No, not really.

But it’s all over the local news these days:

wiretapped conversations by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and

several pepole, where discussions on electoral fraud (during the 2004

national elections) supposedly take place.

Inq7.net has made available downloadable copies of the recordings (in two versions).

The Media, especially traditional/mainstream media, does indeed have

the power to shape opinions and influence public perception.  With the

release of these recordings to the public-at-large, the Inquirer

may be either doing the people a great service or disservice, depending

on the effect on the populace.  Will it lead to destabilization?  Will

the people take the information as a given?  Will the people be more

skeptical and wait for facts or verification?

Of course, in cases like these, there are always two (or even more)

sides, usually going the opposite ways.  One will make certain

claims,

and the other will cry foul.  One side will pin fraud allegations

on

the Administration, and the latter, in defense, would claim that the

audio recordings are distorted/edited to bring about this effect. 

Of course, most citizens would be caught in the middle. 

Destabilization plots and attempts by incumbent administrations for

positive P.R. spin to counter such bad publicity are costly in that

they divert attention from the more important things–poverty

alleviation, job creation, and society-building.

It pays to be vigilant and alert when it comes to these things.  I

myself wouldn’t take the reports at face value.  Of course both

sides have their own agenda to advance.  And I have my own

problems to address.

I’ll download and listen to the audio files in my spare time.

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