Reason and Concern
BY RONQUILLO C. TOLENTINO

Aklan Kapihan at two years

Kapihan sa Aklan shall be two years old on March 23, 2010.
Launched by the Aklan Press Club, Inc. with the cooperation of the Aklan Media Forum and Publishers Association of the Philippines, Inc., Kapihan sa Aklan has survived its Saturday session all done in the name of freedom of the press. And it shall continue to do so.
Chief Justice Reynato S. Puno during the International Conference on Impunity and Press Freedom on February 27, 2008 emphasized that “history tells us that no amount of mutilation, no amount of murders of truth will kill freedom of the press.” And, “history teaches us that the misuse and abuse of libel laws against media practitioners, through the ages did not stamp out the flame of freedom of the press, and it never will.”
Kapihan sa Aklan had considered free discussion of views and ideas. Quoted by Chief Justice Puno is the explanation of First Amendment scholar Thomas Emerson, thus: “A central value of free and open debate is the discovery of truth and knowledge through the free trade of ideas. In language that is reminiscent of John Milton’s Areopagitica and John Stuart Mill’s On Liberty, Emerson stated, an individual who seeks knowledge and truth must hear all sides of the question, consider all alternatives, test his judgment by exposing it to opposition, and make full use of different minds. Discussion must be kept open no matter how certainly true an accepted opinion may be; many of the most widely acknowledged truths have turned out to be erroneous.”(Emerson 1970- 6-7)
In conclusion, may I say that Kapihan sa Aklan ardently adheres that the interest of society and the maintenance of good government demand a full discussion of public affairs. Like the renowned columnist Walter Lippman, Kapihan sa Aklan believes that it is in the interest of continuing debate on matters of public policy and questions of public good that the recognition of press freedom ultimately rests.
Even as free and open debate is adhered to at the Kapihan sa Aklan, it is guided by the doctrine of fair comment. We are, of course, well aware that the basis of this doctrine is the constitutional right of speech, a right which assumes the citizen the fullest freedom to express his views and opinions on public affairs. It is, indeed, through public opinion that those who administer the government are appraised of what the people want.
The doctrine of fair comment’s importance to sound government is acknowledged.In Triggs vs. Sun Printing, (71 N.E., 739, 743) it is stated : “The single purpose of the rule permitting fair and honest criticism is that it promotes the public good, enables the people to discern right from wrong, encourages merit and firmly condemns and exposes the charlatan and the cheat, and hence is based upon public policy.”