Media – Page 21 – ellen tordesillas

Chameleon

Published by Ellen on October 4, 2008

It’s probably too late now to stop Congress from passing the bill compelling media organizations to air the side of anyone who has been criticized or accused of wrongdoing. The Senate version of the bill, principally authored by Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr., was approved last June, and a counterpart measure, sponsored by Rep. Monico Puentevella of Bacolod City, is scheduled for floor debates anytime soon in the House of Representatives.

The twin measures would require media organizations to publish or broadcast the reply of anyone who has been accused of committing any crime or who has been criticized “by innuendo, suggestion or rumor for any lapses in behavior.” In the House version, the reply must be used not later than one day after delivery, while the Senate version gives a three-day deadline. And it would not be enough to print or broadcast the reply.

It has to be of the same length as the offending article and it must be published on the same space. Failure to comply would merit fines ranging from P10,000 to P50,000 in the Pimentel bill, while in Puentevella’s version the fine could go up to P200,000; offenders could be jailed for a period of up 30 days and the publication or broadcast station could be shut down for a month.

Standing up to Gloria

Published by Ellen on September 30, 2008

Gloria Arroyo is used to having her way with the Malacañang Press Corps that she thinks she can impose the same control with all members of media, even the foreign media.

A week ago, Malacañang invited members of the Foreign Correspondents of the Philippines to an exclusive press conference in Malacañang on October 2, at 11 a.m. More than 50 Focap members signed on for the Arroyo’s first presscon in more than a year.

Last Monday, Press Undersecretary Martin Crisostomo notified Focap that it was “all systems go for the October 2 press briefing with PGMA.”

However, he set a condition: “The President will NOT entertain political questions, but will answer other questions, including those specifically pertaining to the economy and how the current US financial crisis is affecting the Philippines and other Asian countries.”

Nabuhayan ng pag-asa

Published by Ellen on September 29, 2008

Kung kailan parang wala na tayong maasahan na hustisya sa ating mga korte dumating itong desisyon ng 7th division ng Court of Appeals na laban sa petisyon ni Mike Arroyo na i-dismiss ang kaso ng mga journalist na kanyang pinirwisyo sa pamamagitan ng pag-file ng libel suits kaliwa’t-kanan.

Mabuti naman. Parang sinag ng araw pagkatapos ng madilim na ulap. Sana tuluy-tuluy na.

Noong isang buwan, nagmistulang bulag at bingi ang Court of Appeals sa kanilang desisyon ng idinismis ang petisyon ni NBN/ZTE star witness Rodolfo “Jun” Lozada laban sa mga tauhan ng Philippine National Police na nagtangkang kumidnap sa kanya sa airport nang dumating siya galing Hongkong.Pagkatapos lumabas ang eskandalo tungkol sa Meralco at GSIS, hindi nakapagtataka ang ganoong desisyon.

Mike’s bid to dismiss journalists’ complaint nixed

Published by Ellen on September 29, 2008

Click here for copy of CA decision

ABS-CBN Online report

by Evangeline de Vera
Malaya

Journalists who filed a P12.5 million damage suit in December 2006 against Jose Miguel “Mike” Arroyo won Round 2 after the Court of Appeals denied Arroyo’s petition to stop, for lack of merit, the Makati RTC from admitting the amended complaint after complainants failed to pay the correct docket fees.

The CA’s Seventh Division lifted the writ of preliminary injunction it earlier issued and remanded the case to the Makati RTC, which was ordered to “conduct further proceedings with dispatch.”

Harry Roque, counsel for over 40 media practitioners who joined the class suit, said: “This is the beginning of the end of impunity. Those who will use libel as a tool to infringe on freedom of the press, beware. Democracy has fought back and democracy won.”

Dapat Biyernes ng hapon pa

Published by Ellen on September 6, 2008

Ini-imbistigahan daw ang limang miyembro ng Criminal Investigation and Detection Group na umaresto kay Jake Macasaet, publisher ng Ang Pahayagang Malaya m noong Huwebes habang siya ay kumakain ng tanghalian sa Century Park.

