Media – Page 2 – ellen tordesillas

SC junks Mike Arroyo petition vs. journalists

Published by Ellen on May 14, 2010

The Supreme Court has junked a petition filed by Jose Miguel Arroyo,husband of Gloria Arroyo, which sought to dismiss the damage suit filed against him by a group of journalists whom he hauled to court for libel.

In a minute resolution, the Supreme Court ruled that the Court of Appeals did not commit a reversible error in sustaining the ruling of Judge Zenaida Galapate Laguilles of the Regional Trial Court of Makati City, Branch 143.

Judge Galapate-Laguilles had previously denied the presidential spouse’s motion to dismiss the P12.5-million class suit. The First Gentleman cited the failure of the journalists to immediately answer the written interrogatory within the prescribed extended period.

Election survival guide for journalists

Published by Ellen on May 9, 2010

Today, let’s all exercise our right to choose people who will lead our country.

Pray that this election will be peaceful and will reflect the will of the people.

As we move to the age of automation, which is supposed to lessen fraud, it seems that there are things of the ugly past that persist up to this day. Like private armies and harassment of media.

Ed Montalvan of Mindanao Currents reports in VERA Files CoveritLive that two cameramen of IBC-13 were mauled, their cameras taken away, while recording two candidates distributing money in Camiguin in Northern Mindanao.

With television and internet, the public is apprised of what is happening all over the country in real time. Media is not alone in bringing news to the public. There are thousands of citizens all over the country doing journalist work.

Law doesn’t protect deceit

Published by Ellen on April 13, 2010

The much-respected Maria A. Ressa, head of ABS-CBN News & Current Affairs, invokes “confidentiality of sources” in rejecting the challenge of the Nacionalista Party to reveal the names of their alleged “two sources from the Nacionalista Party ” who gave them the fake psychiatric analysis of Liberal Party Sen. Benigno Aquino III by a Jesuit priest.

“While it’s tempting to take the Nacionalista Party’s challenge, it violates a sacred rule of journalism,” Ressa said.

I don’t agree with Maria.

Journalism is basically truth telling. A journalist’s job is to tell the public the truth.

Journalists score on libel raps filed by Mike Arroyo

Published by Ellen on February 7, 2010

by Evangeline de Vera
Malaya

Journalists who are suing First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo for damages for his propensity to file libel charges yesterday scored a victory after the Court of Appeals turned down anew Arroyo’s bid to dismiss the same damage suit.

The newsmen are seeking P12.5 million in damages before the Makati regional trial court in response to the flurry of libel cases that Arroyo filed since 2003 – 10 against 45 members of the press, a number unprecedented in Philippine history.

All these libel cases that Arroyo filed against the journalists prospered, with the city prosecutor of Manila supposedly finding probable cause to charge them.

In a 23-page decision penned by Associate Justice Sesinando Villon, the CA’s Ninth Division sustained the ruling of Judge Zenaida Galapate-Laguilles in denying Arroyo’s motion to dismiss the damage suit for failure of the journalists to immediately answer the written interrogatories within the extended period.

Media covenant for elections

Published by Ellen on February 4, 2010

Media remains the main battleground for the hearts and minds of voters.

As we approach the start of the official campaign period (Feb.9), members the Philippine Press Institute came up with a media covenant for elections.

The covenant was drafted when PPI, with the support of The Coca Cola Export Corporation, conducted a seminar-workshop on preparing journalists for the 2010 election in Cagayan de Oro in October 2009. This week, in Cebu, the covenant was approved by 31 journalists who represented PPI newspaper members.

Tuloy ang kaso vs Mike Arroyo

Published by Ellen on March 2, 2009

Siguro naman sisipot na si Mike Arroyo sa hearing ng aming class suit sa Makati Regional Trial Court sa Marso 11,susunod na Miyerkoles, 2 p.m.

Kung ayaw naman niya, sabihin na lang niya sa korte ibigay na niya ang hiningi naming danyos na P12.5 milyon na ilalagay namin sa isang trust fund para tulong sa mga journalists na walang pambayad ng abogado kapag sila ay sinampahan ng kaso ng libel katulad ng ginawa sa amin ni Arroyo.

Noong Biyernes, binasura ni Court of Appeals Justice Fernanda Lampas-Peralta ang petisyon ni Arroyo na ibasura ang aming class suit dahil kulang raw ang binayad namin na filing fee.

Masaganang Pasko sa media ni Arroyo

Published by Ellen on December 6, 2008

Mukhang walang financial crisis sa Malacañang.

Hindi lang pala sa mga kongresista na bumuto para patayin ang pang-apat na impeachment at susulong sa charter change sagana ang Pasko ngayon. Sa media rin pala.

Inireport kasi ng Mindanews noong Biyernes na nang pumunta si Gloria Arroyo at si Press Secretary Jesus Dureza sa Saranggani namigay siya ng mga regalo sa mga reporter.

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).

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.”

Tag: Media