natelog

Attempt to revive a “fledging” blog

2007-04-14T10:39:00.000+08:00

I'm really not much into web logging, though I managed to do a handful in my blog. My former “bossing” and friend, HBM, has persistently goaded me to update my blog – the last entry of which was created more than four months ago already. I couldn't, because the “force” was weak on me.

Honestly, I had always viewed blogging as quite a waste of time, as I have always been busy with other activities. I didn't even agree considering media and journalist blogs collectively as a legit part of even the alternative online media. But as time went by, the fairly independent nature of blog, the bloggers' mentally-stimulating “rants and raves” (phrase which I think has become a blogging cliché), and the prospect of earning (I was amazed by the possibility of hitting big, just by writing about my niche), had me considering re-”testing” the waters, dipping, and immersing in it.

So here I am. I may not be as passionate, as productive, and as stimulating as the better bloggers, but I will try. I may, or may not last, but at least I tried to throw punches.

Finally, a gold!

2006-12-11T22:14:00.000+08:00

After 12 long days, the Philippines finally assured itself a breakthrough win in the 2006 Doha Asian Games.

Just barely a month after unheralded Filipino Ronnie Alcano softly, but swiftly broke his way en route to a World Pool Championship crown, the Philippines has again imposed its will over the pool table. This time, the country swept its way past the opposition in the 9-ball singles competition of the Asian Games (Day 12), as Jeff de Luna and Antonio Gabica scored convincing wins in their semifinal matches to set up an All-Filipino final.

The twin victories ended the country's "long" drought in the current edition of Asiad. Before the breakthrough triumphs, the Philippines has won only three silvers and six bronzes, good for only a 26th spot in the medal standings, and a lowly 6th among its Southeast Asian (SEA) neighbors -- Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, and Vietnam. The country topped last year's SEA Games in Manila.

De Luna upset highly-rated Taiwanese Ching Sung Yang, 11-7, while Gabica crushed South Korean Jeoung Young Hwa, 11-5. With the latest success, the country is expected to climb to at least the 21st spot in the standings, but will still lag behind its five SEA rivals.

The Pinoy cue artists' success highlighted a whopping day for the Filipinos eager to prove that last year's SEAG domination was no fluke.

In boxing, one of a few sports where the country is pinning its hopes, two Pinoy pugs, flyweight Violito Payla and bantamweight Joan Tipon have advanced to the gold medal round in contrasting fashions.

Payla, regarded as the current tournament's best pound-for-pound boxer by one of the ring commentators, made short work of Chinese Yang Bo via a RSC-O (referee stopped contest-outscored) in the third round after hiking his lead to 20 points, 40-20.

Tipon, on the other hand, had to go through the proverbial eye of the needle in scathing past defending champion and 2004 Olympics silver medallist Thai Worapoj Petchkoom, winning on a countback, after finishing the four-round tussle tied at 13.
The bout, easily considered one of the best in this year's Asiad, saw both pugilists fighting a highly-tactical, but very entertaining clash. In the end, Tipon proved to be the better boxer for the night.

Payla and Tipon will have to hurdle Thai Somjit Jongjohor and Korean Han Soon Chul, respectively, to add up to the golden harvest of the country.

Elsewhere, the tennis duo of Eric Taino and Cecil Mamiit reached the doubles' medal round after outlasting their Uzbek rival, 3-6, 7-6, 7-6. They will next face the multi-titled Indian pair of Mahesh Bhupathi and Leander Paes.

A call to end an abuse

2006-11-27T17:13:00.000+08:00

The Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility has just released a statement calling journalists and media organizations to support the class civil suit to be filed against Mike Arroyo.

Elsewhere, the Southeast Asian Press Alliance network of press freedom advocates and other media organizations across the region have rallied behind the Philippine press.

STATEMENT OF THE CENTER FOR MEDIA FREEDOM AND RESPONSIBILITY ON THE CIVIL SUIT AGAINST MR. JOSE MIGUEL ARROYO

Libel suits are among the perils journalists must face in this and many other countries including those where press freedom has long flourished. Most journalists are aware that violations of the libel law have corresponding consequences under the Philippine justice system.

A libel suit is properly decided in the courts. The libel suits filed by Mrs, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s husband, Jose Miguel Arroyo, against 43 reporters, columnists, editors and other journalists are now sub judice. The Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility (CMFR), in any case, does not comment on the merits of any libel case until it has been resolved one way or the other.

CMFR does not dispute the right of Mr. Arroyo to file a libel suit against anyone he believes has wronged him through a libelous imputation. But CMFR believes that the sheer number of suits he has filed indicates that the suits are primarily intended to intimidate the press and to silence criticism against himself as well as his wife’s administration.

The primary reason libel suits are feared in the Philippine media community is their being, in this country, criminal offenses in the eyes of the law. A journalist can thus be arrested on a charge of libel, and, if found guilty, sentenced to a prison term in addition to being made to pay damages that can run into the millions.

CMFR initiated and has supported the call for the decriminalization of libel for over a decade. It urges media organizations, media advocacy groups and individual media practitioners to support this long-overdue step towards enhancing the exercise of press freedom in the Philippines.

In the meantime that the present libel law remains in force, however, the media community must assume the responsibility of opposing its use as a tool of harassment and as a means of eroding the press’ constitutionally protected freedom. Most, if not all, of the libel suits may not prosper. But the subjects of those suits are painfully aware of the context of these actions. They have not yet forgotten how the Proclamation of Emergency earlier this year occasioned the surveillance, harassment and intimidation of members of the media and news organizations. They know they are confronting powerful forces which have not shied away from taking bold measures to strike against the autonomy of the press.

Whether the charges prosper or not, their filing of so many cases has damaged the institutional force of the press as well as undermined the task of journalists. Their task, of monitoring government and holding powerful figures to account, strikes at democracy itself. It is in recognition of the damage that the suits have wreaked on the state of the free press that the civil suit against Mr. Arroyo was initiated by 42 of the 43 journalists he has sued for libel together with CMFR and the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP).

The damage Mr. Arroyo’s suits against journalists has caused and may further cause is not limited to the erosion of press freedom. It is also a threat to Philippine democracy itself, given the crucial role that the press performs in behalf of the sovereign citizenry. He must be stopped, and others prevented from copying him.

Under these circumstances, CMFR is calling on the entire media and press community to join the 42 journalists, CMFR and the NUJP in this class action suit in behalf of the entire press community. While statements and protests have their uses, the press community must now take more concrete action which can include, beyond the filing of the civil suit, bringing the issue to the international arena.

Statement of support for Philippine journalists from free expression groups around Southeast Asia

26 November 2006

We, representatives of journalist, media, and free expression organizations from around Southeast Asia, and collaborating under the network of the Southeast Asian Press Alliance (SEAPA), applaud the initiative of our colleagues in the Philippines to defend their rights in the face of blatant abuse and harassment from the husband of Philippine president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

We strongly support the filing of a class civil suit against Mr. Jose Miguel “Mike” Arroyo for his abuse of power and his clear attempt to undermine press freedom in an important member of the Southeast Asian community.

The Philippines is in the clear minority of countries in Southeast Asia with a functioning—if perennially vulnerable—free press. In this light, the deterioration of the conditions for press freedom under the regime of President Arroyo is a troubling trend that causes anxiety in the rest of the region.

We note with alarm that over the past months, Mr. Arroyo has sued 43 reporters, columnists, editors and publishers of various publications for libel. Many of the journalists he sued had linked Mr. Arroyo to unexplained wealth, vote-buying for his wife's 2004 electoral win, and money laundering.

Although all these issues comprise serious public interest matters that merit scrutiny by the people through the press, the President’s husband is seeking damages totaling P141 million (about US$2.8 million), thereby sending a chilling message to journalists and the Philippine media in general. Backdropped by the alarming rate of murder of journalists in the Philippines, particularly under the Arroyo administration, the antics of the President’s husband underscore the overall decline of official respect for press freedom in the country.

It is in this light that we encourage our Philippine colleagues in their efforts and initiative to fight back against this clear attempt to harass their ranks. If the presidential spouse intends to send a message that journalists who dare to cross him will face a libel suit, then the victims – both the press and the people – must push back with a stronger message that contempt of press freedom is contempt of the people.

Retaliating against the charges filed against them, the journalists are in turn suing Mr. Arroyo for abuse of power and for seeking to undermine civil liberties, and they are therefore seeking P87 million (nearly US$1.75 million) in damages, in a symbolic campaign to charge Mr. Arroyo one peso for each of the 87 million Filipinos he wants to deprive of free expression.

The countersuit against Mr. Arroyo—signed by 42 of journalists he had sued yet evidently failed to intimidate—is inspiring, groundbreaking, and potentially standard-setting not just for the Philippine media, but for free expression in the whole of Southeast Asia, if not the world.

As one of those rare havens for democracy in the region, and as party to the International Covenant for Civil and Political Rights, the Philippines is challenged to set a higher standard with respect to human rights, of which freedom of expression is paramount. Beyond the court case against Mr. Arroyo, we also urge Philippine legislators to decriminalize libel, a move that has found support from more than 600 journalists and 30 local and foreign media organizations.

The Signatories

Signed by:
Southeast Asian Press Alliance
Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility, Philippines
Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism
Alliance of Independent Journalists, Indonesia
Institute for the Study on Free Flow of Information, Indonesia
Centre for Independent Journalism, Malaysia
Mizzima News, Burma
Timor Leste Journalists Association
Aliran, Malaysia
Alliance for Freedom of Expression, Cambodia
Malaysiakini, Malaysia

* The Southeast Asian Press Alliance is comprised of the Alliance of Independent Journalists (Indonesia), Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility (Philippines), Institute for the Studies on Free Flow of Information (Indonesia), Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism and Thai Journalists Association.

Max Soliven, 77

2006-11-24T12:14:00.000+08:00

Condolences to the family of The Philippine Star publisher Max Soliven.

News flash here

Pacman getting help from the media?

