Six policemen yesterday came to the Malacañang Press Working Area to arrest Mia Gonzales, Malacañang reporter of Business Mirror and contributing reporter of Newsbreak.
The arrest was in connection with the libel suit against Gonzales filed by Mike Arroyo for an article Mia wrote in Newsbreak in June 2004 which mentioned the perception that Mike Arroyo is crooked and influences official decisions as problems facing Gloria Arroyo in her new term as president.
The strange thing about the warrant of arrest was, the respondents never received a resolution on the case. Newsbreak editor-in-chief Maritess Vitug said, “We deplore the shortcut of the judicial process.”
Gonzales did not report for work yesterday. Vitug said Gonzales will post bail tomorrow.
Following is Philippine Daily Inquirer online report:
Media groups blast threat, arrest attempt on writers
‘Mr. Arroyo didn’t know of warrant’ — lawyer
INQ7.net
Last updated 03:57pm (Mla time) 11/13/2006
MEDIA organizations here and abroad slammed on Monday the attempt to arrest a Malacañang reporter inside the Palace compound and an e-mailed death threat received by a newspaper columnist, both of whom are among 43 journalists sued for libel by First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo.
The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) said the attempt of at least six policemen to serve the warrant of arrest on Business Mirror reporter Mia Gonzalez at the Press Working Area of the Malacañang Press Corps, of which she is vice president for print, Monday morning “cannot but make us suspect that this was a deliberate attempt to send a chilling warning to journalists that no place is sacrosanct when it comes to appeasing the whims of the mighty.’
It noted that Malacañang “is not only [Gonzalez’] workplace but also home of her accuser and his powerful spouse, the President of the Republic of the Philippines.”
But a statement from Mr. Arroyo’s lawyer, Alberto S. Rondain, said that “the Presidential spouse had nothing to do with the attempt to serve a warrant of arrest” on Gonzalez.
Rondain said his client “did not even know that the warrant was going to be served” and blamed Gonzalez because “she wrote the libelous articles and maligned the reputation of the First Gentleman.”
In a separate statement, the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) expressed “deep concern” over the death threat received by Malaya (Free) columnist Ellen Tordesillas and challenged President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo “to live up to her promises and act immediately to prevent another senseless death in the Philippines’ media community.”
“This blatant threat against Tordesillas must not be dismissed,” IFJ president Christopher Warren said in a statement released Monday.
The e-mail to Tordesillas was sent Sunday by a certain Daniel Perez with the e-mail address danie11aperez@yahoo.com. It said: “What kind of death do you prefer? To die of cancer? To die of accident? To die of ambush? To die of heart attack due to your libel suit? Masyado kang matapang ha? Puro banat mo sa Pangulo dahil hindi ka napartehan ng gracia kahit kaunti [You are brave, huh? You keep on hitting the President because you did not receive even a small share of the goods]. Your days are numbered.”
“This spineless death threat is a blatant attempt to intimidate and frighten a journalist into submission and it is not to be taken lightly,” Warren said. “The IFJ demands an immediate investigation into the incident, and calls on police authorities to ensure that no harm comes to Tordesillas.”
“Any harm that befalls a member of the Philippines’ press is a crime against freedom of expression,” he added.
The suit against Gonzales, who is also an award-winning literary author, stems from an article on the President, “Will She Now Change?”, published in Newsbreak magazine on June 7, 2004.
The NUJP said reports from colleagues covering Malacañang indicated that the policemen were in civilian clothes and declined to state the real reason they were looking for Gonzalez who, at the time, was on leave.
However, they wrote in the security logbook that they were there “to serve warrant.”
The NUJP said the attempt to arrest Gonzalez and other journalists “who have written unfavorably about the Arroyo administration” was “a brazen violation of the freedom of the press” as it reiterated its calls for Congress to decriminalize libel.
“We firmly reiterate our position on the libel spree Mr. Arroyo [has] embarked on,” the group said. “He and his wife should face the issues raised against them where they are best addressed — in the arena of free and democratic discourse.”
It also said the attempt to arrest Gonzalez violated a Memorandum of Agreement between the Philippine National Police and National Press Club that says any arrest of a journalist should be done in coordination with the Club.
In his statement, Rondain said “things would not have gone this far” had Gonzalez been professional and also accused the reporter of “evading arrest.”
“I have information that Ms. Gonzalez has been walking around despite the warrant because she has been using an alias,” he claimed.
Nonoy Espina, Lira D. Fernandez
Ellen,
Sabi ng duwag na blogger, “Your days are numbered.” Tignan niya kung sinong days ang numbered! Enough is enough. Puede ba, patalsikin na, now na!
PATALSIKIN NA, NOW NA!
PATALSIKIN NA, NOW NA!
PATALSIKIN NA, NOW NA!
PATALSIKIN NA, NOW NA!
PATALSIKIN NA, NOW NA!
PATALSIKIN NA, NOW NA!
PATALSIKIN NA, NOW NA!
This administration of Arroyo is getting crazier each day. Masyadong humahaba yang buntot ni GMA at mister niyang taba. Masyadong lumalaki na rin ang sungay…kakainis! Bunyeta! Tamaan sana ng kidlat.
…mga uhaw ng kapangyarihan kagaya ng mga Arroyo men sa kongreso(Arroyo’s puppies?)…HUWAG NATING IBOTO SA DARATING NA ELEKSYON! Kala nila bobo tayo, ano? Glueria’s chacha train is doomed to fail. Tuloy ang eleksyon, tuloy ang husgahan. We, the Filipino people, should pin them down. Thumbs down to Arroyo (political swindler) and her men!!!
