September 2006 – ellen tordesillas

No bail for Bolante

Published by Ellen on September 28, 2006

Yesterday (Sept. 27, 2006) the US district Court in Wisconsin held a hearing on the petition of former Agriculture Undersecretary Jocelyn “Jocjoc” Bolante for bail. Strange, his lawyers mentioned a suspected quid pro quo for the acquittal of US servicemen suspected of raping a Filipina , known in media as “Nicole” in Subic.

Anyway, the court denied Bolante’s bail petition.

Here’s ABS-CBN’s report:

US immigration officials denied the petition for the temporary release of former agriculture undersecretary Jocelyn “Joc-joc” Bolante, ABS-CBN North America News Bureau reported Wednesday.

Bastusan Republic

Published by Ellen on September 28, 2006

(Isinumite ko itong column sa Abante ng umaga. Nang hapon na confirm ang promosyon ni Esperon hindi lang sa pagka three- star general. Pati na rin sa pagka four-star. Express ang nangyari.Ganyan ang buhay dito sa Enchanted Kingdom ni Gloria Arroyo.) esperon confirmation.jpg

Itong title ay galing kay Anna, isang Filipina na naninirahan sa Brussels.

Galit na galit si Anna sa bastusan na ginawa ni Gloria Arroyo sa pag-promote kay AFP Chief of Staff Hermogenes Esperon sa ranggong four-star general kahit hindi pa naku-confirm ang kanyang promotion sa pagka-three star general.

McLuhan forum in Cebu

Published by Ellen on September 27, 2006

Pictures of the McLuhan forum on “Challenges of New Media in Governance” held at the Marcelo Fernan Press Center in Cebu last Sept. 20, 2006.…

A wanton disregard for press freedom

Published by Ellen on September 27, 2006

The following statement was drafted by the National Union of Journalist in the Philippines after a forum on libel conducted by Atty. Theodore O. Te last week.

As NUJP said, “This statement is to protest the use of the libel law to stop critical reports and commentaries and to fight for the right of every Filipino to seek and receive information and ideas on matters of public interest, which are at the very core of the concept of a democratic society.”

The statement:

Esperon’s promotion disregards process: Biazon

Published by Ellen on September 26, 2006

Statement of Senator Rodolfo G Biazon, chair of the Senate Committee on national defense and security, on the promotion of AFP Chief Hermogenes Esperon without going through the process of confirmation by the Commission on Appointments.

Biazon cited that in the case of General Lisandro Abadia who had been selected by former President Aquino for appointment to the position of AFP COS, General Abadia within a period of five years –from 1986 – 1991 had to be confirmed by the Commission on Appointments in his promotions in each and every step of the way – from Colonel to Brigadier General last February 1, 1989; from Brigadier General to Major General last February 20, 1991; from Major General to Lt General last June 5, 1991 and from Lt General to General also last June 5 1991. Although his confirmation from Lt. General to General was on the same date, still General Abadia had to be confirmed as Lt General.

The rest of Biazon’s statement:

Supalpal ang Singaw ng Bayan

Published by Ellen on September 25, 2006

Nakikita pa ba ninyo ang advertisement ng Singaw ng Bayan tungkol sa coup?

Mukha hindi ko na nakikita. Malamang pina-alis na nila.

Dapat naman. Buking sila doon na nanloloko sila ng taumbayan.

Doon sa advertisement na yun, pinakita nila ang mga images noong mga nakaraang coup o people power. Mayroon din mga images ni Navy Lt.sg Antonio Trillanes noon Oakwood mutiny.Sabi doon sa adverstisement, “Tama na. Nakakapagod na. Charter Change.”

Cebu media experience

Published by Ellen on September 24, 2006

Media in Manila should learn from Cebu media a thing or two on cooperation.

This I saw as participant in a forum “Challenges of New Media in Governance” sponsored by the Embassy of Canada, which was part of the activities in Cebu’s Press Freedom Week last week.

On its 12th year, this year’s Press Freedom Week had for its lead convenor Cebu Daily News, an affiliate of the Philippine Daily Inquirer. CDN Publisher Eileen Mangubat was on top of the activities with the active cooperation of all Cebu journalists. There was the eminent Juan L. Mercado, founding director of the Philippine Press Institute and who now writes columns for the Inquirer, CDN and Sun Star Cebu. We met Pachico A. Seares, editor-in-chief of Sun.Star Cebu, Valeriano “Bobit” Avila, who writes a column for The Freeman, and many more.

As Mangubat extolled, “Nowhere in the country can you see media competitors cooperating for a worthy project.”

Ang dapat paghandaan ni Esperon

Published by Ellen on September 23, 2006

Medyo mahina talaga pa lang umintindi itong mga opisyal ng militar na nasa pwesto.

Sabi ni Lt. Col. Bartolome Bacarro, spokesman ng Armed Forces of the Philippines, na pagkatapos batuhin siya ng itlog at putik sa University of the Philippines noong Biyernes, sinabi raw ni AFP Chief Hermogenes Esperon, “Siguro yung mga nambato galit sa akin dahil hindi ako nagku-coup at ang AFP.”

Hindi ba niya narinig ang sigaw ng mga estudyante na “Pasistang militar, singilin, singilin!?” O nagbibingi-bingihan lang siya.

As public figure, Mike Arroyo is fair game

Published by Ellen on September 23, 2006

This is the release of the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines on the forum on libel it organized last Thursday:

Contrary to what his lawyers are saying, First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo is a public figure and will have to prove actual malice in order for his numerous libel suits against journalists to prosper.

This is what human rights lawyer Theodore Te said during a roundtable discussion this morning held at the University of the Philippines in Quezon City. Agreeing with him were more than 35 journalists, some of whom are defendants in Arroyo’s libel suits, as well several UP journalism students.

Continue readingAs public figure, Mike Arroyo is fair game

Esperon pelted with eggs at UP

Published by Ellen on September 23, 2006

This is Malaya’s account of the egg-and- mud-pelting of AFP Chief Hermogenes Esperon at UP Friday.

What happened to Esperon is a form of “social boycott” that the citizens of this country, outraged by Gloria Arroyo and her minion’s blatant trampling of our democracy, are resorting to. It happened to Gloria Arroyo at the Cavite State University when Maria Theresa Pangilinan booed her during the commencement exercises. It happened again at the UP-PGH when students unfurled “Oust Gloria” banner when she inaugurated the Opthalmologic Center.

Esperon, like his master, Gloria Arroyo, must must grown callous or have become out-of-touch of the people that they thought with their powers they can run roughshod on the people’s sensitivities.

Month: September 2006