2006-11-23T18:05:00.000+08:00

For under just nine minutes, Manny Pacquiao may have proven the doubters wrong with an overpowering display of speed and power in pummeling Mexican boxing legend Erik Morales in their third and final face-off. In doing so, the Filipino icon cemented his status as the world’s best pound-for-pound boxer.

But is Pacman really that good? Is he really as fast as his rapid rise to stardom? Does he actually have the power to punch his way to global prominence?

An online boxing analyst says Pacquiao gets an extra lift from the media.

According to Alex Vidal of PhilBoxing.com, it is the “wonders” of media technology that “helped prop up Pacquiao as a global sporting icon.”

“Media brought Pacquiao’s electrifying victories to the households making him an overnight sensation and a national heartthrob,” Vidal added.

Vidal pointed out that two other Filipino boxing legends could have equaled Pacquiao’s global fame had they had the support of cable television and pay-per-view system during their time. The online writer was referring to the exploits of world-beaters Pancho Villa and Flash Elorde, who dominated their weight division during their time.

“In a nutshell, Pacquiao owes his fortune and stardom in one way or the other to the media,” Vidal concluded.

Click here to read the whole article

2006-11-23T17:38:00.000+08:00

CMFR Philippines Bulletin:
Philippine media to file class suit vs. president’s husband

FILIPINO JOURNALISTS and media organizations will file a civil suit against the husband of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo for abuse of rights and violating freedom of expression.
This was announced during a press briefing by lawyer Harry Roque at the University of the Philippines Law Center on 22 November 2006. Roque described the legal action to be taken by journalists as “an unprecedented social experiment.” It is, however, based on Articles 19, 20, 21 and 32 of the Philippine Civil Code.
Over the past months, Arroyo’s spouse, Jose Miguel, has sued 43 media practitioners for libel. The libel cases were widely believed to be aimed at creating a “chilling effect” on the press which has been critical of Mr. Arroyo.
The press has been reporting on Arroyo’s alleged unexplained wealth, his involvement in alleged cheating to help his wife win the presidential elections, and his alleged profiting from government projects.
All but one of the 43 members of media who were charged by Arroyo joined other journalists and media organizations in filing the class suit. The complaint is expected to be submitted to the Makati Regional Trial Court on the last week of November.
“It is now time to do something apart from protesting Arroyo’s libel suits,” said Luis Teodoro, board member of the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility (CMFR), a non-government group that is supporting the class suit along with the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP).
“He is not out to defend his honor,” Roque said of Arroyo. “Despite his knowledge that as a public figure he is open to fair comment and reporting on his public life, Jose Miguel Arroyo continues to harass member of the press with a barrage of malicious libel suits,” he added.
The Southeast Asian Press Alliance has pledged P100,000 to support the journalists’ case, according to Roby Alampay, the regional media organization’s executive director.
Roque said the journalists welcome contributions from all sectors, except politicians, in order to raise a bigger filing fee. More damages can be sought if more money is raised by the time the suit is filed.
The journalists plan to sue Arroyo for P87 million (US$1.74 million) in damages to symbolize the country’s population of 87 million people who will suffer because of the violation of press freedom. Such an amount, however, would require a filing fee of P1.7 million (US$34,000).
If they win, the journalists vowed to use the money to put up a trust fund that would advance the cause of Philippine journalism.
Arroyo’s lawyer, Ruy Rondain, described the class suit as a “garbage case.” He also said his client would file a counter-suit if the case is filed. He insisted that Arroyo was merely exercising his rights when he accused the journalists of maligning him.
- With reports from GMANews.tv and ABS-CBN Online

A call to halt press freedom assault

2006-11-15T20:48:00.000+08:00

AN URGENT CALL
Stop the Arroyo regime’s assault on press freedom

Statement of the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility

THE CENTER for Media Freedom and Responsibility calls on all media organizations, advocacy groups, lawyers’ organizations, and human rights groups to join together to stop the Arroyo regime’s assault on press freedom. CMFR is issuing this urgent appeal to preempt further government action against journalists that could severely cripple press freedom in the Philippines and destroy the very foundation of Philippine democracy.
The two latest incidents in this assault are extremely serious in their implications. In what can only be described as a blatant attempt to intimidate the press, a team of policemen tried last Monday to arrest Mia Gonzalez of the magazine Newsbreak right in the Malacañang Press Corps office itself.
Gonzalez, one of the 43 journalists sued for libel by the president’s husband, Jose Miguel Arroyo, would have been arrested in the presence of several of her colleagues. Gonzalez was not in the vicinity at the time and thus escaped arrest. But the message of intimidation sent by the police was clear enough, and duly noted by journalists covering Malacañang.
This latest attempt to bully the press came on the heels of a death threat against Malaya newspaper columnist Ellen Tordesillas, again one of the 43 journalists Mr. Arroyo has sued for libel. The threat against Ms. Tordesillas could be the prelude to the escalation of press intimidation, including assassinations and attempts on journalists’ lives that have so far been limited to the community press in the provinces, where 62 journalists have been killed “in the line of duty” since 1986.
Both incidents indeed occurred in the context of the continuing harassment, intimidation and assassination of journalists which have shattered the Philippine press’ reputation for autonomy and placed the country at 142nd place among some 168 countries in the Reporters sans Frontierés Press Freedom Index, and earned it a reputation as “the most murderous place in the world” for journalists and as the second most dangerous country for journalists after Iraq.
Earlier last October, seven editors and reporters of Malaya and a former senator, again among the 43 men and women Mr. Arroyo has sued, were ordered arrested by a Manila regional trial court judge. They managed to post bail and avoided a night in jail. In a number of instances, arrest warrants have been served in the late afternoon or early evening of Fridays with the obvious intention of forcing the respondents to spend the weekend in jail. Philippine courts have also tended to hand out harsh prison terms. They have also awarded excessive and crippling damages to complainants in civil suits. Because it serves as a tool for political harassment of journalists, the libel law which criminalizes defamation continues to be a grave threat to Filipino journalists, press freedom, and democracy.
An attack on press freedom is an attack on democracy, a free press being indispensable to the discussion of public issues. It is no coincidence that Mr. Arroyo’s offensive against the media is occurring in the larger context of the Arroyo regime’s multi-pronged campaign to silence opposition to it, which has included violence against activists and the suspension of local officials allied with the opposition.
CMFR cannot overemphasize the urgency of the present situation, and urges all groups that value press freedom and democracy not only to make their voices heard in vigorous protest, but also to alert their international networks to the urgent need to restrain the authoritarian impulse driving the Arroyo regime campaign against the Philippine press and other sectors critical of it.

Organizations supporting this statement:

Southeast Asian Press Alliance

Center for Community Journalism and Development

Philippine Press Institute

Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism

Gov't paints media red

2006-08-29T12:15:00.000+08:00

The recent statement made by NSA Norberto Gonzales only confirmed fears that the government has gone "red"-fishing on the media community -- both local and foreign.

I remember Gen. Razon saying, in a recent dialogue with several media organizations, that the NPA is using an "international media organization" as a front to create disorder in the country.

Isn't this a part of the government's defensive scheme to offset its consistent failure to protect press freedom?

CMFR Philippines Alert: Government links communist group with media

A government official recently warned against possible communist infiltration of the country’s newsrooms.

During a state-sponsored forum last 21 August, national security adviser Norberto Gonzales said that there “are big possibilities in the media that there are some practitioners being courted by enemies of the state and probably successfully.”

“We are profiling everybody as you (the media) are profiling us,” Gonzales said.

Gonzales said that media had always been a primary target of the communist movement anywhere in the world because of its emphasis on propaganda.

Just last month, the Philippine National Police claimed that the communist group New People’s Army is using certain media organizations – both local and international -- as its front in undermining the government.

“It’s hard to say that there is no attempt to infiltrate media here. Media practitioners are either mercenaries or sympathizers who will continue to create issues even though they know if they are helping the leftist cause,” he said.

Gonzales claimed that he had proof of the rising influence of the left in news headlines but he did not show this. Gonzales admitted though that these communist sympathizers in media were only a few.

“But (what is important) is not in terms of their numbers or percentage but if they are able to present their view effectively,” said Gonzales.

“What will be controversial is the action of the government. But so far, you have observed that the government has not in any way clamped down on media. Our attitude is that these are additional challenges to us,” added Gonzales, who was one of the key figures in President Gloria Arroyo’s declaration of a state of national emergency last February. The declaration sent a chilling effect across media with the raid on oppositionist newspaper The Daily Tribune and the arrests and harassment of certain journalists and media organizations. (with reports from the Inquirer News Service) #

More libel suits...

2006-08-29T11:50:00.000+08:00

RECENT LIBEL CASES HOUND PHILIPPINE MEDIA; BILL APPROVED TO STOP USE OF LIBEL AS HARASSMENT

Solon files libel vs. local journalist

A local journalist was recently slapped with libel by a congressman in Pampanga, 80 kilometers north of Manila.

Dante Fabian, a Sun.Star Pampanga reporter, was sued by Pampanga Rep. Francis Nepomuceno over three stories on the alleged P19-million water pipes scam in Pampanga’s first district, which the official represents.

In his complaint filed last 03 August, Nepomuceno called the stories a form of “malicious reporting.”

Narciso Sula, the paper’s general manager, said Fabian was “singled out” while one of the sources of the stories, Angeles City Mayor Carmelo Lazatin, Nepomuceno’s longtime political rival, was spared from litigation.

Members of the Pampanga Press Club condemned Nepomuceno’s filing of libel as an apparent attempt to harass a member of the press.

Nepomuceno denied using the libel suit to harass Fabian.

“If I had wanted to harass him I would not have resorted to this legal process,” he told the Manila-based Philippine Daily Inquirer on Wednesday. “All I want from [Fabian] is fair reporting.”

He said Lazatin and the others liable for the “defamatory” stories would be given their day in court. The paper was not cited as a respondent.

