and 41 seconds, or 65 percent of its entire air time, on Navarro. The news program had a total of eight stories on the incident including reports on the possible procedural lapses of the Southern Police District, an interview with the model and (Cedric) Lee, an interview with Navarro’s lawyer, and reports on celebrities and netizens expressing support for the celebrity-host.

TV Patrol anchor Korina Sanchez said at the end of the program: “…at si Vhong, magpagaling ka Vhong, mahal ka namin.”  GMA 7’s 24 Oras used 23 minutes and 55 seconds, or 43 percent of its entire airtime, to report on the incident. The program had seven news reports including an interview with Lee and the model, a report on the NBI investigation on the case, and a statement from GMA management. Earlier news reports said that the model is related to GMA 7?s Chairman and CEO Felipe Gozon, but was later denied by the station.

The focus on Navarro edged out of the news programs the signing of the last annex of the Bangsamoro or the MILF peace process, the demolition in Agham Road, Malaysia’s crackdown on illegal aliens, and deliberations in Congress on the Freedom of Information bill.

Napakasugid ng pagsubaybay ng midya sa isyung bugbugan. Sa sobrang sugid, nagsanga-sanga na ito sa iba’t ibang kwento at anggulo.

Sa gitna ng lunod sa impormasyon, ininterbyu ng GMA News si Atty. Alnie G. Foja ng Gabriela para magbigay ng kanyang opinyon tungkol sa general topic ng rape o panggagahasa. Pero pinuna ng abugado ang malisyosong spin ng GMA News. Ayon sa headline ng 24 Oras: “Gabriela, nanawagan na unawain at huwag agad husgahan si Deniece Cornejo.” Pero ang totoo: walang ganyang panawagan ang Gabriela. Naggiit si Atty. Foja ng klaripikasyon at public apology mula sa GMA. Tinanggal na isa internet ang video at balita, pero tayong masagap kung nagkaroon ng public clarification o apology ang dambuhalang istasyon.

Pahayag ni Atty. Alnie Foja

May naglista na rin ng  “5 issues that are more important than the Vhong Navarro case.” Sabi pa ng awtor na si DLS Pineda (@sarhetosilly) sa pahayagang Philippine Star:

Mainstream media’s incessant coverage of the V-word (Vhong, not Voldemort) has reached the heights of stupidity. We’re not saying that media should ignore the case — it presents the perfect opportunity to discuss rape culture, or patriarchal laws, or infidelity, or class-partial showbiz justice. But must the media really dedicate entire segments of the evening news to tearful interviews with Vhong Navarro, Cedric Lee and Deniece Cornejo? Must the media really present flash reports about the possibility of there being a video of Vhong’s genitals? Must ABS-CBN and GMA-7 really use this case to further their network war?  

Kung aburido na at ngiwi ang iba, ginawang pagkakataon naman ito ng iba para magpangiti habang bumibira. Heto ang ilang larawang kumalat – kaugnay o kontra – sa baha ng impormasyong Vhong-related:

Justicefor PH

Sa ulo ng balita

Bong Hindi Vhong

At para naman sa mga seryosong kwentong bugbugan:

Binugbog na magsasaka

Binugbog na security guard

Kayo, ano’ng say n’yo?

Email: parabelyas@gmail.com   | Twitter:  @mmnueve