Bare conjectures, no factual proof. This best describes the news story that PhilHealth funds were diverted and “supposedly” (the word in the lead paragraph) used for the Liberal Party campaign.
When you read the entire story, it stands only on mere suspicion, and not on the definitive declaration of the headline.
Contrary to the news report, no PhilHealth funds were involved and no diversion happened, as former Secretary Butch Abad said. He explained that the amount, which involved unused funds intended for salaries and benefits for unfilled or new positions (known as the Miscellaneous Personnel and Benefit Fund or MPBF), was used to construct barangay health stations and rural health units.
These are trying times, especially for truth. We appeal to journalists to be more thorough in the practice of their socially useful work: to foster a citizenry so informed that they can make intelligent decisions about their lives, communities, and governments.
Headlines that grab attention for their lies do not serve journalism’s noble purpose, especially now when there are deliberate, systematic attempts to divert the public’s attention away from the issues that confront our people’s lives and livelihood.
**
Pawang mga haka-haka, at walang katotohanan. Ganito ang angkop na paglalarawan sa balita na dinivert ang pondo ng PhilHealth at ginamit umano (“supposedly” ang salitang ginamit sa lead ng storya) sa kampanya ng Partido Liberal.
Pag binasa mo ang buong kwento, nakatayo lang ito sa suspetsa, hindi sa tuwirang pahayag ng headline.
Salungat sa ulat, walang pondo ng PhilHealth ang sangkot at walang pag-divert na naganap, anya ni dating Secretary Butch Abad. Ipinaliwanag niya na ang halaga, unused funds na sweldo at benepisyo para sa mga unfilled o bagong posisyon (kilala sa taguring Miscellaneous Personnel and Benefit Fund o MPBF), ay ginamit para magpatayo ng mga barangay health station at mga rural health unit.
Puno ng pagsubok ang mga panahong ito, lalo na para sa katotohanan. Umaapela tayo sa mga mamamahayag na maging masinop sa gawaing mahalaga sa lipunan: ang paglinang ng mga mamamayan na maalam para pwede silang makagawa ng matatalinong desisyon tungkol sa kanilang buhay, komunidad, at pamahalaan.
Panira sa marangal na layunin ng pamamahayag ang mga headline na agaw-pansin pero hindi totoo, lalo na’t mayroong mga sadya at sistematikong tangka na ilihis ang publiko mula sa mga isyu na kinakaharap ng ating mga kababayan sa kanilang buhay at kabuhayan.