But Fabian said he had always gone out of his way to seek Nepomuceno’s side. Always, he said, Nepomuceno did not reply.

His reports, Fabian said, were based on the official letters of local village leaders who claimed they did not receive water pipes distributed in 2005 by the Department of Public Works and Highways and funded by Nepomuceno’s priority development assistance fund (PDAF), more commonly known as “pork barrel fund.”

In his complaint, Nepomuceno said at least five investigation reports from the Office of the Ombudsman for Luzon, Public Works Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. and the Commission on Audit’s regional office “confirmed my innocence and that the alleged anomaly that they were trying to impute unto me were proved baseless.”

Fabian said there was reason to pursue the story because village leaders continued to report the non-delivery of the water pipes.

Lazatin said he exposed the supposed anomaly in light of President Macapagal-Arroyo’s campaign against graft.

“[Fabian] should not have been sued. Nobody should be sued because there are documentary evidences [which show] that something went wrong,” Lazatin said.

He said it was not Nepomuceno but the officials’ employees who should be compelled to make a proper accounting of the “missing pipes.” (based on reports by the Inquirer News Service) #

Deposed president files US$0.6-M libel vs. broadsheet

Former President Joseph Estrada filed a P30-million (US$582,000) libel suit against the staff a Manila-based newspaper and two individuals on 03 August for allegedly accusing him of malicious charges.

In his 19-page complaint, Estrada filed the said case against reporter Christine Herrera and editors of the Manila Standard Today, Joelle Marie Pelaez, and her mother, Blanquita, at his rest house in Tanay, Rizal, where he is detained while being tried on plunder charges.

Estrada said he was filing the libel suit to let the people know that the charges leveled against him have ruined “his name, honor and integrity.”

Pelaez claimed that her name was used by Estrada and his allies to launder billions worth of government securities and bonds. She has filed cases against Estrada and a number of bank officials.

The story was published by Standard Today in a series of articles from 15 to 19 May.

In a Manila Standard Today interview, Pelaez alleged that Estrada and his cronies used her name to launder P2.07 billion (US$40 million) in securities, bonds and other debt instruments in 2000.

Estrada was ousted during a popular revolt on 24 January 2001 – just less than three years after he was elected as president – for charges of corruption and plunder.

Presidential spouse suing hard-hitting brothers for libel

Jose Miguel Arroyo, the husband of Philippine president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, is planning to file a libel suit against the Tulfo brothers for their alleged "rehashed and malicious lies."

Jesus Santos, Arroyo’s lawyer, said that the planned libel suit stemmed from the recent tirades made by broadcast journalists Ramon, Raffy, and Erwin Tulfo, whose program titled “Isumbong Mo, Tulfo Brothers” was recently cancelled by its carrier, the government-owned RPN-9.

The television station had earlier issued a statement saying the decision not to renew the contract of the Tulfos was a "painful decision though it was done without fear or favor."

The Tulfos however, claimed in a press conference two weeks ago in Quezon City that it was Arroyo who had requested RPN-9 not to renew the contract of their television program in retaliation for their exposes on the alleged smuggling activities of Vicky Toh and her brother Tomas Toh.

Santos said his client had nothing to do with the cancellation of the show of the Tulfos.

Ramon, the eldest of the siblings, had claimed that the Tohs are virtually "untouchable" at the Bureau of Customs because they are protected by the Arroyo.

He had also claimed it was President (Gloria) Arroyo who gave him the go-signal to do the expose.

Santos said the Bureau of Customs had just concluded a seven-month investigation "which found no record or evidence against the Tohs. The investigation report was signed by six people and noted by two directors and one deputy Customs commissioner. Again we dare Ramon to call these officials liars."

Mr. Arroyo has sued or is suing six politicians, two publishers, and 12 editors and writers, including the Tulfo brothers.

In an P11-million (US$213,385) damage suit against Lito Banayo, a former The Daily Tribune columnist and spokesman for opposition senator Panfilo Lacson, Arroyo complained Mr. Banayo had described him as "el esposo gordo" (the fat spouse). This description was "obviously meant to denigrate me for my rotundity," Arroyo complained.

Appearing in court for a pretrial hearing of the Banayo case, Arroyo brought along bomb-sniffing dogs and presidential palace guards, who barred the media from the proceedings, according to court sources.

The judge, Concepcion Alarcon-Vergara, ordered Mr. Banayo’s lawyer to cross-examine Mr. Arroyo without being given time to study Mr. Arroyo’s 102-page testimony.

Two weeks ago, Malaya newspaper publisher Jake Macasaet, along with his editors and reporters, were compelled to attend a pretrial conference after being arraigned on Arroyo’s libel charges.

All have pleaded not guilty to maliciously publishing a May 2004 article in which former opposition senator Francisco Tatad named Mr. Arroyo as "chief cheating operator".

Tatad, however, was dropped from the charge sheet after he claimed he was misquoted.

Ellen Tordesillas, Malaya chief of reporters, was also originally among those accused, but she was dropped from the case for unknown reasons.

Tordesillas, a veteran journalist who is being treated for cancer, said the case had shown her first-hand how such suits were "really expensive" in terms of time, money and effort.

"I had to go to court even if I had just finished chemotherapy," she complained. "Lawsuits are one way to pressure the media into silence by intimidation."

Broadcaster’s conviction affirmed

The Court of Appeals (CA) recently affirmed the conviction of a journalist for 14 counts of libel arising from several articles he had written nearly a decade ago about a customs officer.

Abante Tonite columnist and part-time television broadcaster Raffy Tulfo was previously convicted by Judge Priscilla Mijares of the Pasay City Regional Trial Court, sentencing him to two years, four months and one day in prison for each of the 14 counts – equivalent to 32 years and eight months – plus a fine of over P14.7 million (US$285,000).

In its 31 July 2006 resolution, the CA said the prosecution had successfully proven that Tulfo’s stories were written in “reckless disregard” for the truth.

According to the decision, the complainant Carlos So, a former Bureau of Customs intelligence officer, was pictured as an extortionist, smuggler, grafter, corrupt public official, womanizer and a violator of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, among others.

Bill stops use of libel to harass media

In a recent positive development, the House of Representatives approved on third and final reading House Bill 77 requiring libel suits against journalists, publications or broadcast stations be filed at the regional trial court of the province or city where the journalist, publication or broadcast station holds its principal office.

The approval enables the bill’s transmission to the Senate. Once a bicameral version of the bill has been approved by both the House of Representatives and Senate, it goes to the Office of the President for approval.

According to the said bill, civil actions connected with such libel suits should also be filed in the same court where the criminal complaint is filed.

Cebu Rep. Raul del Mar, the bill’s sponsor, said the bill will prevent individuals from using libel as a convenient tool to harass journalists.

“Libel, whether filed as a criminal or civil action, is used as a convenient legal tool to harass journalists, especially the community newspaper and broadcast practitioners,” Del Mar said, stressing the need to address this particular concern of local journalists.

“The community journalist and his organization, mostly financially handicapped and already afflicted with all sorts of pressures and threats, need immediate relief from the present rule on venue of libel cases, whether criminal or civil, which create an opportunity for oppression,” the lawmaker said.

Under prevailing court rules, Del Mar said the complainant or offended party, if he is a public officer, can file the complaint in Manila if his office is in Manila or in the office outside Manila if his office is located there.

If he is a private person, the venue is his place of residence at the time of the commission of the offense.

Because of this, a newspaper or broadcast station in Aparri or Jolo, Cebu or Davao can be made to answer a complaint filed in Metro Manila where the complainant resides although the cause of action did not arise in Metro Manila.

Del Mar noted that this situation is not changed by the fact that the complainant or offended party has the option to file the action at the regional trial court of the province or city where the libelous article is printed or first published. This is because the offended party usually does not exercise that option since he chooses the venue that is far away from the principal office of the defendant.

Just recently, two separate filed libel suits were set for pre-trial in the coming months in Makati and Quezon City – both located in Metro Manila – against the staff of Bandillo ng Palawan, a community newspaper based in Puerto Princesa, Palawan, around 600 kilometers south of Manila. ###

MTRCB strikes again, suspends The Correspondents

2006-08-25T15:47:00.000+08:00

CMFR Philippines Alert: Movie/TV board suspends documentary

For airing an episode showing individuals using drugs, a documentary program of a popular network was recently suspended by the country’s movie and television review board.

In its memorandum dated last 15 August, the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) suspended the ABS-CBN Network’s documentary program The Correspondents for three consecutive weeks or three episodes.

The suspension arose from the program’s 26 June 2006 episode entitled, “Ang Pinoy Rasta (The Filipino Rasta),” which “featured the actual smoking of marijuana [of a young man] in the presence of his father who, in turn, confessed that he smoked marijuana with his son occasionally.”

Like in many countries, the use and sale of drug marijuana (cannabis) are illegal in the Philippines.

MTRCB had issued an earlier memorandum, released 10 days after the episode was aired, reprimanding the ABS-CBN for projecting, through the show, “that smoking marijuana is an enjoyable activity … sending a strong message that [it’s] okay.”

The earlier memorandum noted that the father had even said that smoking marijuana had no ill effects on his health.

Through their counsel, the show’s representatives asserted that the documentary was not about drug use, but about Rastafari, “a Jamaican religious practice adopted by some Filipinos as a way of life.” The network’s representatives said the offending portion had not been done in a manner that showed marijuana smoking as enjoyable.

Current affairs head Luchi Cruz-Valdez was quoted by national daily Philippine Daily Inquirer as saying that since the network was practicing self-regulation, the program producers refrained from showing celebrities, who are considered role models, in the controversial scene. Instead, they opted to feature the unknown Rastafarian and his father.

According to Valdez, the episode in question was aired at 1:20 a.m. and carried the Parental Guidance (PG-13) warning.

The monitoring report filed by MTRCB’s special agents on 03 July, however, asserted that “scenes [depicting] the actual use of prohibited drugs are beyond the PG classification and [therefore are] not fit for television viewing.”

