Last Friday, I got this strange letter from a certain Samira Saba of Smartmatic, the Dutch-Barbados-Venezuelan firm that partnered with the local Total Information Management and won the P7.2 billion contract for the nationwide automation of the 2010 elections.Here’s the letter:
Dear Mrs. Ellen,
My name is Samira Saba and I work at Smartmatic as the Marketing and Communications Manager (www.smartmatic.com).
I have checked your blog and I find it quite interesting. I can see the articles published are responsible, and show that you as a rule strive to inform and educate your readers. For instance, the article “Rock the vote!”
I would like to know if you have the time and the interest of writing some articles regarding the following subjects:
1) Election automation worldwide, and positive experiences in various countries.
2) Election automation in the Philippines, past and present.
3) Different technologies to automate an election. Perspectives and comparisons: shortcomings, advantages, political implications.
4) Smartmatic technology in particular (in this case, we would of course furnish appropriate materials to the required depth).
If you are interested in adding our organization as a regular client for your freelance writer services, we can define the extent and number of articles you could write monthly. I will be glad to give you more details and answer the questions you may have.
If your answer to the above is positive, then I would appreciate a quotation for your services, with a target of two articles published per month to begin with.
I look forward to hearing from you the soonest.
It was signed by Ms Saba.
I find the letter insulting. It smacks of bribery. I had to take several deep breaths and reminded myself that I should not write anything when I’m angry.
Saturday, I replied, asking her “What and where in my articles gave you the idea that my services are for sale?”
I’m still waiting for her reply.
***
I got another letter, not addressed to me but to Gloria Arroyo from the Union of Foreign Service Officers signed by its president, Victoria Bataclan.
Bataclan zeroed in on the appointment of Foreign Undersecretary for Migrant Affairs Esteban Conejos, Jr. as permanent representative to the United Nations in Geneva.
Bataclan said, “This appointment of Mr. Conejos not only brings the level of non-career ambassadors to its highest level in Philippine history, it places your Excellency in imminent breach of the statutory limit set by Section 17 of Republic Act No. 7157, otherwise known as the Foreign Service Act of 1991. As of 28 September 2009, there are 29 non-career ambassadors and 36 career ambassadors. Of the latter group, about eight (8) have ended their tour of duty (and are on short-term extensions) or about to end their tour of duty within sixty (60) days. Thus, if all these 8 career ambassadors return home, your Excellency will have breached the statutory limits even without the appointment of Mr. Conejos. “
The eight are Antonio Rodriguez (Thailand), Erlinda Basilio (UN, Geneva), Laura de Rosario (Vietnam), Jaime Yambao (Pakistan), Victoriano Lecaros (Malaysia), Ricardo Endaya (Kuwait), Virgil Reyes (South Africa), and Willy Gaa (United States).
The Foreign Service Act provides that “the President shall be guided, as much as possible, by the principle that a majority of diplomatic and permanent missions shall be headed by career ambassadors.”
Unifors also complained that, “There is no transparency in the appointment of non-career ambassadors. The career corps is deeply disappointed and disheartened over the fact that it has not been informed nor consulted prior to the issuance of such appointments. In the instant appointment of Mr. Conejos, dated 3 September 2009, the corresponding document, which appears patently flawed on its face and its process, was seen only about 3 weeks after said date.”
Unifors said it would be a waste of money spending some US$70,000 to bring Conejos to Geneva who would be staying there only for eight months since his appointment is co-terminus with Arroyo, who should be stepping down on June 30, 2010. A career officer would have a term of at least three years in a post.
Unifors said, “ Such kind of expenditure may be seen as grossly insensitive to the current mood of channeling all available resources towards relief and rebuilding for the victims of Typhoon Ondoy.”
Press Secretary Cerge Remonde does not agree with Unifors on the computation of political and career officers saying the latter still outnumber political appointees.
As to Conejos, Remonde said his appointment is being pushed by no less than Foreign Secretary Alberto Romulo.
