‘Bakit Journ?’ guest speaker to aspiring journalists: Commit to it

Floriel Santos

September 9, 2023 A Bulacan news stringer and correspondent for GMA Network was this year’s resource person for the annual “Bakit Journ?” of the BulSU Journalism Society held at the Speech Laboratory, Federizo Hall on September 8, Friday afternoon. Known for being a hard-hitting commentator with over 23 years of experience, Mr. Rommel A. Ramos shared his insights and notable experiences in the field of media, as well as accommodated questions from journalism students.

Threats to the lives of local journalists

Ramos had a misunderstanding with then-Vice Governor Daniel Fernando that ultimately led to an altercation between him and the latter’s bodyguard after agreeing to meet in a restaurant, according to a 2014 press release by the International Federation of Journalists. Following the incident, Ramos received death threats from different recipients via text messages and social media for six days.

Ramos recounted a similar incident in 2005 involving a certain general and some members of the police force following an unpleasant encounter one night at a police checkpoint in Barangay Lugam in Malolos. On air the following morning, he said he criticized the lack of proper lighting at the checkpoint and their outdated act of asking for a cedula.

Ramos claimed he eventually received death threats from various sources.

“Mismong pulis ang nagsabi sakin, kasi marami na [ang] namatay that time [na mga journalists], so ininterview ko yung chief of police—on air ha, sabi sa akin, ‘Rommel ingat ka, merong information na ikaw na kasunod. Pagkatapos ng airing, yung driver ko nag-resign. Pagbaba ko ng studio, ang daming pulis. Tinanong ko kung aarestuhin ako, pero sabi sa akin, ‘Hindi, order ni Colonel, kung saan ka pupunta, susundan ka namin,” he recalled.

In 2019, Ramos’ cameraman and four other Bulacan-based journalists were harassed by a gunman who stopped their vehicle while driving along Igay Road in San Jose del Monte, Bulacan, and was forcibly asked for the phone number of a Bulacan engineer following their coverage of a water sampling in Norzagaray, Bulacan. The National Union of Journalists in the Philippines (NUJP) condemned the incident, saying such a brazen display of force against unarmed media workers should not be tolerated as it puts the lives of the journalists in extreme danger, especially under the current administration whose only solution to almost every problem is to kill.” Adding, “we must not allow another Ampatuan massacre to happen.”

Threats of violence are a constant in the life of a reporter whose foundation and principles is built upon one’s love and service for their country, said Ramos to the journalism students. “Hindi bale nang bumatikos sila nang bumatikos, kung para naman sa mga kababayan nating malilit, okay lang,” he said.

In 2022, the NUJP reported a total of 198 journalists killed in the Philippines since 1986.

Red-tagging on a media man’s life

Red-tagging in a media man’s life is inevitable, said Ramos. “Ang mga journalists, napakadaling i-red-tag iyan. Bakit? Magsalita ka lang [nang] laban sa gobyerno, mare-redtag ka, e. Na-experience ko rin ‘yan,” he followed.

In relation to the 2005 death incident, Ramos said he was red-tagged countless times after some authorities falsely accused him of being affiliated with the communist military arm, the New People’s Army (NPA), following his critical and tenacious comments against the police force involved.

Red-tagging remains a significant threat to students, activists, and journalists in the Philippines. This issue has become even more prominent in recent years, particularly since former President Rodrigo Duterte assumed office in 2016.

During Duterte's presidency in 2018, the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) was established through Executive Order No. 70, aiming to institutionalize a 'whole-of-nation approach.'

Two years later, in 2020, Duterte signed Republic Act No. 11479, also known as the Anti-Terrorism Act. Progressive groups argue that this law has been used to target government critics, including journalists, by labeling them as terrorists.

Pleas for aspiring journalists

Ramos consistently brought up the idea that journalism students should commit to their chosen course as early as their first year to avoid 'fumbling in the dark' because they lack an idea of the path that they have taken.

Adding to that, they should embody their chosen profession, as it becomes more challenging post-graduation.

"Kung ito talaga ang gusto n’yo, pangatawanan n’yo kasi mas matindi ang kompetisyon pagkatapos n’yo ng pag-aaral," he said. "Kahit anong year level pa kayo pandayin na ninyo kung ano ang gusto n’yong tahakin at sasabihin ko sa inyo na hindi kayo magsisisi kung ‘Bakit Journ?’”

Ramos stressed that a true reporter stands out and approaches a situation differently than someone who simply expresses an opinion on Facebook or who just randomly intervenes during interviews and then writes propaganda in exchange for favorable content for political figures.

He furthered that "journalism is not shallow." Referencing men as journalists and boys as those who are so-called journalists, he advised the aspiring journalists "Mag-aral kayong mabuti so you can separate men from the boys. ‘Pag ikaw ay men and you are not among boys, mag -i-stand out ka ro’n. Iba ‘yong totoong reporter, iba ’yong reporter-reporteran".

"Nagsusulat tayo hindi para magkapera kundi para maglingkod sa bayan." Ramos added.

Currently, Ramos is also the Station Manager of the Roving Radio Station in the City of Malolos.

The BulSU Journalism Society dedicates the “Bakit Journ?” orientation event particularly to first-year journalism students to answer the whys in their JOURN-ey.

“Para sa mga Journalism students [ito] to enlighten them with the initial scope of journalism as a degree and as a profession, and it aims to present and answer misconceptions regarding the program,” Program Head and Vice President for External Affairs and Services Danica Macayan said.