THE BARGAIN OF TRUTH

1 Message delivered during the Awarding Ceremonies of the Search for Journalists of the Year (JOY) organized by the Metrobank Foundation and the Probe Media Foundation Inc.; 23 October 2013, The Auditorium of the Metrobank Plaza, Sen. Gil Puyat Avenue, Makati City. THE BARGAIN OF TRUTH click on the image to read the speech in pdf Speech Delivered by Chief Justice Maria Lourdes P.A. Sereno on the Awarding Ceremony of the 2013 Search for Journalists of the Year   THE BARGAIN FOR TRUTH1 HON.  MARIA LOURDES P. A. SERENO Chief Justice of the Republic of the Philippines Esteemed trustees, officers, and members of the Metrobank Foundation and Probe Media Foundation, my colleagues in the Final Board of Judges of the Search for JOY (Journalists of the Year), the journalist-awardees and their proud families and friends, distinguished ladies and gentlemen here present… As I have stated in my message in today’s souvenir programme, I agreed to chair this year’s panel of judges only if the Metrobank Foundation and Probe Media Foundation would commit to include in future searches for Journalists of the Year the aspect of developing institutional integrity in journalism. By this I mean that these two institutions had to promise to me that they would include award categories for best media organization practices that prevent conflict of interest from arising between two entities: on the one hand, the business interest of the organization or the personal and political interests of its stockholders; and on the other, the need of the journalists to be free agents as their conscience dictates, their masters being only the public good. This gathering is an indication of our shared commitment to search, not only for JOY, but ultimately, for truth. For truth has been mostly evasive for the greater part of our history as a people, resulting in the impediment of our growth, the demoralization of our spirits, and the further weakening of our systems. What most effectively suppresses the truth, as we all know, is corruption brought about by greed and ambition. Corruption can permeate every organization and profession. Like a viral infection, it will try and retry to enter human systems and propagate. There is no permanent cure as long as we are in this mortal body, but we can establish a systems wall that can prove difficult to penetrate. The news media is one perfect partner in building such a wall. Journalists, being the constituents of the so-called Fourth Estate, are said to have an obligation to the truth first and foremost. The truth in this sense may not necessarily be the absolute truth but the “journalistic truth,” which is said to involve the professional discipline of assembling and verifying facts and then conveying a fair and reliable account of their meaning – a meaning that is considered valid at the moment, but subject to further investigation.2 The journalists, in this respect, can play a crucial role in our national drive against corruption. Their inquisitiveness can lead public figures to be alerted to conflict of interest situations, to disclose enough facts for transparency, and to be prepared for hard questioning regarding their intentions as to the dispensation of public duties. Let me focus a bit on conflict of interest. Media has a role to bring to light possible conflicts of interest so that the concerned public officials may properly resolve this. But rather than wait for media to prick the concerned official with the goad to make him face the issue, it is far more preferable that the public official, especially the judge, use constant self-reflection to avoid entering into a conflict of interest situation. This is a short digression from my main address to the media, but I think it can be an important one. The judge, reflecting on her constitutional oath of office and the Code of Judicial Conduct, will understand that she belongs to a breed that is required to be set apart from the rest of the population. She knows that because she proposed to judge, more will be expected of her – that she becomes the role model of propriety, fairness, and impartiality in all her dealings. And to be such, she should attempt to master the lure of material things, viewing them with a healthy skepticism that wealth offers only but a limited usefulness. She should covet not the designer accoutrements that the wealthy can easily choose to wear, but rather the esteem and respect of the people who see in her a life of virtue and integrity, and the contentment that only a clean conscience can bring. I believe that we can find enough men and women who would find that kind of life attractive. But, first, we must clean our own ranks of those who believe that judgeships are for personal and material aggrandizement. I acknowledge, as well, the media’s effort to encourage whistleblowers to come out. By taking an active stance on issues involving accountability, the media helps anti-corruption initiatives. The quest for accountability can be less difficult and daunting if everyone – public servants, private citizens, and the media – do their part in the process. The Judiciary is required, by intent, to take the high road against corruption. It should set its behavioral standards higher than those in the political branches. It is incumbent for the courts and judges to have strict standards of propriety because they are mandated to pass upon the behavior of others. Hence, the Supreme Court has commenced, motu proprio, investigation of one of our own when the appearance of possible wrongdoing was called to our attention. When witnesses testifying under oath before the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee mentioned that a Sandiganbayan Justice had improperly met with the purported mastermind of the pork barrel scam, the Court initiated its own investigation by ordering the Justice to comment on the allegations. The four lawyers identified by the same witnesses to have been involved in organizing the fake nongovernment organizations (NGOs) used in the scam were also ordered to give their comments. In response also to reports of massive case-fixing by a certain “Arlene” in various courts in the country, the Supreme Court has set up a special committee headed by Associate Justice Marvic Leonen to consolidate the efforts of the parallel investigations under one committee. The result of these investigations may give us a huge headway in our continuing efforts to rid the Judiciary of misfits. The Judiciary is not merely reactive, though, in its approach to strengthen its integrity. We have already drawn up plans on how to institute integrity and restore public trust in the Judiciary. These plans include establishing mechanisms to ensure that judges and non-judge personnel have high standards of morality upon entering the service, and that they maintain these standards up to the time they leave the court. Promotions and appointments shall be merit-based and reward systems established to encourage good performance. The internal affairs mechanisms shall be strengthened to monitor compliance with the set standards. We need the media to help us reintegrate the classical view of the judge as a public servant who is removed from material distractions and repeat the success stories of those who have been able to shield themselves from the temptations that corruption breeds. The concrete steps to achieve our integrity-development goals will gradually take firmer shape in the next few years with the commitment of our stakeholders and support from our partners. On the part of the media’s own quest to strengthen institutional integrity, I believe it is in good hands with Metrobank Foundation and Probe Media Foundation assuring them of its assistance. We look forward to more of this work in promoting integrity through powerful storytelling.  Lest we forget, we are here in fact to celebrate this kind of storytelling. This activity involves skillfully telling stories with a purpose and making information on relevant issues interesting and easily understandable, so that the people are enlightened.  These stories should make people think and do something, thus helping to bring about positive changes in our society.3 We honor tonight the journalists who weave together the right combination of words, sounds, and images to make such stories compelling. They are admirable for their unwavering commitment to deliver information during difficult times and despite the real and imminent threats involved in the practice of their profession. They deserve not just bylines, but rather headlines or even the spotlight themselves, such that others in their field may emulate them, and they become living inspirations for many young aspiring journalists. To our Journalists of the Year–Ms. Malou Mangahas, Mr. Jarius Bondoc, and Mr. Jiggy Manicad–you have done great service to our people and our country. This recognition is a testament to your journalistic excellence and an indelible reminder at the same time of your continuing responsibility to keep the public thirsting for knowledge and hungry for discovery. And, more important, to be the media instruments that shall help empower our nation to achieve its long-cherished dreams of honor and dignity. I wish one and all a pleasant and inspired evening. Mabuhay po tayong lahat.  1 Message delivered during the Awarding Ceremonies of the Search for Journalists of the Year (JOY) organized by the Metrobank Foundation and the Probe Media Foundation Inc.; 23 October 2013, The Auditorium of the Metrobank Plaza, Sen. Gil Puyat Avenue, Makati City. 2 http://www.journalism.org/resources/principles-of-journalism/ (last accessed on October 23, 2012) 3 http://www.journalism.org/resources/principles-of-journalism/