There is no justification for the ruthless assault on Charlie Hebdo magazine office in Paris killing at least 12 persons, including journalists.
The killing once again underscores the danger of those whose beliefs do not respect diversity and freedom of expression. As the National Union of Journalists in the Philippines said, “We acknowledge that there have been and will continue to be debates about the role journalistic responsibility – or lack of it – factors into such attacks on the freedom of the press. But while we acknowledge the indispensability of ethics in the profession, we also maintain that no mode of expression, however offensive or unethical it may be, deserves a death sentence.”
Amid the reprehensible violence, it is heartwarming how the whole world is rising and standing together to face head-on the terrorists. Journalists all over the world are proclaiming “Je suis Charlie” (“I am Charlie) in solidarity with the victims of this latest terror attack.
(Basic information about Charlie Hebdo: It is the name of a weekly magazine in French that specializes on satire.
(There is no person named Charlie Hebdo. Information gathered online said the name Charlie is from the Charlie Brown, one of the main characters in the American comic strip “Peanuts.” Hebdo is short for the French word “hebdomadaire” which means weekly.)
As we condemn the attack on Charlie Hebdo, we have to deal with continuing assault against Filipino journalists.
NUJP reported that Nerlita Ledesma, 48, Bataan correspondent of the tabloid, Abante, was murdered around 8:05 yesterday morning.
Mhike Cigaral of Bataan station DZXL and CLTV 36, and vice-chairman of the NUJP provincial chapter, said Ledesma was gunned down by a still unidentified assailant in Barangay Tuyo, San Rafael, Tagnai in Bataan. The suspect was wearing sunglasses, a bonnet and a jacket, and was riding a black and white motorcycle.
If proven to be work related, Ledesma’s killing brings the number of slain journalists to 172 since the fall of the dictatorship in 1986 and 31 under President Benigno Aquino III.
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Considered the dean of Senate Public Relations Officers, Pamsy L.Teosico, has come out with a book, “Laughing and Loving in the Philippine Senate.”
The book, which is actually her memoir as PRO to five Philippine senators, gives readers a glimpse of happenings in the Senate behind controversial investigations and tedious sessions.
More than being an efficient PRO to senators, Pamsy used her Senate network to help cancer victims asking for financial assistance from senators.
A cancer survivor, Pamsy is active in ICan Serve, an organization of cancer survivors.
In 2012, Pamsy suffered and survived a multiple stroke which necessitated her resigning from her Senate chores. To celebrate her healing, Pamsy has been making Mother Mary necklaces, Padre Pio medals and Angel charms.
“Laughing and Loving In The Philippine Senate”will be launched on January 16, 2015 Friday at The Forum 4th Floor, Fully Booked 5th Avenue, Bonifacio Global City, Makati at 3:30pm.
Offical statement of the French President François Hollande on the shooting in Paris
Elysée – January 7, 2015
My dear compatriots,
Today, France was attacked at its very heart in Paris, at the offices of a newspaper. This extremely violent shooting killed 12 people and injured several others; highly talented cartoonists, courageous columnists were killed. Their impertinence and independence influenced generations and generations of French people. I want to tell them that we will continue to defend this message, this message of freedom, in their name.
This cowardly attack also killed two police officers, the very ones who were responsible for protecting Charlie Hebdo and its editorial staff who have been threatened for years by obscurantism and who defended the freedom of expression.
These men, this woman, died because of their vision of France, namely freedom. I would like, on your behalf, to express our wholehearted gratitude to the families, to those affected, to the injured, to the friends, to all those who were deeply hurt today by this cowardly murder. They are now our heroes and that’s why I have decided that tomorrow will be a day of national mourning. There will be a moment of silence at 12:00 pm in all government offices and I encourage everyone to join in. Flags will be flown at half-mast for three days.
Today it is the Republic as a whole that has been attacked. The Republic equals freedom of expression; the Republic equals culture, creation, it equals pluralism and democracy. That is what the assassins were targeting. It equals the ideal of justice and peace that France promotes everywhere on the international stage, and the message of peace and tolerance that we defend – as do our soldiers – in the fight against terrorism and fundamentalism.
France has received messages of solidarity and fraternity from countries around the globe, and we must take their full measure. Our response must be commensurate with the crime committed against us, first by seeking the perpetrators of this act of infamy, and then by making sure they are arrested, tried and punished very severely. And everything will be done to apprehend them. The investigation is now moving forward under the authority of the Ministry of Justice.
We must also protect all public spaces. The government has implemented what is known as the Vigipirate Plan on “attack” level, which means that security forces will be deployed wherever there is the hint of a threat.
Finally, we ourselves must be mindful of the fact that our best weapon is our unity: the unity of all our fellow citizens in this difficult moment. Nothing can divide us, nothing must pit us against one another, nothing must separate us. Tomorrow I will convene the Presidents of both assemblies as well as the political forces represented in Parliament to demonstrate our common resolve.
