Some 60 journalists and concerned citizens , including yours truly, yesterday filed a civil class suit (click here) against Mike Arroyo before the Makati Regional Trial Court.
In the suit, we contend that Mike Arroyo, spouse of President Gloria Arroyo, is both a public figure and a public officer.
Update Jan. 09, 2007: Mike Arroyo asks court to dismiss class suit.
We said that the libel suits he has filed against 45 journalists is a “clear abuse of right and an obvious effort to obstruct, defeat, and/or violate the Plaintiffs’ constitutional rights “ and obviously intended “to stifle and/or chill the exercise of freedom of the press, thereby causing them grave injury and tremendous amount of money”.
We asked for a symbolic amount of P15 million in damages.
The class suit is unprecedented and the first of its kind in the world.
Mike Arroyo’s lawyer, Jesus Santos said, his client whom he describes as an “honorable man” welcomes the suit.
Aside from more than 30 of the 45 journalists sued, co-petitioners were Vergel Santos, columnist of Businessworld; former Sen. Francisco Tatad, who has also been sued by Arroyo for libel; Nixon Kua, former official of the Philippine Tourism Authority and now radio commentator.
Other journalists’ organizations that joined as co-petitioners include Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility, Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism, and the Daily Tribune.
The suit is part of the process that we are required to do to be able to bring the case to the United Nations Commission on Human Rights.
We had wanted to ask for P87 million, representing the 87 million Filipinos who will be disadvantaged if press freedom is stifled, but we were able to raise only P250, 000 for filing fee.
The money for filing fee came from the Southeast Asia Press Alliance, Reporters Sans Frontiers, and CMFR.
Should the case prosper, the P15 million will go into a press freedom fund.
Among those who did not join the class suit, for reasons of their own, are Malaya Publisher Jake Macasaet and most of the editors of the Philippine Daily Inquirer.
(Click here for complete list of journalists sued by Arroyo.)
OK ‘yan Ellen. Panahon na para itong Pigyur naman ang bugbugin ng kaso. Akala yata ng FG na ito ay palagi siyang nagpapasko! Dapat talaga ay i-pressure ng husto ‘yan para maramdaman ng puso niya ang sakit at ng matuluyan!
walang argumento na Public Pigyur si Mike Arroyo.
ang habol na lang niya, hindi daw siya public official.
ang tanong ko lang, kung hindi siya public official, bakit meron siyang chief of staff (na si Juris Umali-Solidum) na undersecretary(?) ang official designation. kanino ba nanggagaling ang suweldo nito ?
Napaqkalamig sa amin ngayon pero napakainit naman ng mga issues dito Ellen! Dapat lang talaga na bugbugin n’yo ang walahiyang first (kuno) Gentlepig na ‘yan! Sumusobra na ang tabatsoy na yan. Sila ng asawa niyang “kuto” sa Ilonggo, pronounce malumay ha, meaning, Lice sa buhok, na matagal ng dapat natiris at ang lalaki naman matagal ng dapat nakapon, at tapusin na! Silang dalawa ang mga PASAWAY sa Pilipinas!
Here is a question I’d like to ask myself: all things equal (being both in the same situation) which is badder between the Pidals? Mike or Gloria? My answer is Mike’s worse.
Vic,
I’m with you. Badder na worst pa ang big Mike!
Vic: chi:
They were made for each other, the stench from each one is equal. They are not bad or badder, theyre both evil, period.
Vic and Chi, is there such as word as “badder”? I think “worse” would be the better term. Ang ibig bang sabihin: bad, badder, baddest? Please don’t get offended by my question. Ako man hindi din magaling sa grammar. Tungkol sa class suit against Mike Arroyo, may epekto lang iyan kapag wala na sila sa kapangyarihan. As long as he and his family are in power, even the courts bow down to their dictates.
mandirigma,
The couple can not be described by words in the proper grammar or even in the in any descriptive adjectives at all, so instead of bad, worse, worst, I’ll go with bad, badder, baddest, baddestest. They’re out of this world, but in their own make believed kingdom…
happy new year ellen!!
more power to your group that filed and signed this class suit against the most abusive,corrupt,liers snd cheater filipino no other than this FG aka pidal.now with your class suit.this will exposed those journalist and other media practitioneers who are in cahoots with GMA,FG and other corrupt goverment officials who writes and praise and in their payroll!!some where some how GMA,FG and her evil minions will be gone and at least with this class suit i pray and hope that the people now will wake up and unite and learn the truth that how evil are this people to trample our freedom rights,liberty and democratic system so they will stay in power illegaly!
i am still praying and hoping that they will be out the soonest so that our country can move normally without this GMA,FG and her evil minions!!
