House Speaker Richard Nagbe Koon, has begun exhibiting the tactics of the black snake by threatening journalists covering activities at the 55th Legislature.
The House Speaker whose political wings are now becoming like those of the eagles, is quoted as threatening journalists: “If any legislative reporter assigned to the House of Representatives takes information from these chambers, I will deal with you, and we will jail you.”
The seemingly politically intoxicated Koon boastfully, yet ignorantly, continued in a rather childish tone: “I told you all, whether you go up or down, I was going to be the speaker.”
It is against this backdrop that we use this medium to decry his venom, including unprovoked assault on those journalists, whose sacred responsibility is to report to the public those daily events taking place at the Capitol Building.
We use this medium to direct the cash-made speaker to where history resides, and presides, and let him be historically tutored or refreshed, to know what can happen to those who threatened journalists; those who abused power; those who used public offices to rob the state, and those whose remarks ran counterproductive to the behavior expected of public servants.
Henceforth, Koon should water his anger, regulate his speed as he runs that beautiful office, because those who politically run without checking brakes often fall victims.
Let it be known to Speaker Koon and his likes, that public offices are master bedrooms for the people, and not individuals. As such, he and his likes should refrain those ugly acts that create dent on the image of the country as a whole.
His treats are hostile, and deeply troubling for a democratic society.
Koon’s threat to incarcerate accredited journalists assigned at the Capital Building, who are simply carrying out their constitutional and professional responsibilities, whether made in jest or seriousness, have a chilling effect on press freedom and undermine the vital role the media plays in fostering transparency and accountability in governance.