France is great when she is capable of rising to the test, rising to a level that has always enabled her to overcome hardships. Freedom will always be stronger than barbarity. France has always vanquished her enemies when she has stood united and remained true to her values. That is what I ask you to do: to join together, all of you, in every way possible; that must be our response. Let us join together at this difficult moment, and we shall win, because we are fully capable of believing in our destiny, and nothing can weaken our resolve.
Let us join together.
Vive la République et vive la France!
Offical statement of the Embassy of France to the Philippines on the shooting in Paris
Manila – January 8, 2015
A heinous attack occurred in Paris, which left 12 people dead, including 4 cartoonists from the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo and 2 police officers, and eight others wounded, many of them in critical condition.
This barbaric act sought to silence by fear. Instead, we are all reminded that the foundation of a world of peace and tolerance is one where anybody can express their thoughts and creativity freely. It is this freedom that France, together with the rest of the world, strives and will continue to protect.
Our thoughts are with the families and friends of the victims, as well as with all the journalists who fight for press freedom and with all those who uphold the universal right to freedom of expression.
nakakapanghina ng pag-asa at pag-asam na makakamtan pa namin ang hustisya at ayuda ng gobyerno kulang isang taon at kalahati makalipas na atakihin ang aming lugar sa zamboanga city ng mga MNLF. nasaan na ang mga pangakong tulong mul sa mga kinauukulan? nasaan na ang bilyon bilyong pisong pondong nakalaan para sa rehabilitasyon at pabahay? nasaan na ang emergency assistance mula sa mga ahensiyang nagsipag-anunsiyo ng kaunting halaga upang kahit paano ay makaraos ang mga katulad naming biktima?
bawat balita mula sa media ay tila mga biktima lamang ng bagyong yolanda ang nakakaranas ng paghihikahos. bawat ayuda mula sa mga donor countries ay yolanda victims lamang ang tinutukoy upang paglaanan. pabahay. pangkabuhayan. pang-edukasyon.
ano ba hinihintay ng mga nasa gobyerno natin? panahon ng kampanya para sa 2016? mangangako na naman sila at pagkatapos TAPOS na rin ang pagpapaasa?
ano ba ang kalakaran ngayon sa public service?
PAKAPALAN NG MUKHA?
@mprivera……Para sa kaalaman mo ang mga biktima ng bagyong yolanda kulang ang tulong mula sa gobyerno. Ang higit na tumulong ay mga international NGO lalo pagkatapos ng bagyo. Pero gusto ko malaman mo na hindi lahat natutulungan dahil hindi naililista. Ngayon nariyan na daw ang pera na download na pero hindi pa rin pinamimigay. Sa Tacloban city napakarami pa rin ang hindi nabibigyan ng 10 tawsan para sa partially damage at 30 tawsan sa totally damage. Sa Tanuan namigay na pero marami guidelines, pag hindi angkop sa guidelines di bigyan. Eh ang sabi Lacson at de lima lahat bigyan. Samar at Leyte napakaraming town at barangay wala pa din bigay ang pera mula sa gobyerno. Ang sabi baka da pina iinterest muna sa bangko.
Ang International NGO na tsu tzi namigay iyan ng pera sa mga nasiraan ng bahay mga di lampas isang buwan pagkatapos bagyo yolanda pero di lahat ng town. Pagkaalam ko pumasok ang tsu tsi sa tacloban, palo, tanauan, di ko na alam ang iba. Pero di lahat pa rin yata na bahay nabigyan ng 10 to 15 tawsan. Ang ibang INGO namimigay pabahay. Pumapasok sa isang barangay pero di aabot ng 100 bahay bibigyan eh minsan isang barangay sobra 500 ang bahay. Pero kami bahay ko nasira bagyo yolanda nasa blog ko kita mo, kahoy at pawid wala ako natanggap na ayuda mula INGO. Napaayos ko ang bahay dahil sa mga panalo ko sa swertres lalo paglabas 825 december 2013 kasi madalas labas ang pasko number. December 8 letters at 25. Binili kong kahoy ay kahoy talaga hindi coco lumber. Kaya para sa kaalaman mo di lahat nabibigyan ayuda. Subkan mo punta Leyte at Samar at maalaman katotohanan. Pwede din makinig ka DYVL radyo 819 khz madami tawag bakit wala pa bigay pera na galing gobyerno.
Police Chief Investigating Paris HEBDO Attack Kills Himself
The Commissioner Helric Fredou aged 45 years was from Limoges began his career in 1997 as a police officer at the regional office the judicial police of Versailles, before returning to Limoges. .
The Commissioner Fredou, like all agents SRPJ worked yesterday on the case of the massacre at the headquarters of Charlie Hebdo . In particular, he surveyed the family of one of the victims. He killed himself before completing its report. A psychological cell was set up in the police station.