United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and members of the international community have condemned Monday’s massacre in Maguindanao, which left at least 46 civilians, including a…
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Category: Media
The election-related massacre of at least a dozen journalists in Maguindanao province on Monday is among the deadliest single events recorded for the press worldwide.…
Those who personally know Alecks Pabico or his works as long-time PCIJ writer-editor, you are all invited to a benefit dinner that aims to support…
Even as we applauded this year’s awardees of the Jaime V. Ongpin Excellence in Journalism , we were dismayed to hear that this may be the last awards for investigative and explanatory reports.
But we are glad to know that the Canadian government will continue with its Marshall McLuhan fellowship that is usually given to the top prize winner.
Founded in memory of Canadian media guru, Marshall Mc Luhan (“The medium is the message” and “The global village”) the fellowship sends the journalist on a two-week speaking tour of Canada and arranges speaking engagements in the Philippines.
Nagsampa noong Martes ng petition para sa Writ of Amparo para kay Navy Lt. Nancy Gadian ang kanyang kapatid na si Nedina Diamante. Tinutulungan siya ng Law Center Philippines nina Atty. Harry Roque.
Sabi ni Atty. Roque, kinaka-ilangan ito dahil sinabi ni Nedina nag text sa kanya si Nancy noong Sabado at sinabing may nagsabi raw sa kanya na may ”shoot-to-kill” order para sa kanya. Pinabula-anan ito ng spokesman ng AFP na si Lt. Col. Romeo Brawner Jr.
Sinabi ni Navy spokesman Lt. Col. Edgard Arevalo na binibigyan nila ng assurance si Gadian na ligtas siya at gagalangin ang kanyang karapatang pantao.
Carlos Conde’s statement on AFP’s “order of battle”
I am Carlos H. Conde, a journalist based in Manila.
I found out yesterday that my name is included in the Armed Forces of the Philippines’s “order of battle,” specifically in a document titled “JCICC ‘AGILA’ 3rd QTR 2007 OB VALIDATION RESULT” purportedly prepared by the intelligence staff of the armed forces’ 10th Infantry Division in Southern Mindanao.
In this “order of battle,” more than a hundred individuals – mostly leaders and members of progressive and leftist groups like Bayan, Bayan Muna, among others – are listed and classified as “organized,” “dominated,” or “targeted.” As far as I can tell, I am the only journalist on the list, which classifies me as “targeted,” whatever that means.
It would seem that the army considers me an enemy of the state, as the document, which shows the alleged links of these individuals with the communist movement, seems to be implying.
Pinapahalagaan ko ang serbisyo ng mga pulis sa ating bayan. At alam kong maraming maayos na mga pulis kahit na alam ko din na marami ang hindi matino, na hindi naman pambihira sa lahat na organisasyon.
Alam ko rin na ang kasalukuyang liderato ng Philippine National Police sa ilalim ni PNP Chief Jesus Verzosa, ay sumisikap na maiba ang hindi magandang paningin ng publiko sa mga pulis. Nagustuhan ko ang programa ni dating PNP Chief Avelino Razon na “Mamang Pulis” na naglalapit ng pulis sa mamamayan.
Ngunit ang pinaggagawa g Quezon City Police kay Ted Failon ng ABS-CBN, lalo na sa kanyang mga kamag-anak ng kanyang yumaong asawa si Trina at at kanilang mga kasambahay, ay talagang shocking. Mabuti lang nandoon ang crew ng ABS-CBN at nakita ng bung Pilipinas ang ilegal at brutal na pag-arestado sa kanila.
Congratulations to lawyer Harry Roque who is short-listed for an Index on Censorship Freedom of Expression Awards.
Index on Censorship is Britain’s leading organization promoting freedom of expression. The awards are co-sponsored by the Economist, the Guardian, The Robert Gavron Trust and Bindman’s, a leading law firm in London.
Roque is a nominee for the Bindmans Law and Campaigning Award. The Award aims to recognise lawyers and campaigners who have fought repression or who have struggled to change political climates and perceptions, especially those who have used or established legal means to fight injustice in the field of freedom of expression. Special attention is given to people using or establishing legal precedents to fight injustice.
Index on Censorship’s website specifically cites Roque’s efforts in a class action suit on behalf of several dozen journalists against First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo, husband of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo whose “attacks on journalists seemed a blatant attempt to intimidate the press into silence.”
Click on each of the pictures to view them enlarged.
At the court martial hearing of the 28 officers accused of mutiny for a February 2006 non-event last Feb. 26, it was agreed that the next hearing would be on March 10, 2009.
A day before March 10, the lawyers of the accused were notified that the hearing would be on March 20. No explanation was given why the agreed hearing on March 10 would not push through.
March 20 came and all the lawyers and the accused (except for two officers) were present at the Daza Park hall in Camp Aguinaldo. But there were only three members of the panel who would be hearing the case: Maj. Gen. Jogy Fojas, Commodore Ramon Punzalan and law member Col. Marian Aleido, when there should at least be four of them to constitute a quorum. One member was out of the country. Even the trial judge advocate could not explain the absence of the other members of the panel.
by Atty. Ernesto B. Francisco, Jr.
At first glance, the proposed right of reply legislation seems to be a valid proposition since it offers a fair chance to the public to reply to published or aired accusations or criticisms. However, a closer examination will show that far from bestowing the public with a right, the end result of this proposed legislation may be to protect public officials from valid accusations and criticisms coming from the public. But public officials are public figures who “have lost, to some extent at least, their right to privacy” and who should not be too “thin-skinned with reference to comment to (their) official acts.” Moreover, this proposed legislation, far from serving its avowed ends, may also be creating a boon to corruption.
Senate Bill 2150 is entitled “An Act Granting the Right of Reply and Providing Penalties for Violation Thereof” and is authored by Senators Aquilino Pimentel, Jr., Ramon Revilla, Jr., and Francis Escudero. It requires the free publication or airing of a reply to any accusation of a crime or offense or criticism that is published or aired.