Category: Human Rights

Maria Ressa’s position paper on media at the Pen

Published by Ellen on December 13, 2007

by Maria A. Ressa
Head, ABS-CBN News & Current Affairs Division

On November 29, 2007, more than 30 journalists were arrested, handcuffed and transported to Camp Bagong Diwa in Bicutan. 12 of the journalists were from ABS-CBN, detained as “witnesses and suspects,” according to the police. Others were told they would be released as soon as their identities were verified.

Head of Newsgathering, Charie Villa, went immediately to the Peninsula Hotel to identify our people; yet, she was told they would still have to be arrested and brought to Bicutan. We believe this move sets a dangerous precedence and erodes our nation’s democracy.

NHK’s Chairmaine Deogracias on Manila Pen incident

Published by Ellen on December 13, 2007

Good morning. I am Charmaine Deogracias a reporter for Nippon Hoso Kyokai (NHK)/Japan Broadcasting Corp. NHK is Japan’s sole public broadcaster, thus it is independent from any private or governmental organization and doesn’t run its five television and three radio services for the Japanese audience on commercial basis. NHK Manila is just one of its 26 news bureaus around the world, while it maintains 54 stations across Japan. NHK also broadcasts news and general programs for overseas viewers and listeners on both television and radio. Its programs are distributed round-the-clock to foreign cable TV stations, satellite broadcasters, while some can be accessed on the internet. The company prides itself to have pioneered broadcasting in the digital High Definition format, the first in the world, through its recent satellite channel, the Digital Hi-Vision.

Our news broadcast is mainly in Japanese but I do English reports for various news programs for NHK World, the international broadcasting service of NHK. Our news bureau in Manila also covers outside the Philippines whenever and wherever we will be needed when news breaks anywhere in Asia.

Media concerns in Nov. 29 incident

Published by Ellen on December 13, 2007

There are good pictures of the Nov. 29 incident in this site. Please click here.

(This is the statement I read at the hearing of the Senate Committees on Justice and Human Rights and Public Order and Illegal Drugs on the warrantless arrest of members of media after the Manila Peninsula standoff.)

In the November 29 incident at the Manila Peninsula, I see two media -related concerns: The first pertains to the duty of a journalist to inform the public of the unfolding crisis as truthfully as he or she can. The second pertains to the constitutional right of a person—journalist or not—to liberty and due process.

When I decided to stay at the Manila Peninsula despite the evacuation order from authorities (Malaya was never officially informed about the warning from the PNP, but learned about it from TV news), it was in performance of my duty as a journalist, which is to inform the public as truthfully as I can of the unfolding events that I considered—and still consider—of national interest.

Toadies crawling out of the woodwork

Published by Ellen on December 13, 2007

Malaya editorial:

A Marine colonel who headed the military component of the PNP-AFP contingent which assaulted the Manila Peninsula has started looking for “padrinos” at the Commission on Appointments to help swing his nomination to brigadier general.

His confirmation originally was seen as a cinch. There were some derogatory marks on his service record and he was also perceived as a “bata-bata” of AFP chief Gen. Hermogenes Esperon. Points against him, but not fatal to his career.

Post-Manila Pen, Col. Jonathan Martir is the proverbial camel seeking to pass through the needle’s eye. The opposition is determined to block his confirmation. He is likely to stay a colonel until the AFP rule on attrition catches up with him.

Media arrests preview of ‘more dangerous times ahead’

Published by Ellen on December 13, 2007

Cabinet secretaries snub Senate’s media arrest hearing

Click here for Inquirer’s account: Media asserts rights, role in democracy

From ABS-CBN Online:

Journalists present at a Senate hearing on Thursday expressed fears because of the police’s arrest of media people who decided to stay inside a luxury hotel in Makati City last month while a group of rebel soldiers led by Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV and Army Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim were calling on the public to withdraw support to President Arroyo.

In her opening statement during the hearing, Malaya newspaper columnist Ellen Tordesillas, said scenes of movies about The Holocaust came into her mind while she and other journalists were being lined up and brought into a waiting police bus after the six-hour standoff.

Ex-DAR chief: “Sumilao is one case I’m certain farmers are right’

Published by Ellen on December 9, 2007

(I have neglected the Sumilao case due to other important issues. I’m catching up)

By Jerome Aning
Inquirer

The call on the government to heed the Higaonon farmers who marched for two months to dramatize their claim to a 144-hectare property in Sumilao, Bukidnon, is ringing louder, with more Church leaders and a former agrarian reform secretary joining in.

The Association of Major Religious Superiors of the Philippines cosponsored a Mass Saturday afternoon at the farmers’ picket line at the Department of Agrarian Reform central office in Quezon City, in an effort to continue demonstrating Church support.

SC eyes ‘right to truth’ writ

Published by Ellen on August 30, 2007

To further address the “chilling” rise in the incidents of extrajudicial killings and involuntary disappearances, the Supreme Court yesterday said it is studying the issuances of the writ of habeas data to uphold the people’s “right to truth.”

Chief Justice Reynato Puno said the writ of habeas data will be effective alongside the enforcement of the still to be implemented writ of amparo, which will deny authorities the defense of simple denial when they are sued to produce before the courts the bodies of victims of involuntary disappearances (writ of habeas corpus).

The use of the writ of habeas data, he said, has been proven effective in solving problems of enforced disappearances in Latin American countries like Brazil, Colombia, Paraguay, Peru, Argentina and Ecuador.

Velasco taken off Burgos case

Published by Ellen on July 11, 2007

Update: Velasco said he is not indispensable

Car linked to kidnapping traced to Army chief’s office

Burgos prosecutor sacked after tagging Isafp agents

by Evangeline de Vera

Senior state prosecutor Emmanuel Velasco was relieved yesterday by Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez as head of the panel investigating the disappearance of activist Jonas Burgos, two days after he ordered an investigation of military intelligence agents and two other officers suspected of involvement in the abduction.

In another development the Burgos family asked the Supreme Court to issue a writ of habeas corpus compelling the military to produce her son and order his immediate release from detention.

Officers and gentlemen

Published by Ellen on July 2, 2007

By Patricia Evangelista
Inquirer

On June 26, 2006, at two in the morning a little more than a year ago, Sherlyn Cadapan and Karen Empeño were abducted from a farmer’s home in San Miguel, Hagonoy, Bulacan. Armed men bundled the women into a stainless steel jeep with plate number RTF 597. A farmer named Manuel Merino, who had run out in response to the women’s cries, was also bound and blindfolded. The three were driven away towards the direction of Iba, Hagonoy, Bulacan.

When the abduction was reported, human rights volunteers, led by Mildred Benitez, went to the 56th Infantry Battalion headquarters at Iba. A stainless steel jeep with plate number RTF was found parked inside the compound.

The military denies its existence.

Puno: DILG moved Smith late night to avoid traffic

Published by Ellen on December 31, 2006

Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno thinks we are all stupid. Ginagago tayo.
Read this story by Norman Bordadora from the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

Tarra Quismundo said the operation was done in 30 minutes. Really well- planned.Click here.

Update: Gloria Arroyo didn’t know of Smith’s transfer to US Embassy- Ermita. Click here.

INTERIOR Secretary Ronaldo Puno yesterday said it was his office that decided to hand over American Marine Daniel Smith to US custody and this was in line with a Malacañang decision to comply with treaty obligations, to which President Macapagal-Arroyo agreed “in principle.”

Puno and Interior Undersecretary for Public Safety Marius Corpus said that the transfer pushed through late in the night to avoid security complications in case the convoy bearing Smith had to go through heavy traffic between the central business district in Makati and the US Embassy compound in Manila.