God bless us all filipinos for a new dawn next year!
happy new year 2007 to all!!
The class suit will certainly reverberate throughout the world.
In the case against you Ate Ellen, is there any move to raise the funds needed for your defense? If there’s none, could we start it?
I expect others here will not hesitate to participate. The frequency and the longer their postings are, the higher they’ll contribute, I suppose.
Like the Smith custody issue, let’s see how the RP government deals with this another trouble with the Chinese:
Beijing asks RP to free 30 Chinese fishermen-’poachers’
The Chinese government is asking the Philippine government to release 30 Chinese fishermen who were last week arrested for poaching in a protected marine sanctuary in the country, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said yesterday.
DFA spokesman Eduardo Malaya said the request was contained in a letter sent by the Chinese Embassy to the DFA last Dec. 24.
Ms. Ellen,
I commend the “60 journalists and concerned citizens, including…” yourself, for filing “a civil class suit against Mike Arroyo before the Makati Regional Trial Court.”
I salute you, Ms. Ellen, and the rest, for the courage and guts ! Thank you for putting meaning into the words, THERE IS HOPE IN THE PHILIPPINES ! Heroes are born, indeed, in times of crises.
CONGRATULATIONS !
Mandirigma, you said, “Tungkol sa class suit against Mike Arroyo, may epekto lang iyan kapag wala na sila sa kapangyarihan. As long as he and his family are in power, even the courts bow down to their dictates.”
I do things not because I’m going to win. I do things because I believe that is the right thing to do. If we win, that’s a bonus. What is important is we do what should be done which is not to allow Mike Arroyo to erode the environment for press freedom.
As I mentioned in the article, this suit is a prerequisite for our suit to be filed before the UNHRC, which requires that we first exhaust local judicial proceedings.
So win or loss, it’s okay for us because the next step is the UN. When this case is filed before the UN, Mike Arroyo will make it in history as the first public figure, husband of the president, to be a subject of a complaint for violating the journalists’ right to excercise their profession freely.
This is an unprecedented action in the whole world.
mandirigma,
ganyan dito sa blog ni Ellen, madalas nga ay corny pa. wa’g kang madala kasi iyan ay isa sa style dito. heheh! Pinoy inglis kung minsan ang gamit namin, kasi Glueria and minions are big jokes! Sabi nga ni Vic, nag-iilusyon naman sila, e.
Welcome to our world!
Joeseg, re”In the case against you Ate Ellen, is there any move to raise the funds needed for your defense? If there’s none, could we start it?”
Thanks for the thought but our filing fee has already been taken care of by the three organizations that I mentioned in the article.
As for my libel suit, our (Malaya) office is taking care of our legal and financial needs.
Ms. Ellen,
Galing if you can take your suit “before the UNHRC…” ! That would be FANTASTIC !
Okey, kailangang pumasa sa grade one muna bago grade two. Ang UNHRC ay grade two. Magaling yatang abudado si Homobono Adaza. Editor siya ng UP Collegian at bar topnotcher at senator. Yung abogado ni fake gentleman ba ay topnotcher? Kahit anong laki ng banga ay may kasukat na pangtakip. Akala ni fatso ay pushover ang mga jurnalist.
Ellen, I love it when you say it: “I do things not because I’m going to win. I do things because I believe that is the right thing to do. If we win, that’s a bonus.” That would be my mantra, if you allow me, for the coming year.
alitaptap, galing mo, makatang nagbibigay-liwanag sa karimlan: “Kahit anong laki ng banga ay may kasukat na pangtakip.”
mandirigma, chi, vic: sanay na tayo sa mga latest -isms courtesy of Ellen’s blog. What a way to expand your vocabulary. Don’t be surprised that after Ellen’s “Very Gloria” thread we’ll start reading “most Gloria” here, too. Who says blogs are for losers wasting time? Informative, educational and fun yata!
Back to topic: I believe there’s no way you (the cmplainants) can lose. The mere filing before UNHRC is one big victory already. Let’s see him wiggle his fat ass out of this hole he got himself into.
2007: Year of the Fire Pig. When you see the pig, fire!
Slip of the Tongue:
Back to topic: I believe there’s no way you (the complainants) can lose. The mere filing before UNHRC is one big victory already. Let’s see him wiggle his fat ass out of this hole he got himself into.
2007: Year of the Fire Pig. When you see the pig, fire!
—
Fingers, behave!
