Defense Press Corps rejects AFP official's claims it is biased

A media organization took exception Thursday to the accusation of Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations Major General Antonio Parlade that it sided with the groups allied with the communist rebels.

The Defense Press Corps (DPC) said it did not carry the statement of AFP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Edgard Arevalo on the writ of amparo and habeas data filed by the National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers (NUPL) because it was just a reiteration of the official’s earlier statement on the matter.

“The DPC is saddened by the recent pronouncement of MGen. Antonio Parlade who cried media bias when it failed to carry the statement made by AFP spokesman BGen. Edgard Arevalo on Monday,” it said.

“It is apparent no DPC member carried BGen. Arevalo’s Monday statement because it was, to put it bluntly, a rehash of a written statement he issued three days earlier,” it added.

DPC said Arevalo’s statement last Friday already saw print the following day, uploaded online, and earned airtime “because it was given in a timely manner so there was no need to write or broadcast the same points raised by BGen Arevalo three days later.”

“It is outright unfair to the DPC to be accused by MGen. Parlade of being biased, even creating the impression of some collusion between the media and the left, when the only reason no one carried BGen. Arevalo's comments during last Monday's press briefing was because they were old and rehashed,” it said.

The DPC said it is beholden to no one, not to the AFP, the Department of National Defense, the NUPL, the left, and other state and non-state actors.

“It (DPC) abides by the principle of fair and responsible journalism,” it said.

The media organization deemed it very unfortunate that Parlade, who is supposed to bridge the gap between the AFP and the ordinary people as the military's top civil military operations officer, is shooting the messenger by falsely and randomly accusing DPC members of transgression on its core values.

“While MGen Parlade did the right thing by drafting a letter and airing his concern to the editors of our media outfits, what we question is his intention in spreading his letter in social media. To be accused of bias, merely by not carrying a stale statement, sends a chilling message to media practitioners to parrot the military line or else, be discredited,” it said.

DPC, which celebrated its 50th year, is an organization of journalists covering the defense department, AFP, and its attached agencies.

In a letter to editor, Parlade claimed that the media published fake news which aided NUPL in its propaganda.

“These media are allowing their government to be punched and bullied without giving it an opportunity to air its side, or more appropriately, to express the truth…So now we have a biased media who doesn’t want to expose the truth about these front organizations of the CPP,” he said. —LDF, GMA News