The board pointed out that Presidential Decree No. 1986 (PD 1986) “clearly provides that the board … has the power to approve or disapprove, delete objectionable portions … which in [its] judgment … are objectionable for being immoral, indecent and contrary to law …”

Signed by MTRCB chairman Consoliza Laguardia, the memorandum also noted that PD 1986 and its Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) “prohibit the airing/public showing of scenes that tend to abet the use of prohibited drugs.”

According to the review board’s rule and regulations, materials classified as PG-13 cannot include a “depiction of, or reference to, prohibited drugs or substances and their use.”

The agents emphasized in their report that the board also received complaints from other sources about the episode.

ABS-CBN stopped the airing of Correspondents last 22 August in adherence to the said decision, which they received last 17 August.

However, in an official statement, the network reiterated, “ABS-CBN News and Current Affairs protests the suspension … [and] stands by its editorial judgment.”

Valdez said that the network had filed a temporary restraining order (TRO) against the suspension at the Court of Appeals last 18 August.

In other developments, representatives of UNTV 37, Ang Dating Daan (The Old Way) Productions, and Eliseo “Brother Eli” Soriano failed to attend an adjudication hearing set by MTRCB last 22 August.

The board had earlier suspended Brother Eli’s two programs Ang Dating Daan and Itanong Mo Kay Soriano (“Ask Soriano”), aired on UNTV 37, because of statements made by Soriano against Iglesia ni Cristo (“Church of Christ”) – a rival sect – the Arroyo government, and the present board.

“After being rated X, a producer can apply for reclassification and his TV material will be reviewed by a different committee,” Laguardia said, in explaining the process. (based on reports by the Inquirer News Service)

Chim-"punk"

2006-08-24T16:03:00.000+08:00

Ninja Chipmunk...

CMFR is in need of full-time writers

2006-08-16T11:20:00.000+08:00

For those interested working for the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility (CMFR), send your application NOW to staff@cmfr-phil.org

Available slot:

FULL-TIME STAFFWRITER

Applicants should be:

- Graduates of journalism course
- Must be able to speak and write well in English
- Knowledgeable in Microsoft programs, Adobe Pagemaker and Photoshop
- Knowledge in online publishing and networking an advantage
- Previous work experience in newspapers and magazines a plus

Established in 1989, CMFR publishes the PJR Reports (formerly the Philippine Journalism Review) and the Jaime V. Ongpin Awards for Excellence in Journalism (JVOAEJ) secretariat.

CMFR’s programs uphold press freedom, promote responsible journalism, and encourage journalistic excellence.

Check http://www.cmfr-phil.org or call (02) 894-1326 / (02) 894-1314 for more information.

UPDATED: Photojournalist slain in Malabon

2006-08-02T15:12:00.000+08:00

UPDATED: CMFR Philippines Killing Alert: Manila-based photojournalist slain

MANILA (CMFR) – A Metro Manila-based photojournalist was slain on 31 July in Malabon City, just north of Manila.

Based on police reports, Prudencio “Dick” Melendres, a photojournalist working for Manila-based tabloid Tanod (Guardian), had just left his home when he was murdered just before 9 a.m.

Melendres was reportedly on his way to his coverage assignment, wearing a raincoat, a jacket and a black belt bag, when four armed men shot him in a narrow alley near his house at Gozon compound in Malabon City. The victim succumbed to gunshot wounds in the chest, abdomen, and nape.

Melendres’s assassins, who wore black jackets with hoods, immediately fled after the incident aboard a passenger jeep bound for the nearby municipality of Navotas, according to a witness. Other sketchy reports said the suspects were riding two motorcycles.

The local police ruled out speculations that the murder of Melendres was linked to his job as a journalist. "Based on initial findings, the case is not work-related," Malabon City police chief Moises Guevarra said.

Local residents, who refused to be identified, believe Melendres’s killing could be related to Albert Orsolino’s case, The Philippine Star reported. Melendres was a cousin of Orsolino, a photojournalist himself, who was similarly shot dead during an ambush last 16 May.

Orsolino, who was also a former reporter covering the Malacañang (Office of the President), worked for another tabloid Saksi Ngayon (Witness Today). Police investigation showed that he was most likely killed because of a personal grudge of a neighbor.

Relatives said that after Orsolino was killed, Melendres replaced him as president of Letre Urban People Homeowners’ Association. Both Orsolino and Melendres were also members of the CAMANAVA (Caloocan-Malabon-Navotas-Valenzuela) Press Corps.

Melendres, said his uncle Ernesto Rosales, had been helping residents in the area to acquire the land on which they had been considered previously been illegal settlers, reported the Inquirer News Service.

Northern Police District (NPD) chief Leopoldo Bataoil confirmed it was “highly probable” that the killings (Orsolino’s and Melendres’s) were related.

Bataoil said Melendres apparently thought he would be killed like Orsolino because he left a sealed letter with instructions that it be opened if he was killed.

“He knew who were out to kill him and detailed it in his letter,” Bataoil said. One of two people mentioned in the letter has been taken in by the police for investigation, authorities said.

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Oscar Calderon ordered the creation of a task force, to be led by the NPD Deputy Director for Operations, Senior Supt. Constante Azares, to look into the possible link of the Melendres killing to Orsolino’s murder.

Melendres’s slay brought the total number of slain journalists – both work and non-work related – to at least 83, since democracy was restored in 1986, based on the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility’s (CMFR) working database.

This year alone, 10 media practitioners were killed. However, only four of whom were in the line of duty as listed by the CMFR. Scores of activists, peace and human rights advocates were also slain in 2006 alone, indicating a worsening climate of violence and impunity in the country.

Aside from Melendres, two activists were also slain on 31 July in separate incidents in Kalinga and Sorsogon provinces, approximately 400 and 550 kilometers north and south of Manila, respectively.

Calderon said several teams of the PNP’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Group special investigators will be deployed in areas where there have been killings of militants and journalists and help local police investigators do their jobs.

Deputy Director General Avelino Razon Jr. – head of PNP’s Task Force Usig (Prosecute) which is in charge of investigating killings of journalists and activists – said they are using the regional offices of the CIDG in investigative efforts. ###

Photojournalist gunned down

2006-07-31T16:14:00.000+08:00

CMFR Philippines Killing Alert: Manila photojournalist slain

MANILA (CMFR) – A Metro Manila-based photojournalist was slain this morning, 31 July in Malabon City, just north of Manila.

Based on initial police reports, Dick Melendrez, a photojournalist working for Manila-based tabloid Tanod (Guardian), was murdered just before 9 a.m. in front of his house in a village in the said city.

According to a report by GMANews.TV, Melendrez was allegedly a cousin of photojournalist Albert Orsolino, who was similiarly shot dead during an ambush last 17 May.

Orsolino, who was also a former reporter covering the Malacañang (President Gloria Arroyo), worked for Saksi Ngayon (Witness Today). Police investigation showed that he was killed most likely, because of a personal grudge with a neighbor.

The Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility (CMFR) is still looking into the circumstances behind Melendrez's slay.

Vigo murders "solved"?

2006-07-28T11:30:00.000+08:00

CMFR Philippines UPDATE Alert: PNP claims it “solved” Vigos’ murder

Local police declared recently that they have “solved” the recent killing of two part-time Kidapawan City-based journalists with the filing of a criminal complaint before the city prosecutor’s office against three alleged communist party members last 23 June.

Three days after the killing of George and Maricel Vigo – two human rights advocates who also worked as part-time journalists – Regional police chief German Doria announced that the Sparrow Unit of the communist group New People’s Army (NPA) was behind the Vigo killings. Doria identified one of the three suspects as Dionisio Madanggit, allegedly a member of the Sparrow Unit of NPA Front 51.

North Cotabato deputy provincial police chief Jose Calimutan, who headed Task Force Vigo, reiterated last 18 July that the police have done their part. “It’s now in the hands of the prosecution,” he said, as quoted by online news agency Mindanews.

The Vigo couple was riding on their motorcycle on their way home when shot by motorcycle-riding gunmen at a local subdivision at around 5 p.m. last 19 June.

A day after the murder took place, the police formed Task Force Vigo, composed of the Police Regional Office (PRO 12), the Philippine National Police’s (PNP) Criminal Investigation Detection Group (CIDG), and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).

Co-founders of the Federation of Reporters for Equality and Empowerment (FREE), the two continued to do part-time media work until their death -- George hosted the Tingog sa Kabatan-unan (Voice of the Youth), a 30-minute radio program of the CFSI aired every Monday noon, while Maricel hosted the Kalihukan sa Kongreso (Congress Affairs) of Rep. Talino over DXND every Sunday noon.

Doria said George was suspected by the NPA of having tipped off government forces on the whereabouts of Renante Edisa, 32, alias Commander Benjie, believed to be the head of the group’s Front 51, on 21 November 2004. Edisa was killed in a military raid days later.

Citing records from the Philippine National Police, Doria said Madanggit was also responsible for the series of killings in North Cotabato, including the killing in March 2005 of a military officer of the 39th Infantry Battalion, believed to be the triggerman of Commander Benjie.

“The suspect, now the subject of the manhunt of the authorities, was also behind the killing of Magpet town councilor Gerry Lingaro, a known anti-communist advocate last December 2005, and one Engineer Villahermosa, a businessman from Makilala town who allegedly refused to pay revolutionary taxes to the NPA,” Doria said.

The family however, believes that the police have not sufficiently completed its investigation of the case.

“I know, in my heart, the authorities have not talked to the real witnesses. There are still witnesses now hiding because of fear. These are the persons who might give them clues, but are not yet that strong to come up in the open,” Maricel’s younger sister Maribel said. – based on reports by MindaNews

Filipino journalists face libel suits

2006-07-28T11:03:00.000+08:00

In a country where the laws basically provide one the freest press in the world, journalists and media organizations ironically have to endure not only the killings of their colleagues, but lawsuits as well...