Wow, the gall! Is that how they do business here?
I imagine you were not the only she made this “indecent proposal”. Did others have the same reaction?
This Romulo is feckless.
Conejos wants to go to Geneva because a special someone is assigned there. If Conejos gets there, Filipino taxpayers will be subsidizing an extra-marital affair.
What an immoral administration.
ganun? hahaha, ate ellen how much po ang bayad paglagay mo ng banner ng PEBA?hehe
You make me proud knowing you and having you as our mentor. Standing up for what is true and right.
Ikaw Kenji ha. Let’s have coffee when you are here in Manila.
I think the problem is not really the corrupt politicians,it is the people who tolerate them,sana di na tayo mag ningas kugon dito sa situation na ito,sana may gawin tayo.:)
Ha!ha!ha! Itong si Saba, nagpapatawa!
Ellen, mukhang talab na talab ka at ang Ellenville sa matik-matik nila a, kaya nagresulta na lang sila sa pang-insulto.
Halatado kayo Pidalistas, oy!
Conejo talaga si Berto!
E ano ngayon ang gagawin ng Unifors after complaining? Aksyon na o maghihintay rin ng noon of June 30, 2010? Nakakainip!
Marami yatang tumatapang ngayon na si Gloria ay clearly without no more clout for the future of Pinas (till she’s elected as spooker of the lower house…).
Ellen, baka nga naman makalusot. Saba wants to deodorize the Smartmatic outfit. She wants to project a positive outcome of the computerired elections. Nice try!
I agree with becky at #2 above. I think it is possible that two or more columnists are now talking with Smartmatic about writing assignments — who can these be?
Gosh, one of two things — either someone is out to discredit Smartmatic or Smartmatic is getting so bold, they think all journalists in Pinas are for sale.
If it’s the former, the writer reckoned you will be upset and will write about it. If it’s the latter, they know if you don’t accept, and instead denounce the attempted bribery, they will just deny it.
Either way, it is disturbing.
If what Becky (no. 2) says about Conejos wanting desperately to go to Geneva to live an extra-marital affair at taxpayers’ expense, then Romulo is complicit. If so, Romulo has got to be kicked in the head and Gloria, sampalin ng isang dosenang beses!
Anyway, we all know that members of this government led by fake president Gloria Macapagal and her greedy corrupt husband are so indecent, they make everyone throw up!!!!
Mabuti nagalit ka. You are way too well known as anti-Smartmatic for Saba to be naive enough to try to buy you.
I tend to suspect something sneakier.
They were hoping you would play coy, to try to get more details of their offer. You will ask how much, in the hope of providing more flesh to your exposè. But before your exposè, they would jump the gun and reveal your inquiry, and claim that you are on the take.
Smart thinking Sax… Yep, there could be that too, an attempt to frame Ellen by preying on her journalistic instinct.
Thanks everybody for your confidence.
Re # 4 and #5. Kenji is one of the moving force behind the Philippine Expat Blogging Awards (PEBA). This is their second year. I support this inspiring and commendable project.
They are currently screening the OFW blogs for this year’s awards which will be held here in Manila in December.
I posted this article in my Facebook wall. Dean Jorge Bocobo made this comment and I’m posting it here with my reply.
Dean:
Let’s face it Ellen, you are not exactly Ms. Neutrality when it comes to political issues (I agree with many of your positions). But since you are a commercial journalist (you are paid for your column writing and reporting) marketing operators like Ms. Saba naturally see you as fair recruiting game since you are in the Market, right? It doesn’t mean they are hiding something, though, does it?
My reply to Dean:
Dean, you are an intelligent person but obviously you don’t know the difference between a journalist and a propagandist. There is no such thing as a “commercial journalist”.
A journalist conveys the truth that he has gathered to the public. He does not write on an issue because he was paid to make a stand.
I am employed by Malaya and Abante to inform the public of the truth on current issues. That’s journalism.
