The stereotype of congressmen that many have is summed up in Mark Twain's acerbic crack: "Suppose you were an idiot. And suppose you were a member of Congress. But I repeat myself."

That image is shattered in Congressman Juan Edgardo Angara's letter on opposition against his House Bill 162, compelling the right of reply. "Shuffling Backwards Into The Future" column, published second week of Janaury, asserted that Anagara's HB 100, which bans media from tagging suspects as either "Muslim" or "Christian", also fell short of constitutional standards.

The press has no quarrel with rebuttals, the column said. Media codes of ethics require reporters to ensure the other side is heard and they ban religious tags - Buddhist, Taoist, atheist, not just Muslim or Christian - when irrelevant to the story.

"As in other democratic countries, our Constitution (Sec. 4, Art III) provides: "No law shall be passed abridging the freedom of speech, expression, and of the press", it added. No ifs and buts in this iron-clad stricture against prior restraint.

"Media can not be told what to publish," the Cebu Citizens-Press Council points out. "(Likewise, it) can not be told what not to publish" But a legislated right to reply operates as a command. And so does a muzzle on use of religious affiliations "This is prior restraint."

Angara's reply is measured, sensible and courteous. His points deserve hearing. Ana bridged version of his letter appears below:

"I've listened to media groups around the country. Their position is: As a matter of practice and self-regulation, media already grants right of reply to persons written about or criticized.

"This led me to decide, as early as two weeks ago, to no longer pursue this bill. I've written the Cebu Citizens Press Council outlining my decision to no longer push for the bill in view of current media practices. There may also be some practical difficulties in enforcement."

Rep. Bienvenido Abante, who sponsored the bill, is of the same sentiment. Rep. Monico Puentevella wishes to dialogue with media in Bacolod to get an assurance of fairness.

He feels some media outfits unfairly engaged in politics during elections..

Angara co-authored with Reps Pangalian Balindong and Mujiv Hataman HB 100. This would prohibit the use of the words "Muslim or Christian" to describe criminals or suspects:

"This bill is meant to curb stereotypes perpetuated by referring to suspects as "Moro" or "Muslim". Its purpose is to foster integration of our brother Muslims into the larger fabric of Philippine society. Even the Office of Muslim Affairs acknowledged that such labels do tend to perpetuate stereotypes of Muslims as scary, law-breaking persons. We well know this is not an accurate picture.

"Of course, we in Congress serve as public trustee. And we welcome constructive feedback on these bills. These are still subject to change (or in the case of right to reply bill, subject to potential inaction). Legislation should always be a dialogue between legislators and the public.

"Freedom of speech and freedom of the press are rights which are justly accorded the highest importance in our bill of rights. They do form the backbone of a free society.

I've filed bills seeking to give greater scope and meaning to a citizen's (and media's) constitutionally-guaranteed right to information, namely HB 194. This is titled: "An Act Implementing the right of access to information on matters of public concern...."

"Another is HB 116. This requires government agencies and corporations to disclose the identity, nature of work and compensation of their foreign consultants. Hopefully, these bills, if enacted into law, will aid citizens and media in fighting for good government.

"We realize that editorial functions are privately exercised prerogatives. Nonetheless, we appeal to our friends in media for fairness and judiciousness".

The press welcomes your "sensitivity to constitutional values that underpinned your decision to withdraw the bill", we wrote Mr. Angara. "And your appeal for fairness will evoke a response based on shared commitment to journalism's most demanding standards."

Discrimination against Muslims is a reality. We know that from experience. And in it's study "Measuring the Bias Against Muslims," Philippine Human Development report says bias can range from names, head scarves, jobs to difficulties in getting land for cemeteries.

"A majority of Filipinos (55%) think that Muslims are probably more run amok, although probably not oppressive to women (59%)," the report says. "A plurality believes that Muslims are probably terrorists or extremists (47%). There are equal percentages (44%) of those who believe that Muslims probably secretly hate all non Muslims and those who do not."

Part of the solution to this ugly bias is for press groups to strengthen and institutionalize their self-regulating mechanisms, as the Cebu Citizens-Press Council has shown. It is not to shred the Constitution.

With level-headed legislators like Mr Angara, why Mark Twain's other remark can become outdated: "I don't mind what Congress does, as long as they don't do it in the streets and frighten the horses."

(E-mail: juan_mercado@boholchronicle.com)