CMFR Philippines LIBEL Alert: Coyiuto sues Journal Group for US$19.3M libel

Two executives of an insurance company recently filed a Php1-billion (US$19.3-million) libel case against officials and editors of the Journal Group of Publications/Philippine Journalists, Inc. (PJI) for allegedly publishing malicious articles portraying them as “corrupt tax cheats.”

Roberto Coyiuto Jr., chairman of the Prudential Guarantee and Assurance Inc., and Celestino Ang, PGAI senior vice president, filed an eight-page complaint with the Manila Prosecutors Office.

One of the points raised by the complainants was that the PJI articles claimed that Coyiuto and his company failed to pay Php800 million (US$15.5 million) in tax liability for the years 1995 and 1996. But the tax liability, which amounted to only Php151.2 million (US$2.9 million), had already been settled with the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) in October 2000, Coyiuto and Ang said in their complaint.

Named respondents in the libel case were the board of directors of the Philippine Journalist Inc., namely Augusto Villanueva, editor in chief; Paul Icamina, managing editor; Saturnino Sofranes, associate editor; Ma. Teresa Lardizabal, news editor; and Jun Pisco, city editor of People’s Journal Tonight.

The PGAI executives said they sued for libel after PJI officials refused to rectify their malicious articles that came out in People’s Tonight entitled “Tax raps vs Coyiuto dead?” last 08 June and “Why is BIR not after Coyiuto?” in People’s Journal on 28 June.

“The article was maliciously written, composed, and published by respondents with the obvious intention of impugning and holding to public derision and ridicule the reputations of the complainants,” the PGAI officials claimed in their affidavit.

Coyiuto added that the articles cannot be considered as “fair and true report(s)” but rather acts of “rumor-mongering,” aimed at tarnishing their reputation because the PJI, if only it wanted to write the story factually and without malice, could easily mobilize its reporters and resources to check its veracity before the bureau.

Coyiuto’s lawyers, last 28 June, demanded upon Villanueva to rectify the false allegations contained in the articles but “he and other respondents refused to rectify their malicious publication thereby highlighting the criminal purpose and intent to malign us.”

In a phone interview with the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility last 25 July, Villanueva said they haven’t received any libel notice on Coyiuto’s complaint.

According to Villanueva, they were asked by Coyiuto’s lawyers to make a public apology to resolve the said inaccurate reports.

“In the interest of the tax-paying public, we published Coyiuto’s reaction letter to the said articles,” Villanueva said. “We even asked Coyiuto to publicly explain how he managed to pay his tax liabilities amounting to P800-million.”

When asked about the authenticity of the figures that came up in the said articles, Villanueva said they have not received the official account from the BIR.

“We decided to publish the articles anyway,” Villanueva added, stressing that their facts came from a very reliable source inside the BIR. – with reports from Manila Standard Today and BusinessWorld

CMFR Philippines LIBEL Alert: Ousted prez to file libel vs. Standard Today, two others

Embattled former President Joseph Estrada is set to file a Php30-million (US$580,000) libel suit against a Manila-based national daily and two others for accusing him of involvement in a money-laundering operation.

According to Rufus Rodriguez, Estrada’s legal counsel, the former president will sue Manila Standard Today for publishing a series of “malicious” articles based on the exposés made by former beauty queen Joelle Marie Pelaez and her mother Blanquita. Pelaez and her mother are also to be named respondents in the planned libel suit.

In a series of articles that appeared in Standard Today last May, Pelaez accused Estrada of using her name and signature to embezzle more than Php2-billion (US$38.7-million) worth of stocks, bonds, and cash certificates through transactions with a government-owned bank. Estrada was said to have allegedly courted the United States-based Pelaez in 2000 by giving her expensive gifts.

However, the Sandiganbayan Special Division – the court handling the plunder and perjury trial of Estrada, who was ousted by a popular revolt early 2001 – decided last 17 July, not to allow former President Joseph Estrada to leave his detention quarters in Tanay, Rizal to file the said libel case against Standard Today and the Pelaezes.

The court decided instead, that a government prosecutor could just go to Estrada's detention place to swear to the authenticity of the complaint his lawyers will file before the Pasig City Prosecutor's office.

CMFR Philippines LIBEL Alert: Hagedorn files libel raps vs. two tabloids

A local mayor recently filed libel complaints against two editors, a columnist, and the circulation managers of two tabloids.

Puerto Princesa City mayor Edward Hagedorn alleged that the tabloids published columns and articles, which were malicious, defamatory, and damaging to his name and reputation. The articles exposed him to public hatred, contempt and ridicule by imputing to him certain criminal acts, such as the recent killing of hard-hitting broadcaster Fernando Batul.

Charged before the Puerto Princesa City Prosecution Office were Joey Galicia Venancio, columnist; Erny Baluyot, editor; and Edwin Alcala, of the tabloid Police Files Tonite; and Joe Dalde, editor in chief and Lenie Venancio, circulation manager of the tabloid Hataw.

Less than a week after murder took place, the Philippine National Police claimed it has “solved” the case with the arrest of police officer Aaron Golifardo of the Palawan police force. Three witnesses identified Golifardo as Batul’s killer.

The family and colleagues of Batul, believe though, that Hagedorn could be behind the broadcaster’s slay. Batul has consistently criticized Hagedorn on air when the former was still alive.

Other allegations that Hagedorn listed in his complaint are his alleged involvement in the killing of Rev. Paul Domingo, a pastor of the United Church of the Philippines, in August last year; the sabotage of the helicopter of Gov. Joel Reyes, causing it to crash in 2004; the killing of former mayor Dennis Socrates; and his having formed a commando army headed by a certain Tantan Anicete.

The Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility tried to get the reactions of Hataw and Police Files Tonite editorial heads, but they could not be reached as of this writing.

Mariano case trial starts in Manila on July 28

2006-07-27T17:27:00.000+08:00

FREEDOM FUND FOR FILIPINO JOURNALISTS, INC.

July 27, 2006

URGENT PRESS ADVISORY

TO: Editor/News and Current Affairs Head
FR: Freedom Fund for Filipino Journalists, Inc.
DATE: July 28, 2006 (8:30 a.m.)
WHERE: Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 54, Manila City
SUBJECT: Arraignment and pre-trial hearing on the Ilocos Norte broadcaster Roger Mariano murder case

Tomorrow, July 28, the arraignment for the trial of Roger Mariano murder case will be held at the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 54, Manila City. Coverage requested.

CASE BACKGROUND
Roger Mariano, hard-hitting radio journalist based in Laoag, Ilocos Norte was killed mercilessly on his way home along a desolate national highway after coming from his radio program “Roger Mariano in Action” aired over dzJC Laoag. He was peppered with 16 bullets (9 in the back and 7 in the head) which killed him instantly on July 31, 2004. Mariano left her wife, Alma, and their eight children hurting and agonizing over his death.

Almost four months after his death, two suspects (including SPO4 Apolonio Medrano) were arrested, and the case was filed at Ilocos Norte Regional Trial Court. The family and local journalists learned that the suspect is notoriously known to have strong political links, and has reportedly been utilized as gunman/bagman/middleman of known politicians. Because of this, the Mariano family felt threatened that the suspect, Medrano, might be able to influence the outcome of the trial.

With the fear of case whitewash, the family, with the help of their lawyer, decided to file for a Petition for Change of Venue (of the trial) to Manila, so as to provide us a neutral ground. With the help of endorsement from the Freedom Fund for Filipino Journalists, Inc., the Petition was granted last April and has been raffled to Branch 54 of the Manila Regional Trial Court. Subsequently, Branch 54 issued a Court Order last July 3, 2006 for the immediate transfer of detention of the two accused to Manila City Jail on or before July 28, 2006. The family, colleagues, friends, and the concerned media organizations are hopeful that we will be able to get the elusive justice for Roger Mariano and score a victory for the country’s battered press freedom.

In view of this, the FFFJ is inviting the both the national and local media to attend the hearings to follow the course of the trial. Continuous coverage and daily news stories on this case from your organization and all the other media entities will help put constant pressure on the government and the justice system to end this culture of impunity.

For details, please contact Nathan: (Tel.) 02-840-0903/02-840-0889

Case "solved"?

2006-07-27T14:11:00.000+08:00

CMFR Philippines UPDATE Alert: Police nabs three suspects in Pace slay

In just two days after the incident, police apprehended three suspects in the 18 July killing of broadcaster Armando Pace in Digos, Davao del Sur, around 680 kilometers south of Manila.

On 19 July, the police nabbed suspect Juan Jesus Sataum, a money lender, whose motorcycle was allegedly used by the killer of Pace, according to Task Force Newsmen chief Pedro Tango.

The TFN chief said Sataum was taken into police custody after the black Kawasaki motorcycle, used in the slaying of the radio journalist, was found in his residence.

The second suspect, whose name was withheld by the police, allegedly went around bragging that he was the one who killed the radio commentator. The police, tipped off by the man’s neighbors, arrested him that same day.

The third suspect to be nabbed was identified as Joy Anticamara, alias “Tongol.” Anticamara was held by police at his residence in Junsay Subdivision in Digos City last 20 July by operatives of CIDG.

Anticamara was identified by a 16-year-old witness who said she was about five to 10 meters away from the gunman when he shot the broadcaster. Police said the witness positively identified Anticamara as the person who shot the broadcast journalist in a police lineup.

The witness, who is now under police custody, said Anticamara was wearing a cap during the attack and, after shooting Pace, he casually tucked in the pistol he used.

The police said the witness’ testimony was solid because she personally knew Anticamara.

Pace had just left the radio station after his daily one-hour block time program Ukadyang (12:30-1:30 pm) and was on his way to downtown Digos City when the men pulled beside the victim's own motorcycle. One of the men shot Pace in the dead several times using a .45 caliber pistol.

Philippine National Police (PNP) Deputy Director General Razon sent Tango to Digos City to coordinate all investigative efforts and extend technical assistance to local PNP units who conducted follow-up operations on the murder of Pace, a block timer for radio station dxDS.

