Media – Page 25 – ellen tordesillas

Dana Batnag dares govt: File charges

Published by Ellen on January 23, 2008

Video tape shows a reporter, Dana Batnag, talking with Faeldon. Is this what police said aiding him to escape?

A foreign news correspondent being suspected of helping Marine Capt. Nicanor Faeldon escape after the November 29 siege at The Peninsula Manila hotel challenged the government Wednesday to formally file charges against her if it has evidence.

“I appeal to the authorities to file the proper charges before the courts to prove that this is a government of laws,” Dana Batnag said in a statement that also denied the allegations against her. Batnag works for Jiji Press, a Japanese news wire service.

Ilabas ang video tape

Published by Ellen on January 23, 2008

Mukha talagang kasinungalingan ang sinasabi ng Philippine National Police na may video tape sila na pruweba raw na tinulungan ng isang babaeng reporter si Capt. Nicanor Faeldon tumakas,

Mukhang namimingwit lang ang mga pulis at ang nakakalungkot nito ang ibang miyembro ng media ay kumagat at sa gusto lang magka-scoop kahit mali, tinutulungan ang mga pulis na ikakalat sa madla ang kasinungalingan.

Dapat ang media, hamunin si Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez at si PNP Chief Avelino Razon na ilabas ang viedo tape na yun, kung meron talaga. Kung wala naman, pwede ba tigilin na itong pagsasabog nila ng lagim.

Arrested media seeks “amparo” protection

Published by Ellen on January 21, 2008

Abante column:

Resbak ng taga-media

Nagsampa kahapon sa Supreme Court ang labin-isang personnel ng ABS-CBN ng kaso laban sa mga opisyal ng pamahalaan na sangkot sa pag-aresto at pagposas sa mga mamamahayag noong Nov. 29 na insidente sa Manila Peninsula.

Humingi sila ng writ of amparo or pagbabawal sa mga kapulisan at sino mang opisyal ng pamahalaan na kasuhan sila tungkol sa nangyari noong Nov. 29 at ulitin ang kanilang ginawa na panggigipit sa media sa mga coverages na mangyari balang-araw.

Mike A’s bid to quash journalists’ case junked

Published by Ellen on January 19, 2008

by DJ Yap
Inquirer

Journalists who sued the President’s husband, Jose Miguel Arroyo, for damages over alleged press freedom violations scored a legal victory after a Makati court junked Arroyo’s motion seeking the dismissal of the case.

But they also suffered a setback when Makati Regional Trial Court Branch 143 Judge Zenaida Galapate-Laguilles dismissed their motion to quash a previous court order requiting the media practitioners to produce all the stories they wrote about Arroyo.

In an order dated Dec. 19 but released only last week, Laguilles denied Arroyo’s omnibus motion to dismiss the case on the ground of “liberality.”

Press photogs group declares DOJ chief ‘persona non grata’

Published by Ellen on January 15, 2008

Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez has been declared as “persona non grata” by the Press Photographers of the Philippines following his media advisory that stated journalists may incur criminal liability should they fail to heed the order of authorities during emergency situations.

“We cry foul! We vehemently denounce such statement! And we declared Sec. Raul Gonzalez ‘persona non grata’,” said the PPP in a statement.

Gonzalez to international media watchdog: go jump in the lake

Published by Ellen on January 14, 2008

by Evangeline de vera
Malaya

Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez yesterday said only President Arroyo could make him withdraw an advisory he issued last week in which he told media practitioners not to interfere in legitimate police and military operations on the pain of sanctions.

He dismissed the call of a New York-based media group Committee to Protect Journalists to withdraw his advisory on the ground that it poses a threat to press freedom and democracy.

He said he takes orders only from the President, and the foreign media group can “go jump in the lake.”

Jan. 22 plot?

Published by Ellen on January 12, 2008

Take note of this news item from the Philippine News Agency, the government’s news agency. Gonzalez is talking about a Jan. 22 plot.

On Jan. 22, 2001, Gloria Arroyo was installed into the presidency without election by a military-backed group of civil society members.

Take this news item in consideration with the other reports that have been coming out in the past few days: the ‘floats’ of Teodoro, Esperon, and Razon on a new destabilization plot involving Magdalo officers, revival of national ID, charter change,the report about plan to assassinate Erap, the tension in Tanay last Friday,Gonzalez’ warning to media….

Let’s be alert.

Update: Wala naman pala e. Military, police say “plot” unconfirmed.

Deparment of Justice (DOJ) secretary Raul Gonzalez warned the alleged brains behind the attempt to topple goverment this Jan. 22 not to belittle the Arroyo government’s staying power.

Raul Gonzalez’ unlawful order

Published by Ellen on January 11, 2008

Update: Lacson to Gonzalez: Review Constitution

New York-based Committee for the Protection of Journalists asks Arroyo government to withdraw warning to media

Media is answerable only to the public it serves- media guru Vergel Santos

Secretary of Justice Raul Gonzalez issued the following advisory today:

To: All chief executives (CEOs) of media networks, media companies and press groups and entities:

Please be reminded that your respective companies, networks or organizations may incur criminal liabilities under the law, if anyone of your field reporters, news gatherers, photographers, cameramen and other media practitioners will disobey lawful orders from duly authorized government officers and personnel during emergencies which may lead to collateral damage to properties and civilian casualties in case of authorized police or military operation.

Writers under martial law

Published by Ellen on December 30, 2007

by F Sionil Jose

Last November, when we were finalizing plans for the 50th anniversary conference of the Philippine Center of International PEN, I thought of convening the founding members particularly those who were at the PEN National Writers Conference in Baguio in 1958. I did not have to consult the list; when I told Virgie Moreno, the first treasurer of PEN, she said I may have to count Adrian Cristobal out because at that very moment, he was at the Makati Medical Center and very ill.

I have known Adrian since the ‘50s when I was with the old Manila Times. He used to drop by at Florentino Torres and we would have coffee or pancit bijon at those greasy Chinese restaurants in Santa Cruz.

Escudero seeks raps vs cops who arrested media in Makati

Published by Ellen on December 18, 2007

Nov. 29 -related stories: Manila Pen civilians go to SC

by Veronica Uy
INQUIRER.net

The police unit that assaulted the Manila Peninsula hotel to quell an attempted uprising last November 29 should be slapped with charges for arresting, detaining, and manhandling journalists covering the incident, Senator Francis Escudero said Tuesday.

“The medals they received were commendations for protecting not the people but the President [Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo] only and for that they should be condemned for violating their oath to serve the people and defend the Constitution,” Escudero said.

Category: Media