Journalist don’t write on something because someone hired them to do so. Journalists investigate and report about things so that the public will know the truth. Accurate information will help them liberate from their ignorance and guide them when they make decisions.
But Ellen, many Philippine journalists can not just present facts, they have to put a slant on them. I can not imagine de Quiros mentioning when GMA and Mike Arroyo got married without putting an anti-GMA spin on the conjugal union.
strike “philippine” out of the first sentence. The same matter — journalists putting a spin on facts — is universal, evidence being the various manners that journalists (especially columnists) had presented the Nobel Peace prize that Obama won. And then, there is GMA.
You can also take it as a Bait..that being the critique of the Government’s shenanigans, taking the offer will discredit you and will make the Administration smell like roses.
been following many journalists, and many make a comfortable living practicing their professions, but I still had to see or hear a single one in any major Canadian Dailies that was or is proposed by any business concern as a paid endorser of their products, not even for Auto Journalist or Columnist or Writer…there might be some, but I still have to hear or know one…
While some journalists want to report, some journalists do want to guide their readers to a certain conclusion. This is especially the case when rumors are rife and solid evidence hard to get. The stronger the desire of a writer to shape the conclusion that their arrive at, the bigger the reporting bias becomes.
I may not agree with all the causes of Condrad de Quiros but I know that he is a man of principle.
Conrad is not paid by interest groups to criticize Gloria Arroyo. He writes about things he has gathered to be true using his training and skills as journalists.
Inquirer employs him to write his opinions.
Like other professions, journalism has its share of irresponsible and corrupt elements. I speak for myself when I say that I adhere to the journalist’s primary role of being the messenger of truth, accurate information to the public.
To the best of my ability, I abide by the ethical codes of journalism.
Ellen, nag-experiment yata si Dean na gamitin sa iyo ang term. Kahit nga sa Wikipedia ay wala pang entry on commercial journalist, but Dean, cvj and others have discussions about this at: http://search.yahoo.com/search?p=commercial+journalist&fr=yfp-t-101&toggle=1&cop=mss&ei=UTF-8
I have some doubts if a Samira Saba ever exists. It’s so easy to pick a name, create an email and add some letters after your name and say I am this, I am that, etc. It maybe someone who was so upset with Ellen’s critical writings against Smartmatic. This creature is just out there testing the waters and at the same time setting a trap to ensnare by tempting with hard to refuse offer of contracts with substantial financial considerations. The mission is to destroy credibility just in case.
Ellen understandably has the right to be insulted and be angry but she’s so smart to fall for this scheme. The writer should have known better.
Samira Saba is a real person and her title (as of August 2009) is as Ellen had written in her blog comment.
http://www.smartmatic.com/pressroom/article/article/smartmatic-and-nec-argentina-announce-strategic-alliance-to-support-bolivian-voters/
“As to Conejos, Remonde said his appointment is being pushed by no less than Foreign Secretary Alberto Romulo”.
Romulo who?
Oh that’s the guy who is supporting Noynoy but insist on staying on the barn of Gloria, meaning walang delicadeza, kapit tuko sa pwesto, because he doesn’t want to lose the perks of the position. On second thought maybe he was allowed to stay by Gloria, because he maybe the connecting bridge in case Noynoy wins the prize.
So she’s real, and so is my beef.
it is easy for the computer literate to find out whether an email is a spoof or really originated from the correct email server.
email have routing information inside the email header. by default is not shown by the email application but a few mouse clicks this can be shown and easily deciphered. i’m sure ellen has done that already.
Got this e-mail from a fellow OFW here in KSA. Just deleted the name of the author to protect her identity.
Click here:
Letter by a Filipina
Or Ellen can have it as another topic for discussion dahil napapanahon nga at isang pagmumulat sa maling pananaw.
You are all welcome, este thank you sa inyong lahat!
Grabe naman po yang letter na yan. Hmmn, alam kasi nila na madami kang readers kaya gusto ka nilang gamitin para mapaganda ang tingin ng mamamayan sa mangyayaring automation.