Police investigators added that Pace’s killing could be motivated by "a personal grudge or related to his fiery radio commentary that earned him strings of libel cases filed by politicians, businessmen and other individuals."

According to a report by the Inquirer News Service, Pace regularly criticized politicians and even businessmen for their alleged wrong-doings.

Pace was imprisoned once for failing to post bail in connection with a libel case filed by a politician a few years ago. He always bragged that he was the most sued broadcaster with about 99 libel suits, the report added. ###

Digos radio host slain

2006-07-19T12:29:00.000+08:00

CMFR Philippines killing alert: Radio commentator slain in Davao del Sur

A hard-hitting broadcaster was gunned down by unidentified men past 1:30 p.m. Tuesday (18 July, Manila time) in Digos City, Davao del Sur, around 680 kilometers south of Manila.

Armando "Rachman" Pace, 51, a block timer for radio station dxDS, was waylaid by two men on a motorcycle along a local highway, two kilometers from the said radio station.

According to reports reaching Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility (CMFR), Pace had just left the station after his daily one-hour block time program Ukadyang (12:30-1:30 pm) and was on his way to downtown Digos City when the men pulled beside the victim's own motorcycle. One of the men shot Pace several times using a .45 caliber pistol.

Pace was rushed to the nearest hospital, but succumbed minutes later due to fatal wounds he sustained in the neck and breast.

Ramon Sibya, dxDS station manager, said Pace started working for the said radio station only eight months ago.

Before working for dxDS, Pace was known as a hard-hitting commentator for several other local radio stations. The slain radio host, however, has since toned down his remarks since joining dxDS. In fact, his new program tackled developmental issues, such as certain government projects, Sibya added.

The police immediately formed a task force to look into the latest case of slain journalist, the fourth work-related casualty this year (seven overall, including the non-work related cases).

Zine-head Zidane and Rafita

2006-07-12T11:47:00.000+08:00

A lot of heads might still be shaking with the header legendary Zinedine Zidane sent barrelling into the chest of Italy's Marco Materazzi. It couldn't get any worse for arguably the best striker the world has seen, than to end his career this way.

I pity Zidane for losing his cool (in the most inopportune time) and eventually, a second World title for the Les Bleus.

Zidane's violent outburst barely overshadowed the brilliant tournament Italy had. The Azzuri's display of airtight defense (conceded only one legitimate goal -- a penalty kick to [who else?] eventual Golden Ball awardee Zidane) and fluid offense (10 different players accounted for Italy's 12 goals in Germany '06) carried the Italians to their first title in 24 years, and fourth overall.

I just hoped Brazil played to its full strength. A Brazil-Italy title tiff would have been classic one.

Elsewhere, Rafael Nadal proved to everyone that he's no longer just a claycourt king, By finishing second (and winning a set against) to perhaps one of the most graceful and finesse tennis player of all time, Roger Federer, Rafita clearly built a place for himself among the princes of grass.

The final tally was 6-0, 7-6(5), 6(2)-7, 6-3 in favor of the Swiss idol. The score however, did not reflect the closeness of the match, as Federer managed to edge Nadal in terms of winners, by the slimmest of margins, 43-42. Federer even had more unforced errors than the Spanish star, 32-26. Only the Federer's more accurate serves gave the defending champion the much-needed leverage in final, as he won 77% and 57% of his first and second serves, respectively, compared to 68% and 42% of Nadal.

Nadal lost the final to Federer all right, but the Spanish hearththrob, who just turned 20 this year, gained a lot from this year's Wimbledon. First, he proved he could play championship-caliber performance in grass, esp in Wimby, where he wasn't even predicted to go far. Second, he finally provided a realistic rivalry in a virtually Federer-monopolized sport. Lastly, he showed to the world that Federer is still human. In fact, in their career head-to-head, Nadal is stomping the Swiss star to the tune of a 6-2 bulge.

Way to go Rafita! We'll be watching you in the US Open.

More Pacman vintage pics

2006-07-12T11:40:00.000+08:00

Ang inyong pambansang kamao...

CMFR Philippines alert: Radio station burned down

2006-07-05T11:02:00.000+08:00

CMFR/Philippines – A community radio station was burned down by unidentified men before dawn Sunday (02 July) in Baggao town of Cagayan province, more than 320 kilometers north of Manila.

Radyo Cagayano, operated by political group Bayan Muna (Nation First), was razed to the ground Sunday after eight armed men wearing ski masks forcibly entered the station carrying bottles of gasolines.

According to Cagayan police chief James Andres Melad, the arsonists went to the dwRC Radyo Cagayano at about 2 a.m. and set the station’s transmitter and broadcast booth on fire.

Melad said the attackers also took the cell phones of the six staff members, before tying and blindfolding them. The crew suffered minor bruises.

Radyo Cagayano, which was put up jointly by the local government and Bayan Muna, had been critical of the alleged corruption by military personnel based in Cagayan.

Local groups denounced the attack, blaming the military for the said incident. The military denied that it had a hand in the attack.

Pacman impressive, but fails to KO foe; hats-off to Chololo

2006-07-03T03:21:00.000+08:00

As expected, people’s superfeatherweight champion Manny Pacquiao scored a convincing victory over Mexican journeyman Oscar Larios today at the fabled Araneta Coliseum – but as it turned out, the W came without the KO contrary to pre-fight predictions.

The unscathed Pacquiao might have treated the bloodied Larios and the 15,000 roaring spectators to a boxing clinic, but failed in his attempt to halt the Mexican former world superbantamweight champ cold off his feet.

Before the so-called “Thrilla in Manila II” took place, no one thought that Larios would stand his ground for more than six rounds, more so, last the distance.

In fact, it was the first time a fighter lasted the distance against the Pacman in a span of almost nine years – a string of 20 consecutive knockout wins (24 fights, including two draws and a couple of losses), dating back to a first round sleeper over Thai Panomdej Or Yuthanakorn on Dec. 6, 1997 (data from mannypacquiao.ph).

However, despite being outboxed, outpunched, and outmaneuvered by the Filipino boxing icon – aside from sustaining deep cuts and bruises all over his face – Larios fought gallantly up to the end. The Mexican kept his head high when the last bell sounded, and was even all smiles when the lopsided scores were announced in favor of the hometown hero.

Larios gamely stood toe to toe with the faster and more powerful Pacquiao, but in the end, it became apparent that the first Asian three-time world champion proved to be just in a different class.

Take a bow, Chololo. You earned the respect and admiration of millions of boxing fans living in this side of the world.

Larios for sure, is no pushover. He defended the World Boxing Council superbantamweight title nine times, and is considered the best boxer in the said weight class. Technically, Larios is one of the most skillful pugilist in the world, with well-known potent one-two combination, deadly right straight, and unparalleled stamina. Larios holds the record for the most punches thrown in a 12-round fight, unloading a total of 1,200 shots, for a whopping rate of 33 punches per minute.

Hence, Larios wasn’t really totally, utterly outclassed – well not at least in the first minute of the third round, where he nearly shut the lights out of Pacquiao with a combination of a left hook and two powerful right leads, pinning the staggered champion against the ropes. Pacquiao managed to recover well and mount his own comeback later in the round.

Pacquiao’s failure to notch a KO win cannot be attributed to his apparent lack of concentration and training, and/or just sheer overconfidence. (Manny have done a lot of endorsements since his TKO victory over Mexican legend Erik Morales, and started training just five weeks – three weeks short of the ideal length -- before facing off with Larios.) Fight analysts even predicted that if Pacquiao fails to knock Larios out inside six rounds, the former could lose steam in the latter cantos, which could then give the challenger a chance.

Contrary to the calculations made before the fight, it was Larios who dictated the pace in the early (first three rounds) goings. But after creating a deep gash in the Mexican’s left eyebrow with his so-called “Manila Ice” or vastly-improved right hook, Pacquiao showed no signs of lack of training, as he consistently battered Larios for the remaining eight rounds – even throwing powerful and dizzying combinations just before the final bell rang.

Pacquiao also proved to his critics that he’s far better than the one-punch wonder he once was – yet still frighteningly improving. Just like what he showed in his recent conquer of Morales, Pacquiao adjusted excellently to negate his foe’s advantage – he punched, boxed, bobbed, slid, and/or used nifty lateral movements when he needed to.

Most of all, he respected his opponent – before, during, and after the fight.

During the post-fight presscon, Chololo acknowledged that Pacquiao is not just a great fighter, but a great person as well.

Doesn’t it make the Gen. Santos City-native a real people’s champ?

Next stop: Morales III, Nov. 18.

“Laban, Pacman!”

JVOAEJ Winners announced

2006-06-30T15:30:00.000+08:00

Newspapers BusinessMirror and the Philippine Daily Inquirer and the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism won the top awards in the 17th Jaime V. Ongpin Awards for Excellence in Journalism for works published in 2005 at ceremonies held at the AIM Conference Center Manila on June 29.

As administrator of the awards since it was launched in 1990, the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility (CMFR) introduced an innovation for this year’s competition. Reports published by daily newspapers were judged separately from those published by non-dailies. Thus, there are two sets of first, second and third prizes for the investigative and explanatory categories.

The first prize winners of the daily and non-daily division of the investigative and the explanatory category receive a cash prize of P70,000 each and a plaque.

The first prize of the daily division of the investigative category went to “Tracing the trail of the tape” by Fe Zamora and Gerry Lirio of the Philippine Daily Inquirer which was published on September 17-18, 2005. In the non-daily division of the same category, the first prize went to “Running on taxpayers’ money” by Luz Rimban of the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism published in i Report in September of last year.

CMFR in consultation with the Canadian Embassy announced that the Marshall McLuhan Prize will go to the first prize winner of the daily division. The Marshall McLuhan Prize is a travel study tour of Canada given to the first prize winner of the investigative category. This is the 10th year that the Canadian Embassy has given out Mashall McLuhan Prize in the JVOAEJ.

