Babe's Eye View article

The high profile case of Ted Failon is just one more example of the hazards of being in the limelight, with all kinds of insinuations and speculations being made, depending on which side you’re on. While Failon’s relatives and friends believe that the shooting incident which eventually claimed the broadcaster’s wife was “self inflicted,” there are those who have not totally ruled out the possibility of foul play due to alleged inconsistencies between the statements of Failon and other witnesses, mainly the household help, plus the fact that the scene of the shooting has been cleaned, or “sanitized” as some policemen claim.

By the very nature of their work, politicians and celebrities are naturally high profile, with people interested in everything they say and do, wanting to watch everything that happens in their lives. The same is also true for people in the media industry—broadcasters, radio commentators and columnists—since they are heard and read by many Filipinos who look upon them not merely as purveyors of news but people who can make sense out of the news. As happens in many cases, their opinions are listened to, and they have the ability to sway the thinking of people and convince them into believing a particular point-of-view.

In this sense, media people themselves can become as high profile as the very people they write or report about. The visibility of those who work in the broadcast media (or in the case of newspaper columnists, their “readability”) turns them into familiar and “public” figures. The downside, however, is that they can also be targets especially by those who envy them, and those whose delicate toes they may have stepped on and perhaps turned them into enemies in the process. Which is why columnists and commentators are cautioned to be fair in the way they handle certain issues, and must avoid being perceived as nasty, arrogant and unfair because ultimately, this can come back to them with a vengeance.

Obviously, there are those who have an axe to grind against Ted Failon, and it is widely perceived that Quezon City policemen have a big one since he, together with co-anchor Korina Sanchez, have been very critical of the QCPD particularly on the suspected rubout of suspects in NIA Road in Quezon City several months ago. It can also be recalled that from time to time, the Tambalang Failon at Sanchez anchors bedevil the Philippine National Police on the issue of the “Euro-generals.”

The manhandling of the household help, the ensuing fracas in the hospital and the so-called “over-reaction” of the PNP are being perceived that indeed, the police have found an opportunity to exact vengeance against Failon for all those times that he made them look “bad” in the eyes of the people.

A person is supposed to be innocent until proven otherwise. But in the case of Failon, people perceive the actions taken by the Quezon City police as pointing towards the conclusion that the broadcaster is guilty of some crime. Worse, some police officials may be trying to get their “15 minutes of fame,” coming out with unfounded (and some say) irresponsible theories and statements, like the body of the wife may have been moved from the bedroom to the bathroom or that Failon had scratch marks because the couple quarreled in the car. The operatives who initially processed the scene of the incident may have done a haphazard job because they failed to see the bullet mark in the bathroom.

One of the hazards of being high profile is that you become “fair game” to everybody. Just take a look at Manny Villar, whose early declaration of his bid for the presidency has made him a target allegedly of a demolition job by his rivals and enemies. Villar’s allies are naturally complaining that the ethics committee case against the senator is nothing but pure harassment “in aid of demolition.” Then there’s former president Erap Estrada who continues to be popular, going around the country with his “Lakbay Pasasalamat” sorties, and is considered to be a “threat” both by opposition members who are casting a moist eye on the presidency and the administration. People suspect that the revival of the Bubby Dacer case is part of a demolition job to derail any political plans of Estrada.

Being a high profile person is indeed “hazardous to your health”—physically, mentally and emotionally—as Failon must now be discovering for himself, having been hounded and demonized by those who have an axe to grind against him.

This tragedy brings to mind Richard Nixon (who I visited at his home in Saddle River, New Jersey together with Vice President Doy Laurel in 1989). Nixon would have been one of the greatest presidents of the United States, except for that one big mistake: Watergate—which his enemies relentlessly used to devour him and ultimately bring him down. But despite the disgrace, the criticisms and the condemnation he received in the hands of his critics and enemies, Nixon was able to take his fate with equanimity.

High profile people should remember the wise words that Richard Nixon said during his farewell speech to the White House staff in August of 1974: “…The greatness comes and you are really tested, when you take some knocks, some disappointments, when sadness comes, because only if you have been in the deepest valley can you ever know how magnificent it is to be on the highest mountain.

“…Always give your best, never get discouraged, never be petty; always remember, others may hate you, but those who hate you don’t win unless you hate them, and then you destroy yourself.”