Yun nga lang, mali sila ng pinili, ngayon mas nagiging nakakapanghinala ang gagawing pagbabago. Hays! kahit abala ang mga tao sa pagsasaayos ng ating bansa na nasalanta ng mga bagyo. Ang bagyong Pidal pala ay abala din sa pagsasaayos ng kanilang mga malalagim na plano!
Panatilihin nating nakabantay sa mga gawain ng mga ito. Nabalitaan ko din na hindi pala totoo ang ginawa ni GMA sa Baguio, may kumakalat na link sa facebook at iseshare ko din dito, http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=114401&id=528628313&ref=nf isa talaga syang mapagpanggap, lahat na lang scripted!!…ggrrr….
Let’s face it Ellen, you are not exactly Ms. Neutrality when it comes to political issues (I agree with many of your positions).
Dean must define standards of “neutrality.”
If neutrality means not formulating an opinion, then I agree, opinion writers have no place in this world.
Following that, then perhaps, Dean must consider his own stand… (he was a writer for Inquirer, wasn’t he? That he should also give up his right as blogger and political writer, commenter to formulate opinions too.
Nah…who’s neutral with regards to political issues, especially under the (non) leadersship of the fake president…ano bali?
Chi, (what does “ano bali” mean?)
Anna, “bali” (cut into two or several pieces) is a colloquial of sira-ulo (used in informal conversation).
Oh, ok, thanks Chi.
Ellen, maybe Vera Files should accept the offer. They can then have access to SmartMatic’s files.
“……If your answer to the above is positive, then I would appreciate a quotation for your services, with a target of two articles published per month to begin with.”
Susmaryosep!
Katulad din pala itong si Samira ng mga alipores ni goyang. Salapi ang ipinantatapat sa gustong sa kanila ay manilbihan.
Tama rin nga ang ginawa ni Ellen. Binara kaagad niya ang walang modong babaeng ‘yun.
Ellen
ikaw talaga. Ngayon galit na sa iyo lahat ng user-friendly journalists. Papaano pa sila susulat ng papuri sa Smartmatic eh binisto mo na may bayad yun? Tinanggalan mo sila ng tinapay.
Problema dyan sa mga career officers ng DFA ay pag naka linya na sila for posting tameme na sila. At pag nasa abroad na sila eh siempre obligado sila na ipagtanggol kahit anong gawin ni Gloria. Kasi kahit career sila, yun promotion at appointment galing pa din kay Gloria.
Pagumaalma sila naaalala ko yun sinabi sa akin ng isang army colonel/ “Huwag mo na kaming asahan manguna sa coup, nakatikim na kami at naghihintay na lang kami ng panahon namin. Dun ka sa mababang ranko, idealistiv pa ang karamihan sa kanila.”
Ganyan din ang mga career officers sa DFA.
Binisto mo rin sila, mb.
Binaboy ng husto ni Gloria ang career officers ng DFA pero masyadong ipit ang kanilang sigaw, hindi marinig e!
Commercial journalists. User-friendly journalists.
These are new terms that I have learned today.
MB is right about career officers. They are fond of complaining but they refuse to make a stand.
What Unifors did, writing GMA is already a big,big thing for them. Maybe they should be commended for that. But kulang pa rin.
And the worse is, as MB said, many of them also allow themselves to be used to violate the law if it benefits them.
Indecent is your polite refined manner of saying it, Ellen.
Immoral and corrupt, I’d say.
Now we know the character of these Smartmatic people. Now we know what to expect in 2010.
if this offer was made to a researcher and expert in election automation, then there is nothing wrong with that. The letter seems to be an offer to fund scholarly researches.
to a honest journalist like ellen, this is way out of line. i knew some journalist who are tainted with special interest group.
thanks ellen for sharing this letter and setting an outstanding example !!