Luz Rimban also took the third prize of the investigative category’s non-daily division for her article “Major players elude government’s anti-logging drive in Aurora.“ The article was published in BusinessWorld, Cebu Daily News, Malaya, Philippine Daily Inquirer and Sun.Star Daily on January 31-February 1, 2005.
For also winning the third prize, Rimban takes home a cash prize of P20,000 and a plaque.

“CAP: From pre-need’s poster boy to whipping boy” by Daxim L. Lucas and Elizabeth L. Sanchez published in the Philippine Daily Inquirer on September 19-21, 2005 won second prize in the daily division. In the non-daily division, “Cheats Inc.” by Miriam Grace A. Go of Newsbreak on September 12, 2005 won second prize.

They each received a cash prize of P40,000 and a plaque.

The third prize winner in the daily division of the investigative category went to “Border dispute leaves Dumagats in a quandary” by Fritz Dacpano published in The Manila Times on April 25-26, 2005.

She received a cash prize of P20,000 and a plaque.

In the daily division of the explanatory category, BusinessMirror took the first prize for its report “Confrontation to cooperation? Labor-management relations evolve in globalization era” written by Dave Llorito and published on November 2, 2005 while PCIJ took the top prize in the non-daily division with “Focus on Filipino youth: Perils of generation sex” by Cheryl Chan published in i Report September 2005 issue.

CMFR in consultation with the Australian Embassy decided that the Ambassador’s award, a travel grant to Australia, would go to the first prize winner of the daily division. This is the fourth time that the Australian Embassy is awarding the Ambassador’s Award in the JVOAEJ.

“Electronic ears listen with bugs and taps” by Fil V. Elefante published in The Manila Times on June 27-29, 2005 won second prize in the daily division and “Mama can’t eat” by Vinia M. Datinguinoo of PCIJ published in the January-March 2005 issue of the i Report took the second prize in the non-daily division.

They each received a cash prize of P40,000 and a plaque.

The third prize winners in the explanatory category are “The economics of corruption” written by D’Laarni A. Ortiz, Larissa Josephine C. Villa, Roulee Jane F. Calayag, Ehden Llave-Pelaez and edited by Noel G. Reyes which was published in BusinessWorld on July 19, 2005 (daily division) and “Bataan nuke power plant: Still unused, still paying for it” by Lidy Nacpil and Mae Buenaventura published in the Philippine Graphic on March 14, 2005 (non-daily division).

The third prize winners in both division received a cash prize of P20,000 and a plaque.

The first awards were given in 1990 to honor the late Jaime V. Ongpin, who was secretary of finance during the Aquino administration. A press freedom advocate, Ongpin was involved in the struggle against the Marcos dictatorship and was instrumental in harnessing public support for the restoration of democracy in the Philippines.

This year, the JVOAEJ is sponsored by The Asia Foundation with support from the United States Agency for International Development.

The finalists of the 17th JVOAEJ are:

Investigative Category

Daily Division

Bailout costs too much for deposit insurer
Norman P. Aquino
BusinessWorld
November 29-December 1, 2005

Palawan’s gas pains
Jofelle P. Tesorio
Philippine Daily Inquirer
January 13, 2005

Non-Daily Division

So young and so trapo
Avigail Olarte
Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism
Published in i Report
September 2005

Guns and gold
Gemma B. Bagayaua
Newsbreak
December 5, 19, 2005 and January 30, 2006

For land and wages
Half a century of peasant struggle at Hacienda Luisita
Dabet Castañeda
Bulatlat.com
Published in Philippine Graphic on January 3-10, 17, 2005

Explanatory Category

Daily Division

Philippine economic progress since 1988
The ‘good old days’
John Mangun
BusinessMirror
December 1-3, 2005

Graduating class: Education, labor mismatch
Norman P. Aquino
BusinessWorld
March 10, 2005

Non-Daily Division

Mutants on your plate
Alan C. Robles
Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism
Published in i Report
January-March 2005

Broken promises
Lala Rimando, Cathy Rose Garcia and Elena Torrijos
Newsbreak
January 31, 2005

Trained to care
Avigail Olarte
Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism
Published in i Report
January-March 2005

"Kayo"-kaze's Mamaw

2006-06-28T14:17:00.000+08:00

A very funny Kamikaze rip-off made by Bubble Gang...

CMFR now receiving applicants for the Training of Trainors Seminar for Alerts Reporting and Media Safety

2006-06-27T10:38:00.000+08:00

The Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility (CMFR) would like to invite working journalists and mass media educators for a Trainors’ Training Seminar for Alerts Reporting and Media Safety this coming September. Scholarships for the training program are available for applicants from outside Metro Manila.

To apply, please e-mail an updated curriculum vitae and a 500-word essay on the topic, “Media Killings: A Threat to Press Freedom,” to us via pjr@cmfr-phil.org. Deadline for applications is July 25, 2006.

Primer on the Marlene Esperat case trial

2006-06-26T09:44:00.000+08:00

Primer on the Marlene Esperat case trial
Prepared by the Freedom Fund for Filipino Journalists, Inc. (FFFJ)
June 23, 2006

Who is Marlene Esperat?

Marlene Esperat was a columnist for Sultan Kudarat paper The Midland Review. She also had a stint as a block-time radio broadcaster. Popularly known as “Madame Witness” because of her public service media exposés, she was also elected president of Region 12’s Tri-Media Association by her peers.

During her employment in the Department of Agriculture (DA) Region 12 from 1987 to 2004, she uncovered numerous cases of graft and corrupt practices allegedly committed by public officials involving rampant misuse of public funds intended for the use of marginalized farmers.

She accused Osmeña Montañer and Estrella Sabay, Region 12 Finance Officer and Regional Accountant, respectively, as “corrupt” DA officials. Esperat worked on numerous cases, such as the unremitted government’s share of GSIS premiums of DA 12 employees from January to December 1997.

Esperat, along with several witnesses, also exposed the alleged deliberate burning of DA office in Cotabato City on May 7, 1998 to destroy the hard evidence in the cases against Montañer and his companions.

Early 2005, Montañer and Sabay purportedly drew a plan to permanently silence Esperat, through ex-military intelligence officer Rowie Barua. On March 24, self-confessed killer Gerry Cabayag fatally shot Esperat in the head in front of the journalist’s shocked children, while they were at supper.

Esperat finished with a degree in Chemistry in Iloilo, where she met her first husband radio journalist Severino Arcones early 1980s. Arcones was a hard-hitting commentator who lambasted local government officials in the said province. He, himself, was killed in 1989 for his work as a journalist. It was Arcones who stirred Esperat’s interest in using journalism as a tool to fight off corruption in the society.

Prior to her work as a journalist in 1999, Esperat worked as a chemist, and later as a resident ombudsman for the DA. While inside the DA, Esperat discovered that the fertilizers that the regional office were giving to the local farmers were insufficient, inferior, and far cheaper than what was originally listed at the official budget of the department.

Frustrated by the country’s slow due process, Esperat turned to the power of the pen and airwaves to expose her bothering discoveries, which in turn, led to her brutal death.

Why is this case significant?

“Unlike in the other slain journalists’ cases, this one (Esperat case) seems to have a very promising outcome as there is a clear identification of the masterminds and full cooperation from the witnesses,” said private prosecutor, Atty. Nena Santos.

Since 1986, 59 journalists have been killed in the line of duty. Not a single mastermind has been successfully prosecuted in any of these cases.

To date, there are only two convictions – in the cases of Nesino Paulin Toling and Edgar Damalerio. Toling’s family however, cried that the killer was just a fall guy. Until now, there has been no inkling on the identity of the real brain and the motive for the murder.

In the Damalerio case, it was clear from the onset that ex-policeman Guillermo Wapile was the one who gunned down the Pagadian-based journalist. Eights months have passed since Wapile was convicted by a Cebu City court, but everybody remains in the dark about the real motive behind Damalerio’s slay, more so on the possible mastermind.

On the other hand, the Esperat case marked the first time that a real mastermind (in this case, two) can be pinned down.

With the strong testimonies of suspect-turned-state witness Barua and the consistent pressure from the media organizations, both local and international, the cases against masterminds Montañer and Sabay remain strong.

The success of the Esperat case trial may very well hinge on the involvement and successful prosecution of the suspected masterminds, as this will prove that the government and the justice system are still steadfast in bringing the real resolution to the continued attacks against the country’s battered press freedom.

Moreover, the issue is not only a press freedom issue. Montañer and Sabay’s connection in the killing of Esperat and the cases left by the journalist, could pave the way for a deeper scrutiny on the alleged massive corruption inside the Department of Agriculture up to the highest posts. Based on the exposés made and cases filed by Esperat in Ombudsman when she was still alive, the corruption inside the DA, not only involves the two suspected slay masterminds, but also several high-ranking national officials, in connection with the so-called multi-million peso fertilizer scam.

What is the status of the case?

Barely two weeks after the killing of Esperat, suspect Randy Grecia surrendered, and identified his three companions – Barua as coordinator, ex-Sgt. Estanislao Bismanos as lookout and Jerry Cabayag as gunman.

An amended murder complaint was filed against two of the suspected masterminds, Department of Agriculture Region XI employees Estrella Sabay and Osmeña Montañer as additional accused, on April 15, 2005.

A Department of Justice (DOJ)-formed prosecution panel—led by Cotabato City prosecutor Tocod Ronda, a known ally of Montañer—endorsed the dismissal of charges against the two officials on June 29, 2005. A month later, DOJ reorganized the prosecution panel, now excluding Ronda, and eventually re-filed the murder charges. Ronda was later sacked from his Cotabato City prosecutor post.

On July 4, 2005, Bismanos, Grecia, and Cabayag all pleaded guilty. Barua, on the other hand, turned into a state witness.

Last August 31, the judge originally handling the case, Francis Palmones of the Tacurong City RTC, dismissed the murder charges against Osmeña Montañer and Estrella Sabay, Region 12 Finance Officer and Regional Accountant, respectively, despite the strong testimony of Barua, and the support of the DOJ.

