Nicole should just wear the burqa

The Philippine press, by and large, has conducted itself responsibly in covering the “Nicole” rape trial. I don’t recall any media outlet publishing any pictures that would identify Nicole. I also don’t recall any of them publishing her real name. Even when her name was publicly divulged during the reading of the verdict early this week, I don’t think any newspaper or network made it public, even though it would have been a justifiable thing to do given that the court itself has outed her.

Which is why I’m a little miffed by all the brickbat coming from Nicole’s camp, which has been complaining about how the media has been hounding her.

Let’s set something straight here: Nicole used the media to publicize her case and draw public sympathy, which was essential for her quest for justice. Her supporters — the women’s and progressive groups mainly — found an ally in the press. Regardless of how the press covered this story, it sustained public interest in Nicole, which was good for her cause.

And there is no problem with Nicole trying to get the press on her side, given the injustice she suffered. The media, after all, has the tendency to sympathize with the powerless.

But truth be told, Nicole and her camp, by insisting that Nicole’s real name not be used and her identifiable picture not be published, had put the press in such a very uncomfortable position, mainly because these conditions hindered them in performing their job.

Each time Nicole called a press conference, I can imagine the dilemma faced by photojournalists and cameramen: How can they do their job – that is, take images of a violated woman — but remain true to their commitment to protect her privacy? Nicole must have been a tough assignment for photojournalists and cameramen. But they were nonetheless OK with this imposition and they, in fact, performed professionally.

For Nicole’s camp now to complain that her privacy is being violated — that’s just not right. I hate to say this but if Nicole and her people value her privacy so much, she should hide from the press altogether.

Given that she seems to have no problem showing her face to journalists or the people covering these press conferences, she should take away from the press the burden of protecting her identity.

She should just wear the goddamn burqa.

“Nicole” is a legitimate story. The public and the media naturally want news about her. But by putting on the press the burden of protecting her privacy, while she sashays about only with her sunglasses on, Nicole is in effect setting up journalists, who come off like unfeeling assholes, like mean sharks and hungry vultures, each time they chase her with their cameras or pepper her with questions.