Parang rambol lang naman sa boxing ring yan. Susuntok ng susuntok ang isang slugger hangga’t bukas ang depensa. Once na nakatikim siya ng counter-punches, siya naman ang de-depensa at magba-backpedal.
Putting the FG Libel Suit Team in the defensive would re-allocate their time from fabricating new suits to defending themselves from the class suit, and to deodorizing the moral stinks of their sins against press freedom. Let’s witness how a no-contest boxing fight would turn into an exciting brawl.
What’s P15 million to Mickey the Terrible? Peanut! P15 million is Mickey’s loose change, his golfing money among other thing. I do understand the P250,000 filing fee, but heaven sake this is major league stuff. When you go against the heavy hitters the like of Mickey the Terrible, no one should hold anything back. You can’t fight the giants with one hand tied behind your back or you will lose surely. In my opinion, the suit should’ve been P15 million x 60 journalists = P900 million, thereabout. Let just say for discussion sake, one billion in damages. One billion still peanut to the Arroyos, but a whole lot better than P15 million, it meant business, and it may put little hurt on the Pidal’s account, if he lose. But, again it’s just an opinion, the money will never be collected, just a little intuitive feeling of mine. The Arroyos never pay their debts, they just know how to collect, they’ve been collecting for years, and some.
Another thing, this suit, if it’s like the case against President Estrada, perhaps we’ll never see the final outcome filed by the 60 journalists and concerned citizens. Justice moves mighty slow especially when it’s against the Arroyos. They’ve a way of buying and/or eliminating that might incriminate their chances of losing the Malacanang or any portion of their stolen wealth. It’s an exercise in futility! To fight the Arroyos and to put hurt on them is surely not through the courts, but on the streets.
I think the civil class suit filed against Mike Arroyo is necessary inspite of our apprehension that it will not prosper as long as GMA is still enthroned.
For one, the complainants are meeting head-on the libel suit earlier filed against them by Mike Arroyo. Tit-for-tat. Second, as the class suit is unprecedented and the first of its kind in the world, it bears watching when it reaches the United Nations Commission on Human Rights. We could imagine how the world press will react.
But surely, the other avenue is the streets and it will be, in the days to come.
wa ha ha , when you see the pig, fire!! ha ha Tongue,marami ka yatang nakain na litson nung pasko??
Good luck sa class suit nyo, Ellen. Heaven knows you and the other complainants are up against big odds, but at least people will know your group isn’t taking this sitting down.
29 December 2006
GUYS!!!! I hope everyone, if not most of you have seen the TV show of david letterman, did you notice how he ridicule president and mrs george bush??? going back to the time of bill clinton and how hillary was the subject of fun. Not only the show of david letterman but a lot of US TV shows are making fun of the US presidents and their spouses. But, does anyone of you heard that there was a libel case filed against the media practitioner??? as far as I can recollect, “NONE” (but please correct me if I am wrong on this one). My point of the matter here is, in other countries (democratic countries) their president and spouses, even the prime minister and their spouses not to be missed missed out is the royalty in england, but, as I said no libel case was filed against the media practitioners (again, correct me if I am wrong). Here in the Philippines its different, the “BIG FATSO” is filing libel cases left and right. The “big fatso” is crying foul, but what the leprecahun is doing or whatever the leprechaun has done in the past its ok by him, STUPID!!!!!!!
Never sleep on the case filed by group ms. ellen, show the “big fatso” that you could also file a libel case against him. GOODLUCK and GODSPEED
prans
29 December 2006
AS WE REACH THE END OF 2006, I JUST WANT TO GREET EACH AND EVERYONE A BLESSED AND A VERY PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR.
SANA WALANG “BABUYAN” KAHIT YEAR OF THE PIG ANG 2007
SALAMAT PO!!!!
prans
goodluck sa kaso ninyo ms.ellen at congratulations na rin. tagumpay na ring masasabi ang mapagsama-sama ang mga indibidwal at organisasyon para maisampa itong kasong ninyo, pati na rin ang pagpapalitaw ng 250,000 para sa filing fee.
sana nga ay manalo kayo. ang laban ninyo ay laban ng buong sambayanang pilipino. at ang tagumpay ninyo ay magbibigay ng matinding dagok sa conceit at arrogance ng pamilyang iskwater sa malakanyang.
Mahirap na kalaban si Big Mike at ang mga officials na konektado sa kanya as long as GMA is still in power.
Remember the PROBE team, “the longest-running and most awarded television newsmagazine” in the country. Well, it was pressure from the administration and Pidal’s best buddy Efraim Genuino that led to the censorship and cancellation of Probe Team by GMA7.
http://www.politicaljunkie.blogspot.com/2006/02/its-not-first-time-this-administration.html
No surprise there, matagal na nating alam na maka-Admin ang GMA7 at si Mike Enriquez.
