Military – Page 36 – ellen tordesillas

Media fights back

Published by Ellen on January 28, 2008

PROBE TV Banta laban sa malayang pamamahayag: http://www.probetv.com/view_video.php?viewkey=f914b95a0fc33c3f33bf

Click here to my MediaMax file to read the full text of the two complaints. Titles are “media complaint filed with Makati RTC” and “Prohibition petition filed with SC” .

More than a hundred journalists and four media organizations today filed two separate suits against officials of the Arroyo administration including the Philippine National Police to be allowed to do their job of informing the people the truth about what is happening in the country.

In the first suit, filed before the Makati Regional Trial Court Court, the petitioners were immediately granted a temporary restraining order against the respondents “to refrain and desist from issuing threats of arrests or from implementing such threats againsts Plaintiffs and/or members of the media who are covering events similar to the Manila Pen standoff and ordering and maintaining the status quo ….until the issues presented inthis instant suit are resolved by teh Court.”

The second suit was filed before the Supreme Court.

Police vs media

Published by Ellen on January 28, 2008

PROBE TV Banta Laban sa malayang pamamahayag :

http://www.probetv.com/view_video.php?viewkey=f914b95a0fc33c3f33bf

Today’s Inquirer editorial

The articulate secretary of the cabinet, Ricardo Saludo, has taken the Inquirer to task for allegedly “misreporting” on a statement he issued the other day and perpetrating “occasional but prominent distortions” in our headlines.

His original statement, one of several he issued on Jan. 24, dealt with the current vexed relationship between the police and media; it is short enough to reproduce in full: “The front pages and the airwaves are not the places to resolve the issue of safely covering conflict situations, and any allegations of civilian misconduct during the Manila Peninsula uprising. Both sides should discuss guidelines to ensure public safety in media coverage of dangerous events. And let due process, not trial by publicity, be applied to any evidence and charges of unlawful acts during the uprising.”

Why Esperon has to stay

Published by Ellen on January 27, 2008

Gloria Arroyo’s justification for the extension of the service of her favorite AFP Chief Hermogenes Esperon won’t pass even with those with brains filled with gunpowder.

According to Malacañang’s press release, Arroyo extended Esperon’s term for three months (up to May 9) to “sustain the government’s ongoing campaign to finally end rebel insurgency in the country.”

“Because there is a momentum in the campaign against the NPA (New People’s Army) and they are expecting a snowball in the next several months,” Arroyo said.

Akala nila tanga ang taumbayan

Published by Ellen on January 26, 2008

Extended na and serbisyo ni AFP Chief Hermogenes Esperon hanggang May 9 daw.

Sa report ng Philippine Star at ABS-CBN, sabi ni Esperon na gusto raw ni Gloria Arroyo isang taon ang kanyang extension ngunit mas maigsi ang gusto niya para naman raw hindi maantala ang promotion ng ibang opisyal.

Ganun pala, e. Hindi pala kapit- tuko itong si Esperon.. Tingnan nyo, alalang-alala siya sa promosyon ng ibang opisyal kahit na siya lamang ang maaring maglipol ng mga komunista. Wala ng iba. Kung hindi siya i-extend, masisira ang takbo ng “Bantay-Laya”, ang programa laban sa mga New People’s Army.

Sinabi sa report na kailangan raw i–extend si Esperon para ra hindi masira ang “momentum” ng Bantay Laya. Ibig sabihin noon masisira kapag si Lt. Gen. Alexander Yano ang chief of staff sa susunod na buwan kapag nag-retire na si Esperon.

Arroyo extends Esperon’s term

Published by Ellen on January 26, 2008

Opposition senators: Proves military holds her by the neck

by Joel Guinto
Inquirer.net

DAVOS, Switzerland (via PLDT) — President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has extended for three months Military Chief General Hermogenes Esperon Jr.’s term of service, saying she wanted to sustain the military’s momentum against communist rebels.

At the same time, the President announced that the commanding general of the Philippine Army, Lieutenant General Alexander Yano, would replace Esperon at the end of his extended term on May 9.

Stop the witch hunt

Published by Ellen on January 24, 2008

Update:PNP now in search of ‘Makapili’ among reporters

PNP admits it has no goods against lady reporter

Since when has a journalist interviewing a person involved in a situation a crime?

The RPN-9 video that was supposedly the PNP “smoking gun” to discredit media in connection with the Nov. 29 Manila Pen incident just showed Dana Batnag, reporter of Jiji Press, a Japanese news agency, talking with Marine Capt. Nicanor Faeldon, who was one of the Magdalo officers who walked out of their hearing at the Makati Regional Trial Court, proceeded to the Manila Pen and called for the ouster of Gloria Arroyo’s illegitimate government.

There was nothing in the picture as described by no less than the justice secretary and the PNP chief that showed a “female reporter helping Capt Nicanor Faeldon escape by giving him a press ID.”

Military court insists on arraignment by batches for Miranda et al

Published by Ellen on January 24, 2008

by Victor Reyes

A military court trying 28 officers linked to the February 2006 alleged power grab attempt has moved the venue of the trial from Camp Capinpin in Tanay, Rizal, where most of the officers are detained, to the military’s general headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.

The military also announced that eight of the accused will be arraigned on Tuesday.

The venue transfer was made on the request of defense lawyers, said Maj. Emilio Felicen, court spokesman. He said the lawyers have raised the issue of the long travel they have to take to make it to hearings.

This is the video

Published by Ellen on January 23, 2008

Photo reproduced here without permission of The Inquirer. Sorry, JV.

Inquirer’s photo caption:PEN LOBBY. Is Dana Batnag interviewing Marine Capt. Nicanor Faeldon? Or, are they plotting his escape? Does this video constitute enough evidence to prosecute Dana? Is this all? RPN NEWS

Faeldon-reporter tape does not show much; PNP witch-hunt hit

By Alcuin Papa, Nikko Dizon
Philippine Daily Inquirer

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?

For Malaya editorial. click here.

From ABS-CBN online:

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.

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.

Category: Military