Comments - June 11, 2005

Her loyal spokesperson

By: Fel V. Maragay of Manila Standard (June 11, 2005)

The other day, Malacañang was abuzz with talk that Press Secretary and Presidential Spokesperson Ignacio Bunye might resign after he came under fire for releasing the "original" and "doctored" versions of the alleged wiretapped conversation between President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and Commission on Elections Commissioner Virgilio Garcillano.

At the daily Palace press briefing, newsmen listened with bated breath as Bunye prefaced his statement with an ominous phrase that sounded as if he was about to bid goodbye. Dressed impeccably in light brown coat and tie, Bunye wore a glum face and spoke with a sullen voice, which heightened everybody's suspense. Was it the last time we would see him behind the rostrum at the Palace briefing room?

But the newsmen broke into guffaws as Bunye uttered the last word of his dramatic sentence. "I have prepared and I have signed and I am about to submit my letter... of reimbursement," he said.

His good sense of rumor, his knack for cracking jokes amid crises is one of the reasons why he gets along well with members of the media. And this partly explains why he has lasted this long as mouthpiece and first line of defense of the President despite the mental and physical ordeals that he has to cope with in discharging his tasks.

Bunye found himself the object of angry reactions from both the opposition and administration camps after presenting to Palace reporters two compact discs containing the controversial tape recording.

According to the Palace spokesperson, the "original" version actually contained the taped conversation between the President and an obscure political aide and operator identified only as Gary. He said this had been "spliced, doctored and altered" by the wiretappers to make it appear that the President was talking with Garcillano on alleged steps to beef up her vote margin over opposition contender through dubious means.

Bunye was rebuked by Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita and Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez for releasing the two tell-tale tapes without the benefit of a voice analysis and without first consulting with the President and her legal advisers.

On the other hand, some opposition leaders charged that if there was somebody who should be punished for releasing the two CDs supposedly in violation of the Anti-Wiretapping Law (Republic Act 4200), it's Secretary Bunye. They said that Bunye, by doing so, provided the smoking gun evidence that substantiated the alleged widespread and systematic fraud that tainted the 2004 presidential election.

After being chastised by his Cabinet colleagues, Bunye somersaulted on his previous admission that it was the President's voice in the "incriminating" tape. He said he could have been wrong in his initial opinion in view of the possibility that voices of people could be altered through "digital manipulation."

Regardless of whether Bunye committed a blunder or not, it is very unlikely that President Arroyo would fire him. She could not afford to lose him because he is too valuable an asset as her press czar and spokesperson. In fact, she could not lose any Cabinet member at this stage when members of her official family are expected to close ranks and rally behind her. The departure of any Cabinet member for whatever reason would only create the impression that her government is falling apart and she is being abandoned by her officials like terrified sailors jumping from a sinking ship.

In these crucial and dangerous times, Bunye looks like a knight in shining armor who is almost singlehandedly defending the President from rampaging enemy swordsmen.

Bunye has been Ms. Arroyo's press czar and spokesperson for almost three years now, giving him the distinction of being the longest to hold the dual posts. His job may be hard and fraught with hazards although he says he likes the challenges and thrill of it.

Nonetheless, we could not help but think he would be the happiest person if his boss would now say "you have served long enough and it's time to go." His stressful work has taken a toll on his health, as can be seen in his visits to the hospitals becoming more frequent. In fact, he sometimes had to go on leave for days, especially when he suffered a slipped disc. And when he is indisposed, nobody is there to substitute for him in facing the newsmen.

Despite the fact that there are supposedly many bright boys around the President endowed with oratorical or public speaking skills, it's disappointing to note that nobody has the guts and courage to step into the shoes of presidential spokesperson and fill the void whenever Bunye is sick or unavailable.

To Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita's credit, he has been very accessible to the media, taking the trouble of holding a press conference every Wednesday afternoon. Ermita is a rich source of news on what's going on at the Palace. But what he says does not necessarily reflect the official views of the President. Ermita is too cautious to make it clear that he is not speaking for the President when articulating his views on the issues of the day because he is not the presidential spokesperson. However, there are specific instances when he is authorized by the President to issue certain pronouncements on her behalf.

In these tension-filled days when the Palace is under siege practically on all fronts, key Palace officials like Presidential Adviser on Political Affairs Gabriel Claudio, Presidential Management Staff chief (and former presidential spokesperson) Rigoberto Tiglao, Communications Director Silvestre Afable and National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzalez should make themselves more visible to the public and they should be less hesitant in facing the media to bolster the President's line of defense and to shield her better from the volley of artillery from those who wish to topple her government.

To repeat, the President will, without doubt, be the biggest loser if Bunye would throw in the towel or be eased out of office. Shortly after the President obtained a fresh mandate last year, she wanted a new media team and was scouting for somebody to replace Bunye. Veteran broadcaster Ric Puno Jr. (spokesperson of former President Joseph Estrada) was sounded out if he wanted to work for the Arroyo government. But the efforts to recruit him fizzled out not only because his functions were vaguely explained to him but because he did not have the zest to return to government media work.

Without a suitable replacement, without somebody who could do better than Bunye, any talk about a changing of guard at the Palace press office would therefore be nothing more than wishful thinking.

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