As for Efraim Genuino, itoang report ng PCIJ on how valuable Genuino is to the Arroyo admin:
http://www.pcij.org/blog/?p=342
web.archive.org/web/20051030171516/http://partners.inq7.net/newsbreak/cover/index.php?story_id=48364
Ewan ko if anyone would eat it, but dapat lechonin nalang ang baboy (Mike Arroyo) !
dearly beloved bloggers
okay lahat sa taas ang mga sinabi ninyo, PERO PINOY KASI TAYO. madaling lumamig parang chicken soup sa saskatchewan o sa alaska.
dapat palaging nakasalang sa apoy. kung may kuto (pediculus capities) sa Panay at may landrace na baboy (sus scrofa) sa negros occidental, wala niyan mga yan sa Sahara, sunog sa araw, chilled sa gabi haggang lumabas ang maitim na buto at malibing sa buhangin.
Impossible to imagine: isang sus scrofa nakakubabaw sa isang pediculus capitis.
Pagwala na si Gloria, sayawan, baylihan na sa kalsada, nakalimutan na ang hustisya, na si Davide, si De Venecia, si Defensor, Claudio, 2 gunggongzalez, si ermita, si bunyeta, at mga askal at pusakal (pulis kalye) at mga generals nila na dapat nabitay o kaya’s kulong agad.
Nakalimutan na, nakalimutan naaaa, nakalimutannnn naaa.
Pnoy kasi. Only in the Philippines.
Ganyan ba ang mangyayari sa demanda ninyo. magaling lang sa umpisa. madaling bumitaw, kaya kapit sa patalim hindi pa naranasan.
franz
kaya (can he equal) ba ni David L ang style ko, meron pang review ng scientific names. aber ano ba ang ibig sabihin ng achra aputa (teka mali yata ang espelling)? Pero achrasaputa paboritong prutas ng Pinoy. Ito ang amoy ng hininga ng mga mahilig sa beer house. na sa kanta rin ni Elvis noong 1958. AYUN SINABI KO NA ANG SAGOT. Si mandirigma ang magbibigay ng pabuya (NOT BRIBE OF COURSE BUT PREMYO)sa tamang makakahula.
Yung sinabi kong dapat H2SO4 o kaya HNO3 ang isinaboy kay vic agustin hindi ko na nakita, na censored yata ni ellen. Chem 101 po yan. Franz, NA censored na ba si David L, si bombay Reno, si Conan di barbarian. Mga may insomia kilala ang mga yan. sori guys may light ang pakiramdam ko ngayon nakainom kasi ng coors.
Robert,I got tired of rewriting your comments in all caps, i decided to delete it.
All caps is tolerable if it’s used sparingly. But if it’s in several paragraphs, it’s distracting.
Thanks for having you comments in sentence case now.
Robert,
Lahat na binabasa ko rito, inaanalisa ko rin kasi minsan kahit pareho tayo ng lengwahe, may ibang pinupunto.
Now. the last paragraph of your statement regarding the class suit vs. Mike Arroyo, paki eksplika nga, please:
Robert V. Maich Says:
December 29th, 2006 at 8:02 pm
Ganyan ba ang mangyayari sa demanda ninyo. magaling lang sa umpisa. madaling bumitaw, kaya kapit sa patalim hindi pa naranasan.
=
Some might have the impression that I followed Robert’s line of argument about this class lawsuit against Mike Arroyo; that is, nothing would come out of it. Ms. Tordesillas, thanks for pointing it out that you do things not because you’re going to win but because it’s the right thing to do. Sana ganyan ang palagay ng mga kasama mo. And I fully understand that the next legal move is to bring it to the higher level (internationally). Nasabi kong walang mangyayari habang nasa kapangyarihan ang mga Arroyo dahil iyan ang tutoo. I believe if this case reaches the international media and gets support from our kababayan abroad and people from other countries, the impact would be great. Dahil puro taga-media naman kayo, your group should now be coordinating with your colleagues abroad. Maraming bansa ang allergic sa public opinion isa na dito ang Western Media. Magandang hakbang ang ginawa niyo and if this is the very first in the country, Mike Arroyo would be written down in the Philippine history as “The Pig is sued in the Year of the Pig”.
ellen
on those capitals, i knocked my head 3 times like a dumbguard, bakit ba palagi kasi akong nakasigaw. i will use the lower case from now on. but ellen do you have to re-type or change the upper case? cheerio.