I believe Smartmatic is looking for “positive” press to counter the negative effect of it being associated with the current administration and comelec. They need to come out smelling like roses as mere association with corruption will taint their company’s reputation and business…not good in the long run…so they need spin doctors…problem is, now its out in the open, whos taling it?
Binaboy ng husto ni Gloria ang career officers ng DFA pero masyadong ipit ang kanilang sigaw, hindi marinig e! – chi
Kaya pala lagi silang kinakabagan.
‘Yung dapat na kanilang sigaw ay sa puwet sumisingaw!
‘Yan ang problema sa ating mga nasa pamahalaan, kahit saang departamento, hidni nila maipaglaban o mas tamang sabihing ayaw nilang ipaglaban ang kanilang mga karapatanng tinatapakan ng huwad na pangulo sapagkat hindi rin gustong mawala ang “sarap” ng kanilang mga trabaho.
Kanino sila bumabawi? Di ba’t sa ating mga karaniwang mamamayan kapag kailangan natin ang kanilang serbisyo? May babayaran ka ng saksakan ng mahal, kinokotongan ka pa kadalasan.
Maraming journalists/bloggers worldwide ang anti-Smartmatic. There is this Venezuelan Aleksander Boyd who dug up the Smartmatic layering of ownership that revealed Hugo Chavez’ government’s involvement (ownership) of this firm that supplied the equipment for his reelection-enabling referendum. Another one from a US university that revealed the shady deals between Smartmatic and Sequoia Voting systems that when the NY Rep. called for investigation which Smartmatic initially refused, they had to sell Sequoia instead. BTW, I am a little familiar with Sequoia since its parent company, DeLa Rue PLC was represented by my late father for their bill counting machines.
There are other “scandals” that Smartmatic had experienced in the recent past it is safe to assume Ms. Saba is in charge of the damage control apparatus of the company. I’m not surprised if they “buy” journalists for this purpose.
Maliwanag naman. Hindi paparehas ang Smartmatic na ‘yan kung walang kapalit o pakinabang.
Ginamit na behikulo upang muling mahalal si Hugo Chavez, hindi rin kaya gamitin sa Pilipinas upang papanalunin ang kandidato ng panduck na may bangaw sa mukha kapalit ang sako sakong salaping kabayaran?
Hindi sila nagkamali sa pag-aalok ng serbisyo sa administrasyong ito na bantog sa pagiging garapal!
Hindi sila nagkamali sa pag-aalok ng serbisyo sa administrasyong ito na bantog sa pagiging garapal! -MPR
Nagkamali lang sila ng alok kay Ellen, hehehe. Nabisto tuloy na nagrerekrut sila ng “commercial journalist”.
Ang nakakapagtaka e yung palusot dito na ang Intellectual Property Rights ng source code, ayon kay James Jimenez ng Comelec, ay pag-aari daw ng Sequoia at hindi ng Smartmatic samantalang sa America, ang sabi ng Sequoia ay pag-aari ng Smartmatic ang source code nila.
Itong taon na ito ay naglabas ng report si California Secretary of State Debra Bowen para sa Election Assistance Commission tungkol sa pagpalpak ng PCOS system gaya ng sa Smartmatic. Sabi niya, “Deck 0” error caused deletion of votes; Failure to log important system/operator-initiated events such as deletion of votes; Inaccurate Date/Time stamps; “CLEAR” buttons delete election logs. [http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voting_systems/sos-humboldt-report-to-eac-03-02-09.pdf]
Kung sa America ay lumusot ito at tapos na ang bilangan nung natimbog, dito pa kaya sa atin?
Kaya siguro nagre-recruit (nagsa-shopping?) na si Ms. Saba ng mga journalists ngayon pa lang.
Ang maganda sa ginawa ni Ellen, ibinulgar niya. Kawawa ngayon yung envelopmental journalists na tatanggap ng offer na magsulat para sa Smartmatic, hehehe! Yung mga tumanggap na, sori na lang!
Planadong-planado ang matik-matik a. Kinokober na ang lahat na angles na alam nilang papalpak.