Distorting truth and accountability through black propaganda? #mamasapano

A lie can travel halfway around the world while the truth is putting on his shoes. – Mark Twain

The phrase “negative campaigning” is often being done during the campaign period. In the 2010 presidential campaign, I wrote about the Villarroyo, black propaganda and negative campaigning. In my story, Bobby Reyes of Mabuhay Radio cited yellow journalism, “a biased opinion masquerading as objective fact. It involves sensationalism, distorted stories, and misleading images for the sole purpose of manipulating public opinion.” It is such an irony that yellow was the color theme of the Noynoy Aquino campaign.

Negative campaigning has been around for millennia, in one configuration or another. The elements of negative campaigning, I mean, usually in the form of black propaganda , demolition campaign or disinformation.

Another term used to describe propaganda is disinformation. Disinformation is usually considered black propaganda because it is covert and uses false information. Disinformation means “false, incomplete, or misleading information that is passed, fed, or confirmed to a targeted individual or group”. It’s up to us to break the shackles of ignorance and apathy by educating ourselves and finding out the real score regarding the Mamasapano Incident and the cover-up behind it. It won’t be easy but if we persevere, the truth will reveal itself in the end.

Let’s review some of the recent facebook posts, messages, meme as a result of the calls for  truth and accountability  in the Mamasapano incident and  calls from groups for the President to resign.

1. Members of the National Transformation Council (NTC)

blackpropaganda

Source : Facebook Page

This is clearly a disinformation campaign. Bishop Pabillo and Father Ben Alforque aren’t NTC bishops and my good friend Mae Paner , Heber Bartolome, Krix and Troy are definitely not part of NTC nor are they, Binay supporters.  We call ourselves “We, the faceless” , a sub-group of #ScrapPork Movement. A friend called it as such to refer to “ang mga Walang K (kasikatan) sa lipunan na ipinaglalaban ang K (Karapatan) ng Sambayanan laban sa mga K (Kurap ng Kaban)”

2. Job Opening: Executive Field Rallyists for a communist activist account

job opening demolition job

I saw this on twitter. It actually made me laugh. The left have always been good at organizing and  a formidable force when it comes to fighting for the rights of the greater majority. I don’t agree with some of their methods but I admire their passion when it comes to fighting for our rights. They have been there as partners, during our call to strike certain provisions in the Cybercrime Law, the removal of the pork barrel and Disbursement Acceleration Fund (DAP).

3. Bayan Muna and the reaffirmist groups are one of the prime movers behind the Oust PNoy Activities.

SMS warning communists

This was shared to me through twitter. This is not accurate. The Bayan Muna are calling for “Aquino’s resignation” but they are on their own. They don’t need to tie up with VP Binay, Peping Cojuangco, GMA, Napoles.

4. BINAY-Aran Komunista

komunist daw

Source: Facebook Page

There goes that red baiting once again. The Makabayan bloc can speak for themselves. Let me point out that my good friend, Mae Paner aka Juana Change is not a communist or #BINAYAran. Our advocacy in “Scrap Pork Network” and “We, the Faceless” collaborate with many groups including the left. Just because we are together in the “Truth and Accountability” rally does not mean we are communists.

What is all this #BinayARAN? Wasn’t it the President himself who helped Jojo Binay win in the 2010 election? Suddenly, PNoy supporters are scared of the monster created by the President himself.

There are many groups involved calling for the ouster of the President such as Sanlakas-Partido Lakas nang Masa PLM-BMP , ATIN, TANDEM , Partido Demokratiko Sosyalista ng Pilipinas Solidarity 4 Sovereignty (S4S), the National Transformation Council, the Makabayan bloc and many others.

My fellow advocates in “We, the faceless” belong to a small, independent bloc of individuals pushing truth and accountability. Though united, we may have differing views on the nuances of calls for accountability.

Why is there black propaganda?

One thing I am sure , is that the person behind the disinformation campaign, does not want “truth and accountability”. Remember the President’s first national address when he told the media that he talked to Mar about the previous operations before? This
leaked video shows it is a lie.

Reason dictates that we be discerning in sharing disinformation, memes that have photos and labels of people. Let’s make an effort to distinguish the truth from the lies. Easier said than done, given all the disinformation around us. But it would be worthwhile to try anyway.

Keep in mind Nobel Laureate Harold Pinter’s observation that:

“Politicians are interested not in truth but in power and in the maintenance of that power. To maintain that power it is essential that people remain in ignorance, that they live in ignorance of the truth.”

Originally published on Blog Watch, Philippine Online Chronicles