Kabayang Robert, your last name sounds foreign. May dugo ka bang banyaga? Ang middle initial mo naman sana hindi iyon nasa isip ko, si Vicky (Toh). Cheer! Peace!
joeseg
Ganyan ba ang mangyayari sa demanda ninyo. magaling lang sa umpisa. madaling bumitaw, kaya kapit sa patalim hindi pa naranasan.
=
sori, mali na naman yata ang dating, o malalim o naglalalalim-laliman lang ako. Tulad yan ng rally na umusok hindi pumutok dahil sa galit naging pasasalamat. whistle lang sabi nila walang bomb, tignan ninyo sa bagong taon, mas mura kasi ang whistle bomb pag hindi pumuputok.
In short baka hindi matuloy hanggang dulo yan, hindi maparusahan or mamultahan si mike arroyo. pero sabi nga ni ellen kahit walang mangyari, the point is made loud and clear, here and abroad. siempre yung mga hard core gustong may mangyari sa may kasalanan, yan ang ispiritu at letra ng batas.
kapit sa patalim, bihirang maranasan, hiwa lang sa palad ng mga biktima ng karahasan. kung ang buong sambayanan nasagad ng hiwa sa kallamnan.
masasabing ang Pinoy nakadanas ng kapit sa patalim. tulad yan ng rebolusyon, ng maraming sobrang nasaktan. na ang resulta ay pagbabangon ng bayan. paglilinis at pag unlad ng bayan, tulad ng nangyari sa vietnam (mas progresibo kaysa Pinas ngayon), maraming bansa ngayon sa africa, marahil sa sri lanka, sa kashmir at sa iraq. mga tao diyan kapit sa patalim ngayon. bukas hilom na ang sugat puede ng magbagong buhay, mayaman at mahirap dahil laking bawas sa mga salot sa bansa.
mandirigma
sa iba bistado yan pen name na gamit ko. may bobvoy diyan, may tunong mikropono yan. black and white yan, hindi maikakaila. pinoy ako pati pagka pogi at kahinaan. kaya lang dapa ako sa sampung utos ng diyos, parang madre nakapatirapa sa harap ng altar.
mandirigma
karamihan sa atin may dugong banyaga. ang tunay na Filipino ay yung mga katutubo. Mga aetas, negritos, ifugaos, apayaos, manobos, sam als,
badyao, maranaw, etc. kaya ako halo na seguro ang dugo, walang dugong azul, dugong pusa wala rin seguro. Pero mas malapit ako sa KANTANG
jeprocks – akoy pinoy sa puso at diwa, sa galit
at saya, etc. etc. pinoy mahirap espelingen.
Kabayang Robert, you keep mentioning the 10 Commandments but forgot to mention the 11th: Huwag kang magpapalit ng kulay (joke only). Tungkol naman sa pangalan mo, mahina ako sa mga ganyang alias at pen name. Maganda ang binanggit mo na ano man sugat ay naghihilom. But then the scar remains. What the Arroyos, what this Mike Arroyo did to the journalists would remain a scar. Balita ko kakaunti na ngayon ang may litson noong Pasko at darating na Bagong Taon. It’s not only a sign of people getting poorer each year, but the scar on the lechon. Pagkinain natin ang litson makikita natin ang peklat ni Mike Arroyo. Hindi ba nakakawalang gana kainin?
The case filed against Mike Arroyo is a Civil Case. As soon as the Case is taken by the court for hearing, the dependant, in this Case the First Gentleman (kuno) has to appear or has to depend himself, otherwise the case will be defaulted in favour of the Plaintiffs, that is my understanding of the Civil Case. I wish it is tried under a Jury, but we still can hope that there are still a lot of independent trial judges that don’t look at the parties status, but adjucate according to evidence. And the Idea that the case could be elevated to The U.N. Human Rights Courts if no satisfactions or resolution or Biases are obvious at the Natioanl level is the ultimate goal to expose the Abuses of this First Gentleman to the World and I would like to see the day that the couple and their minions would become Pariahs in their own country
A Civil Case is long and even if convicted he cannot go to jail. With all his money and resources, Mike Arroyo can very much afford to settle whatever amount of money required if proven guilty. Kukunin lang niya ang bahagi ng mga ninakaw niya sa tao.
The evil dwarf in the Fantasy Palace, thru her engkantos, said that her palasyo will steer away from this media suit vs the Public Pigyur, since it’s a private affair daw ni Fat Guy Pidal.
Yeah right, they’re only fooling themselves. For now, let Fat Guy’s heart feel the daily pressures brought about by his own arrogance, boastfulness and insensitivity. There’ll be a tremendous explosion of his fat aging heart!