Ayan na naman. Palpak kasi ang dating kaya naghanap na naman ng sangkalan. Ang kawawa ang mga maliliit na sumusunog lang sa laro nitong mga nasa taas.

Walang natuwa sa pag-aresto kay Macasaet at nagdagdag ng impression na may masamang binabalak itong pamahalaang Arroyo para mapagtakpan ang kanilang malaking palpak na ang MOA-AD (Memorandum of Agreemenet – Ancestral Domain) sa Moro Islamic Liberation Front. Binatikos pa sila kaliwa’t -kanan ng mga organisasyon ng media.

Raymundo case update

Published by Ellen on September 4, 2008

I have received inquires on what has happened to 1Lt Artemio Raymundo who was charged and detained for giving away CDs at an LRT station in September 2006.

Well, he is still detained. He will mark his second year in prison on Sept. 25.

Not only that. He was arraigned for violations of Articles of War 96 (Conduct Unbecoming of an Officer and Gentleman) last August 18, the day Gloria Arroyo declared a holiday. Last Friday, without the assistance of his chosen counsel, Harry Roque, who had requested for a postponement because he would be in Malaysia, he was arraigned for violations of Articles of War 64 (Disrespect Toward a Superior Officer).

Malaya publisher arrested over libel case sleeping for 9 years

Published by Ellen on September 4, 2008

by Raymond Africa

Agents of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group yesterday arrested Malaya publisher Amado “Jake” Macasaet for a libel case filed against him nine years ago.

A CIDG team led by Senior Insp. Berlito de Guzman served the warrant on Macasaet, 72, in his Port Area, Manila office before noon.

The warrant was issued September 2 by Judge Emma Young of the Manila Regional Trial Court.

Macasaet was released after posting a P10,000 bail yesterday afternoon.

Small blessings

Published by Ellen on September 2, 2008

Maybe I should thank the Commission on Human Rights for saying that the arrest of journalists who covered Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV and Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim at the Manila Pen on Nov. 29, 2007 “constitutes arbitrary arrest/detention in violation of human rights standards.”

It’s definitely better than the dismissal of our class suit by NBI- agent- turned-judge Reynaldo Laigo of the Makati RTC who said that our arrest, handcuffing, and detention was “justified’ and even added that we were “so lucky” that the police didn’t initiate criminal charges against us.

With a leader who has no respect for the Constitution and disdains truth, CHR chair Leila de Lima gives me some hope. Maybe I should thank her for making the Commission say that “there have been violations of the human rights of liberty, security of person and freedom from arbitrary arrest of the complainants in the Manila Peninsula Siege.”

CHR: No basis in detaining journalists during Nov 29 standoff

Published by Ellen on September 1, 2008

The Commission on Human Rights said Monday there was no basis to justify the arrest and detention of several journalists during the Nov. 29, 2007 standoff at The Peninsula Manila hotel in Makati City.

In a news briefing, CHR chair Leila de Lima said some violations were committed during the arrest and processing of media personalities in the aftermath of the six-hour standoff between government forces and the group of Army Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim and the Magdalo led by Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV.

In one of its resolutions, the CHR recommended that the case be “referred to the Department of the Interior and Local Government and to the Philippine National Police for internal inquiry and for filing of proper administrative disciplinary cases and measures applied to proper persons.”

A country not even his own

Published by Ellen on August 17, 2008

Last month,Meralco chair Oscar Lopez said in a forum that with what is happening now to his family in relation to the ruling power, it’s as though Ferdinand Marcos’ dictatorship had not ended.

Lopez said this following attempts by Gloria Arroyo’s avid supporter, Winston Garcia, president and general manager of the Government Service Insurance System, to takeover Meralco, the Lopez family’s flagship firm.

Category: Media