Filipino Truthers

Credit: Crisostomo Ibarra Facebook page

So I saw this image shared by a friend wherein some lady named Hazel Calandria took a screenshot of a local news program and added text insinuating that the media is lying, complete with jeering remarks about how the body armor and helmet of the reporter are extra props to sensationalize the report.

Honestly, I don't get it. Is she expecting reporters to venture to within a yard of where the rebels are and deliver a whole news segment and risk one, getting in the line of fire, two, obstructing military operations, and three, put himself within distance of being abducted and added to the hostage list?

Surely there aren't any lies being foisted on the viewers because if one had bothered to view the full news segment (I did), one would've seen video footage taken during the day of the reporter and cameraman moving along with some army men while shots are being fired during the day.

I understand that people love to cherry-pick stuff to suit their worldviews, but protip: if you're cherry-picking stuff, make sure that your argument and evidence isn't easily riddled with holes by cursory common sense and simple reason.

So what is the point of sharing such a flawed, albeit sensational post? An acknowledgement by everyone that she has found out a great big lie (not really) being perpetrated by the media? A chance to brag that she knows the area and that she has a store there?

Please, madame, if you're so adamant about your belief of a "GREAT BIG LIE" being told to us, do us one better. March straight into the rebel hideout, sans body armor, of course, because those are just pithy little props, and give us a hard-hitting news piece that really gets into the action.

This isn't an absolution of media in general. Everyone can agree that there are times when they did pass off half-truths or even outright lies are the pure and plain truth.

This is not one of them.

P.S. Her Camins airport road is only about 2 kilometers from Sta. Barbara, so it's not exactly a full 10 towns away as her post might lead you to believe.

P.P.S. It's darkly humorous that a Facebook account named "Crisostomo Ibarra" shared this photo, along with a caption that also accuses GMA News of outright lying and that lying is the one thing they're good at. What a shameful misappropriation of his name and persona.