***
Vic,
This will truly hurt them, “…the day that the couple and their minions would become Pariahs in their own country”. ASAP sana, ano?
Why get in the arena to fight and settle for just the bonus when you can possibly win the whole purse? Why even bother? Miguel Arroyo is suing those journalists and he’s not just going to be satisfied with the mere bonus but he wants blood. He want their jobs and there is nothing better for him but to win the suits, money and get all the journalists fired from their positions, or encarcerated like President Estrada. No glory just to be second best, in my opinion, most especially when you’re going against the heavy hitter like Miguel Arroyo. And, you know he’s not going to settle for the bonus. The other Arroyo by injection, illegitimate Gloria is not holding back, and doing everything to lie, cheat, steal and kill. What’s now the count of dead activists and journalists credited to bogus Gloria? Anyway, the suit mentioned on this talking point is nothing but a formality and I don’t put much faith on it.
Furthermore, we should take a page from illegitimate Gloria’s book of “How to Win.” Bogus didn’t just settle for just a bonus as Vice President of the Philippines because it was the right thing to do, instead she went all out and captured the grand daddys of them all, the Presidency through deceit, lying, cheating and stealing. Lets not kid ourselself, both bogus Gloria and Miguel will do you in for less than P15 million and laugh about it. And if you’re going to get it anyway, why not go for the gusto, think big. It’s the only way to get ahead of the Arroyos to think like them.
Palaban talaga itong si Baboy Mike. Ang kapal ng mukha na kasing kapal ng balat. Kung ako ang nakademanda niya uubusin ko ang lahat kong pera para manalo.
Mang Toney, tulad ni OJ Simpson puwede din gumawa ng libro si tiyanak na ang pamagat ay “IF I CHEAT” (This is how I did). Ang kanyang author ay si Garci.
Toney said:
Sure, sue them for a billion, hey, following your advice, a trillion. Okay, Gazillions, then. Who’s gonna pay the fees? I understand Ex-SC Chief Justice Hilarious Davide has raised filing fees from P500 to P5,000 per case. And P5,000 per million in damages. (Am I accurate, Ellen?) I guess this was done to preempt the expected filing bonanza in the aftermath of the Hello Garci scandal. Davide really knows how to kiss bigtimer butts bigtime.
Now, I’m sure Ellen and her colleagues would be more than happy to include you as co-complainant should you volunteer to shoulder the additional P4.8 million in fees. Of course you can, it’s a mere US$96 Thousand.
Our journalists do not have that kind of money, and I’m sure you already know that.
Klaro naman sa itaas nito na the class suit vs Mike Arroyo is not for the money. Plano nga raw nila is to ask for P87 million, representing the 87 million Filipinos, pero nakalikom lang P250, 000 for filing fee. And as TonGuE-tWisTeD said, who’s gonna pay for the fees? If they will go to P87 million, they need nearly P1.5 million pesos.
As we could gleaned from above, the 60 journalists, including Ate Ellen and concerned citizens asked only for a symbolic amount of P15 million in damages. The money for filing fee came from the Southeast Asia Press Alliance, Reporters Sans Frontiers, and CMFR.
At kung manalo sila, ang halagang P15 million hindi naman mapupunta sa kanila. So, it’s not really for the money. The point is, the case is filed which will pave the way in reaching UNCHR.
artsee:
In regards to O.J., it doesn’t fit, but with bonus Gloria there is no benefit of the doubt, bogus Gloria cheated. So, there is no trilling climax to the story since if it’s already widely known. In my opinion, Gloria’s book “If I Cheat” will never make the best seller. I’ll take that back, perhaps the Arroyos and the dogs will buy all the copies. Since they’re the only who got the money to afford it. And for Garci, I doubt it as the author, that guy couldn’t even pick his nose.
“The journalists doesn’t have that kind of money.” It’s a crime shame! I do understand that the suit is not about the money, but it’s the right thing to do. However, in a scheme of things, most especially in the Philippines, the only that matter is the money which is why bogus or illegitimate Gloria as best known, is still in power. They’ve the unlimited resources to finance their enchanted kingdom. With their money they can buy most anything including the congress and the judges, among other things. Surely, money is not everything, but it certainly help in a place like the Philippines, and bogus Gloria and that guy Miguel, the devil himself are full of it.
I still think, it’s about winning big, to put hurt on those illegitimate occupants in Malacanang. Sorry, I disagree with the symbolic amount of P15 million. It’s Peanut!
naku, di pa rin nakuha ng mama..Mr Toney Cuevas,it seems that you did not get what TongueT is trying to point out…Please read it again..His emphasis is very clear..
