People on social media love journalist James Deakin for regularly voicing out everyone’s problems with transportation in Manila but yesterday, he went viral for something totally different — and it wasn’t good.
People were reacting to Deakin’s photo with former Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. that was posted on Wednesday by Filipino American mixed martial artist Brandon Vera. Also in the photo is architect and urband planner Jun Palafox.
Bongbong is the son of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos who stole billions of dollars while he ruled the country from the mid-’60s to the mid-’80s.
Apart from the family’s negative legacy, Bongbong himself is under a negative spotlight for protesting the results of the 2016 elections. He ran and lost to Vice President Leni Robredo but alleges that this was because Robredo’s camp cheated.
Many found Deakin’s photo with Marcos to be of bad taste and saw it as a sign of support for the controversial politician.
One can never transform Bongbong Marcos' image into a pro-poor/humanitarian political figure; but boy was James Deakin able to convert himself from a well-loved host/speaker to a DESPICABLE PROPAGANDIST. pic.twitter.com/4xf9THaAcp
— Ogie Rosa (@ogie_rosa) January 21, 2018
Blogger and opinion columnist pointed out that as someone who labels himself a transportation journalist, Deakin should have understood the historical context of how Metro Manila developed, and that includes the Marcos’ role in it.
James Deakin, please don’t portray yourself as a victim of hate. Please lang. Konting perspective naman. Maraming buhay ang sinira ng BFF mong si BBM at ang pamilya nya. The Marcoses destroyed Toyota. They plundered the economy. Why do PR for BBM wittingly or unwittingly?
— Tonyo Cruz (@tonyocruz) January 21, 2018
But even if they are in a car, smiling and taking selfies, according to Deakin, the photo does not mean he is endorsing Bongbong.
“Funny that nobody even knows what it is about, but already conclusions are drawn and judgement (sic) is handed down,” he said in a Facebook post yesterday.
“So for the record, I’m not a BBM (Bongbong Marcos) defender. Nor am I a detractor. I’m a transport journalist and road safety advocate that is passionate about finding solutions to this traffic crisis we are all going through.”
Deakin also apologized for the photo and said: “I’m sorry if the perceived association offended anyone. That was not my intention.”
According to his Facebook post, Deakin was with the three men for an upcoming vlog called How do you solve a problem like Manila.
“I’m a transport journalist and road safety advocate that is passionate about finding solutions to this traffic crisis we are all going through. And that requires having conversations and interviews with a whole range of people. Not just people that I like or who agree with me. And that is the very least you should expect from an objective journalist,” he said.
Some people pointed out, though, that Bongbong is not, at least currently, a government official so there was no reason to interview him for the video.
Deakin also shared a video he did with Kris Aquino, an actress and the daughter of President Marcos’ political rival the late Ninoy Aquino, to show that he is an objective journalist. Kris reacted to this comment and felt that she was dragged into the issue.
“Was peacefully recuperating but a Road Safety Enthusiast and Influencer had to drag me as a “shield” when he got some unwanted reactions because of a picture that had been posted to drum up some noise for an upcoming vlog,” she said in an Instagram post.
Deakin has apologized to Kris for his comment.
Deakin is a journalist that usually tackles transport and traffic issues in the Philippines. He currently has more than 400,000 followers on Facebook.
So, what do you think? Are people overreacting or is Deakin in the wrong on this one? Let us know in the comments section below.
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