In a resolution dated November 23, 2005, the High Court approved the transfer of the case from Tacurong to a safer, more neutral court in Cebu City—the city where the Damalerio and just recently, slain photojournalist Allan Dizon’s cases were resolved in just a span of less than two months.

The case, as earlier noted, was previously tried in a Tacurong, Sultan Kudarat court, but was transferred to Cebu through the indorsement of the Supreme Court, which in turn, acted upon the requests of the family and the Freedom Fund for Filipino Journalists, Inc. (FFFJ) to move the trial to a more neutral location.

Esperat’s head legal counsel, Atty. Nena Santos, said they were expecting a favorable trial, despite enduring several setbacks before the case’s transfer to Cebu.

The trial in Cebu City started last February 15 under Regional Trial Court Branch 21 Judge Eric Menchavez. It started on a low note as Menchavez rejected the motion filed by the prosecution to reconsider the dismissed murder charges against suspected masterminds Montañer and Sabay.

The first formal hearing took place last April 2-5. It involved testimonies made by a CIDG police investigator, Esperat’s son Kevin George (who positively identified Cabayag as the triggerman), and daughter Rynche Arcones (who narrated the events prior to the killing). Rynche told the court about the cases filed by her mother before the Ombudsman, and the difficulties they have been facing without their mother.

The next marathon hearing was held just a month ago, from May 22 to 25. A police inspector told the court that the extra-judicial confessions made by the suspects under police custody were done without coercion and were not extracted with compulsion – indicating that all their confessions and admissions to the killing of Esperat were made with their own free will and volition.

Both the ballistic expert and firearm examinations officer reported that the pistol used to kill Esperat on March 24, 2005 was the same pistol recovered eight days later during a motorcycle accident that involved Cabayag, the triggerman.

But the highlight of the said hearing was the presentation of Barua at the witness stand. The lengthy direct examination made on Barua (and the revelation he openly told in court from May 23-25) strongly refuted the defense’s argument that he and Sabay were mere acquaintances.

Barua told the court, in detail, how he was asked by Montañer and Sabay to plan and undertake the killing of Esperat – a period of more than two months from the planning stages early 2005, to the point of hiring Bismanos and company to ‘silence’ the journalist, up to the time of payment for the hatchet job.

For the whole exercise, it was very apparent that the prosecution had succeeded in telling the judge that Barua indeed was the vital link between the killers and the mastermind and that the motive of the murder goes beyond the money received by the killers.

What to expect and what the media could do to support the case?

The next marathon hearing is set on June 26-30, in which the prosecution will present at least six more witnesses to further augment the case, and convince Menchavez to consider the charges against Montañer and Sabay.

The main concern for the coming marathon hearing on June 26-30 is whether Menchavez will finally reconsider the case against Montañer and Sabay, and possibly order arrest warrants against the two, in view of the strong testimonies made by Barua. A source inside the Supreme Court recently bared that Menchavez has a habit of not reconsidering cases previously held by a court of similar level.

Arguably one of the key factors for the case to be successful, is the consistent coverage by both the national and local media. If we make our presence felt inside the courtroom, it will send a strong message to the court and the accused that the whole country, through the media entities, is closely watching the case. It would also show that the media are hell-bent on ensuring that justice is done to the courageous heroine-journalist.

Making room for this story in news dailies and network news programs will help put constant pressure on government entities and the justice system to end this culture of impunity.

Freedom Fund for Filipino Journalists, Inc.
c/o Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility
Ateneo Professional Schools-Salcedo
130 H.V. dela Costa St., Salcedo Village, Makati City 1227
Telephone: (02) 840-0903 / (02) 894-1326 / (02) 894-1314 Telefax: (02) 840-0889
http://www.cmfr-phil.org

Bad 'train' day

2006-06-22T10:35:00.000+08:00

I woke up this morning in an energetic mode. The expectations for the day were high.

First, this date (22) marks as one of the most special days in my life. Second, I woke up relatively early at 6 am, surprisingly feeling fresh (despite the lack of sleep). I had the perfect chance to get to the office at around 8 am (I need to finish several important tasks and have to leave early for our mid-week Bible meeting).

All things were running smoothly, until the LRT coach I boarded screeched to a halt midway between the Blumentritt and Abad Santos stations. Initially, I thought that we just had a routine stop (usually lasts less than a minute) due to the volume of passengers in Blumentritt. Alas, the seconds turned to minutes. More than 10 minutes had passed before the train operator confirmed my worst LRT nightmare: "Ipagpaumanhin po ninyo ang ating matagal na paghinto. May sira po ang tren na nasa Blumentritt plastation... (after another five minutes, we felt the train jerk several times) Ipagpaumanhin po ninyo ang abala: Kailangan po namin kayong ibaba sa Tayuman station. Meron po tayong darating na 'skip' train doon..." Arrrgh! It turned out that the train we were boarding was about to push/anchor the broken coach ahead towards the trainyard before Central station.

To my frustration (and to the others, obviously), the excruciating experience did not end there and then.

When we took off at the Tayuman station, the sight (and the feeling) was equally exasperating -- we were so packed in the station's narrow platform, like we were exactly inside a rush-hour coach. Fortunately, virtually all the people were calm and composed, perhaps resigned to the harrowing situation. What touched me though, despite the helpless condition, was the way the passengers held each other, particularly, to prevent those in front and barely at the edge of the platform, to fall over the tracks.

Meanwhile, the 'skip' train that the operator previously promised to us never came, at least, not until I managed to board the SIXTH train to arrive since we got to Tayuman (I waited 30 minutes). As soon as I got inside, I immediately heaved a sigh of relief.

... for a while.

After I finished jockeying for my place, a 5'5 male, about my age, positioned himself exactly in front of me -- face to face, chest to chest, crotch to crotch! I know that we were trying to pack ourselves inside the less than three-feet wide passage inside the coach, but to be positioned that way was really irritating, if not unavoidable. After three stations, I almost blurted out to the said male, "Pare, bakla ka ba?! Pakikiling naman ng konti ulo mo. Halos tumihaya na ko, kakaiwas ng mukha ko sa'yo!" I now strongly agree with what my colleague Don the Man said in his Friendster blog: "Ayoko din maranasan yung pagsasakay tapos katapat mo yung mukha ng isang pasahero. Buti sana kung isa o dalawang istasyon lang. Eh pano pag mga apat. Eh di katitigan ko yun ng ilang minuto?" Mine were five stations...

I finally got to the office at around 10 am (around one-and-a-half hour later than expected!) -- unscathed, but with a battered polo and wrinkled face. Fortunately, I didn't smell like a spoiled armpit.

Indeed, it was a test of patience, perseverance... and some b***s.

Two part-time journalists slain in Kidapawan

2006-06-21T14:19:00.000+08:00

CMFR Philippines alert: Two part-time journalists slain in Kidapawan

Two peace advocates, also working as part-time journalists, were gunned down by unidentified men around 5 p.m. Monday (19 June) in Kidapawan City, around 850 kilometers south of Manila.

George Vigo, a contributor of the Union of Catholic Asian News, and his wife, Maricel Alave-Vigo, host of dxND Radio for Peace and executive director of the non-government Peoples’ Kauyahan Foundation, Inc. (PKFI), were shot dead in Sandawa district in front of the house of a provincial board member, according to a report by GMANews.Tv.

The Vigos, both former journalists and co-founders of the Federation of Reporters for Empowerment and Equality (FREE), were part-time media practitioners, a report by Mindanews.com said.

George hosted “Tingog sa Kabatan-unan” (Voice of the Youth), a block time program of the CFSI aired over dxND-AM of the Notre Dame Broadcasting Corporation every Monday noon, while Mazel took the reigns of “Kalihukan sa Kongreso (Congress Affairs),” a Sunday noon block time program in the same radio station. The station is owned by North Cotobato first district Rep. Lala Taliño-Santos.

Both George and Maricel did not tackle news, topics, or commentaries that could have irked concerned parties or persons, according to Malou Manar, dxND’s program director.

Manar said the killing could have stemmed from the couple’s active participation on human rights activities and programs in the early 1990s. The Vigos though, have ceased their connections with progressive groups since 1996, Manar added.

Since 2000, the couple had been working for PKFI, an organization that facilitates peace forums and dialogues in the southern provinces of North Cotabato and Maguindanao.

The PKFI, supported by the United Nations Program for Internally Displaced Persons, has been implementing the Integrated Rehabilitation Project for displaced families in several villages in the said provinces.

George also worked as the project officer of the Mindanao youth leadership program of the Community and Family Services International (CFSI), a Cotabato City-based non-government organization (NGO) dealing with the rehabilitation of internally displaced persons, according to colleague Manar.

Maricel was also a part-time media relations officer of Rep. Taliño-Santos, and since early this year, was area coordinator of an NGO delivering solar resource services to villagers in remote areas.

Relatives of the Vigos said they were not aware the couple had enemies as they had been “roaming freely, not only around the city, but in other areas of the province and in Mindanao because of their job.”

They also said the NGOs in which the couple had been more recently affiliated were not connected with progressive groups in the province.

More than a month ago, a letter was addressed to “radio station DXND-AM” by a certain Henry Laot from Matina, Davao which contained a makeshift poster with the message “Kamatayon sa nagusporta sa CPP/NPA/NDF. Aralsa ang masa!” (“Death to the supporters of the Communist Party of the Philippines/New People’s Army/National Democratic Front. Masses, revolt!”) written in red paint.

Matina is a huge district in Davao and Laot’s address did not contain a street or number. The mail was sent on 16 May. Residents claim that they know of a Laot who was a former NPA member, but could not determine if the sender was the same former NPA member

The station received the package around 2 p.m., hours after interviewing Karapatan (Rights), a human rights group based in Davao City, which spearheaded a fact-finding investigation on a reported grenade blast in the said city earlier in the said month. A bomb was also discovered (but later diffused) in the radio station’s parking lot three years ago.--With reports from Mindanews.com