Considering whom they are up against, I believed Ellen and company has an even chance to win against the fatso. We know how this fat guy makes a mockery of the local courts and its rules, but who knows, there might be another Ben Pozon out there who still know what is meant to be a man of law, to carry on and give the blind-folded lady her long-gone sense of fairness and justice under the evil reign of the evil queen, her fat guy and their minions. I agree that it’s not all about winning, losing or money, it’s all about defending the principles of the freedom of the press and as journalists; there should be no impediment in their practice of their profession as long as they go by the rules. Harassment and legal threat on them have no place in a democratic society like the Philippines, that is if we can still say that democracy reigns in this country which is under an undeclared dictatorship.
And besides, as Ellen said, it’s just a pre-requisite to be able to bring the case to the UNHRC. Win or loss in the local court, the next battleground will go international. This time around the evil couple will be crippled. They can not use their power and influence to corrupt the UN commissioners. And the fat guy will go into the record book of the UNCHR as a journalists’ human right violator. Unprecedented indeed!
Toney, so you think our class suit is useless because we asked only for P15 million (because that’s all we can afford for its filing fee.)
What’s the alternative for us then? Just sit back and allow Mike Arroyo to harass us and in so doing erode the environment of press freedom and democracy?
You said, “However, in a scheme of things, most especially in the Philippines, the only that matter is the money which is why bogus or illegitimate Gloria as best known, is still in power.”
Di ba dapat ‘yan ang labanan ng mga taong naniniwala sa katotohanan at totoong hustisya? Just because that is “the scheme of things” now, it doesn’t mean you will accept that knowing very well it is wrong.
It is a SAD REALITY that there are still those who take the sit-back-&-watch attitude at a time when the Philippines is in the brink of a social collapse. This is similar to those, when asked to take a stand against Gloria, answer with the a question, “who is the alternative?”
These very people do not realize that this question is not a legitimate question if they have an iota of love for the Philippines. Heroes don’t ask questions like that. They take a stand and fight for what they believe in.
Ellen:
Pardon me if I disagree with you on this one. With all due respect, it’s just when you dealing with the Arroyos, the family of no conscience, suing them in their own backyard is like conceding defeat, in my opinion, with only the P15 mil yet. Mickey the terrible’s spending money on one of his Las Vegas night out.
Perhaps it came out as such, but it never said once that the counter suit against Mickey the terrible was useless. Like you said, it’s just a symbolic (whatever it is) or a bonus, and you made it very clear, it’s not about winning in which I’m very amazed, but it’s the right thing to do.
Naive the word I can think off at the moment. What I’m pointing out here, if I my make a relative comparison, is that going against the giants with their weapons blazing in all directions, here the opposition (if may allow to call the journalists and others) with a sling shot on the modern day. It’s laughable for lack of better word. Nevertheless, to each his own, I suppose. I also, can’t ignore the fact that you and others are doing something within your bound with limited resources and weapons in your arsenal. That’s why bogus Gloria is still in power, no one can match in the Philippines with the Arroyos, Peso per Peso.
The P15 mil. suit has been filed, lets see what happen. But, I think deep in your heart, Ellen, you already know what would happen to the suit in the land of enchanted kingdom. I do, only because President Estrada still in jail for over six years now.
If I may add, as to my understanding, this is a blog provided by Ms Ellen with her generosity, nothing more. A blog where you can agree and disagree, also exchange ideas. This is not, nor the place, in my opinion, to start a revolution or device plans to kick bogus Gloria out of Malacanang. And it seemed we’ve our say, on every single matter in which I’m most appreciative to Ms Ellen. You’ve my respect and admiration. Thank you Ms Ellen for allowing to enter your house.
Toney, when I voiced my opinion saying that the lawsuit wouldn’t prosper as long as the Arroyos are in power, I was rebuked. Your line of reasoning somehow follows that of mine. It’s indeed very difficult to fight the enemy in his backyard. Parang basketball din iyan na ang laro sa lugar ng kalaban. Hometown crowd is always a factor in any sport competition. Pero sang-ayon din ako na hindi sa halaga ng demanda ang tagumpay kundi ang prinsipyo dito. If this group of journalists wins, it would have a great impact not only domestically but internationally.
As I mentioned earlier, win or lose, it’s okay for us because the next step is the UN. When this case is filed before the UN, Mike Arroyo will make it in history as the first public figure, husband of the president, to be a subject of a complaint for violating the journalists’ right to excercise their profession freely.
Sana lang Ms. Tordesillas ay may matanggap kayong suporta mula sa mga journalists ng ibang bansa. Ngayon pa lang ay dapat kumilos na ang foreign media para lalong maipit si Mike Arroyo. He must be reminded of the saying about the “power of the pen”.
Wish you all luck, Ellen, in this law suit. God willing, your group will win. Will see what happens next, after the outcry against the insult to the justice system of the Philippines by the Great Switik and her American patrons!
Mandirigma, Reporteurs Sans Frontieres (Reporters Without Boundaries) is a Paris-based international organization of journalists who have been keenly watching the Philippine situation not only in the realm of the printed medium but also in cyberspace. They advocate press freedom and are in the frontline in fighting rights abuses against journalists, media censorship, based mainly on the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which states that everyone has “the right to freedom of opinion and expression” and also the right to “seek, receive and impart” information and ideas “regardless of frontiers”.
They are a watchdog group founded in 1985 by Richard Menard and started publishing their Press Freedom Index in 2002 (RP rank:89, 1=best). In 2006, we were ranked 142, only slightly better than countries with totalitarian regimes.
SEAPA is smaller in scope. It is based in Bangkok, and currently headed by a Pinoy (forgot the name, Ellen help!). Our journalists have already the support of international NGOs and I’m sure the moment the case is filed with the UN, then the issue would definitely attract serious international attention and cease to be a local quarrel.
Let’s support the journalists in this fight. Let’s support Ellen, specifically.
Toney wants to win big, big time that is, but he also acknowledged that fighting the Arrovos with their unlimited resources not to mention their power and influence over the courts, is just as hopeless as hoping for the glue to step down from her illegal throne. Now, because the odds of winning against the giants is practically nil, MAYBE he wants those journalists who were being sued by libel King fatso to just sit down, watch him do his thing, mess up and put a lid on press freedom. That’s sad because if everybody go with that line of reasoning, that will be the end of whatever self-respect and decency left in every Filipino. It’s not at all about money, the peanut 15mil or even billions. What was not being mentioned here is the fact that the fight of these brave journalists is not only for their own survival but for every freedom loving Filipino. Freedom of the press go hand in hand with democracy, without the other, neither will survive. So somebody has to stand up against those who wish to destroy and take away that freedom, whatever it takes, even against these evil Arrovos. They also have to be given something to think about.
Think about it. If you control the press, it’s almost you control everything. If there’s no press freedom and everything is under their control, nobody has the courage to stand up and criticize them, libreng libre silang magwalang hiya at anong klaseng buhay mayroon ang mga Pilipino? Ang mga tao ay takot at parang mga asong may tali sa leeg walang kalayaan at sunod-sunuran lang. In that case nawawala ang self-respect and decency, only humiliation. So ang dapat ay lumaban. It’s more admirable to lose fighting than conceding defeat without a fight.
Good if there are international watchdogs overseeing the development of media in the Philippines including the lawsuit filed against Mike Arroyo. I have some reservation, though. Kung minsan kasi front lang ang mga grupong iyan ng kung anu-anong ideology. Tulad ng Amnesty International na marami ang nagsasabing makakaliwa.
Tongue and all,
SouthEastAsiaPressAssociation (SEAPA) executive director is a young Pinoy, Roby Alampay (UP Student Council, late ’80s).
florry:
I’ve my say on the matter, I’d rather leave at that.
Alitaptap, our lawyer for this class suit is Harry Roque, not Bono Adaza.
I’m not impressed with this Homobono Adaza. He’s a good talker. As a lawyer, ewan ko lang.
You bet, Ellen, why should Filipino journalists be afraid of Fatso Pidal even when he orders the 43 journalists “salvaged” one by one! The case against him can be submitted to the UN even when he untimely sends everyone to Kingdom Come!
With a corrupted PNP and AFP, it’s easy for the bogus first couple to order such terminator style. Just got a note from one of the Bayan Muna reps regarding the murder of a wannabe partylist candidate, Rodolfo Alvarado for Congress in the next election in Albay because they knew he was a sure winner, especially with another son being lined up for a congressional seat for Bicol.
Ang tindi! Congress being made into some kind of a family enterprise! Heaven forbid!
Ingat!
Another Arroyo son being lined up for congressional seat in Bicol? Are you referring to Arroyo’s son? Hindi naman residente ng Bicol iyan. Lahat na lang gustong kunin. Mikey and Iggy Arroyo tapos isa na naman anak. But what’s more interesting to watch is this fight between the Lapids and Pinedas in Pampanga. Medyo naiipit si Arroyo dito.