I’m looking forward to see a Presiding Judge or Trial Judge handling a Libel case filed by what’s his name again (Miguel or Pidal?) tell it right to his face that he has None left to Malign, That His Reputations if ever he has some before had gone to the devils long time ago, or simply to the Dogs of Dirty Politics…
Email from Rey Pacheco in Canada:
Tunay na matapang ang katotohanang binibigyan mo ng buhay
sa pagiging huwarang kagawad ng Media. Mangilan-ngilan
na lang kayong natitira na hindi nasisilaw at ayaw
maging “alipin ng pera”.
Huwag kang susuko sa mga kampon ni Satanas.
Ang kamatayan ay iba’t ibang anyo at lahat naman tayo
ay hindi makaiiwas pagdating ng panahon. Baka nga mauna pa
‘yong nagbabanta sa buhay mo.
Marahil hindi na magtatagal,mapapalayas na rin ang
Duwende sa palasyo at ang mga bantay-salakay niyang
Impakto.
Rey
Email from Albert Lee:
Kung may institutional effort to pursue this incident, methinks may posibilidad to legally compel yahoo to disclose the traceroute of the apparent yahoo e-mail
that sent the threat.
A formal case would have to be filed, to which yahoo will be
asked to cooperate, as this is an explicit threat for all intents and purposes that has to be covered, and prohibited by, the Yahoo End- User License Agreement
(EULA). Regards. Maalab na pakikibaka.
-Albert Lee-
Statement from The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ).
The IFJ, the organisation representing more than 500,000 journalists in over 115 countries, has been persistently campaigning to cease the abuse of criminal defamation laws that silence journalists, and reiterates its calls for the government of the Philippines to immediately remove defamation from the criminal code.
itong si mike arroyo ay walang hindi gagawin masupil lamang ang lahat ng mayhawak ng takip ng kanyang nakakasulasok na kabulukan. lahat ng hakbang na kanyang isinasagawa ay maihahalintulad sa gawain ng taong wala sa sariling bait at katinuan. sino ba ang maniniwala na hindi niya alam ang pag-papalabas ng arrest warrant? gunggong din naman itong kanyang abogadong si rondain. kunsabagay, ano pa nga ba ang ating aasahan lalo na at naglisaw sa kanyang paligid ang mga sipsip na bayarang tagapagtaguyod na pikit matang sinusunod ang bawat utos sukdulang labag ito sa batas na dapat pairalin at sundin. kahit saan ay matatagpuan sila – sa loob at labas ng malakanyang at maging iyong sumisingit dito sa blog ni ellen. sila ang klase ng mga taong ang kahihiyan ay nasa ilalim ng talampakan.
Ellen,
Before we left the Philippines in the 60’s, there was freedon of the press in the Philippines. Why did they include freedom
to criticize and expose crooks in the society, politician and otherwise, in the Criminal Code? Why did Filipinos allowed such law to be passed?
Frankly, the police, too, should be free from the military, executive and judiciary although the police may extend help and assistance to the court in solving a criminal case. The police should be the protectors of the people from abusive officials. And why did the Commission on Appointments allowed the appointment of a relative of the Fat Guy to head the police? Lokoloko din ano?
Or should I say, ano ba ang mga ito, bobo talaga?
Somehow, I think some of us are missing the point, the very point that judicial process is no longer valid while illegitimate Gloria remain in power. Get use to it! It’s not the shorcut of the judicial process that some are still clinging to, yet it’s the power of Malacanang with bogus Gloria on board. When bogus Gloria threw away the Constitution way back when, and jailed the legitimate President of the Philippines Joseph Estrada, the judicial process ever since then no longer applies. It’s about communism and dictatorial regime of bogus Gloria in disguise. The people, including Mia Gonzales has lost the sovereign rights as the citizen of the country. Ms. Gonzales only live at the courtesy of bogus Gloria. And bogus Gloria, and that guy Miguel the other halve of fake Gloria are the judicial process, judge and jury of who should live and die.
Ms Mia Gonzales should be greatful she has live this long, and should be thankful of bogus Gloria and her drive-by-shooters. So, forget the judicial process it’s no longer in play. The Congress, at least the majority of them has been bought and paid in full. Judicial judges are golfing, among other things while the citizens civic liberty and freedom of expression has been denied and broken each day of the year.
It’s no use, bogus Gloria got the will, determination and all the resources to remain in power. Might as well admit it. Bogus Gloria got the system under her control with people’s tax monies. And it’s not going to end with Ms Mia Gonzales. But, it’ll stop if only bogus Gloria is force out and prison.
“IFJ demands an immediate investigation to the incident.” This is funnier than the barrel of monkeys! Do we really think that bogus Gloria give a damn about somebody’s right or Ms Mia Gonzales? Susmaryosep naman po! If you believe such, perhaps you would buy Quiapo as a wholesale? Furthermore Colleagues, it’s not surely a spineless threat in atttempt to intimidate and frighten the journalists, it’s the way things are now in the Philippines with bogus Gloria in command as the Commander-In-Cheap. Majority of the people has raised the white flag and already surrendered their sovereign rights at Edsa 2 some years back. Moreover, bogus Gloria has been doing the intimidation ever since she grabbed power, won’t you all agree? Lets get smart about the way things are now in the Philippines, it’s about the survival of bogus Gloria to remain in power, and bogus Gloria understand the stakes.
Like I said, either you fully surrender your rights as citizens of the country to the will of bogus Gloria or else look at the options. Certainly, the due process of the law, the so called judicial proces has been long obsolete, six years thereabout to be exact.
Let me say it again, there are options and judicial process is not one of them. Prime example are President Joseph Estrada, Josie Bolate, Hello Garci, Assperon, Davide and Panganiban duo, and more, of course.
Toney, it’s good you mentioned that there are other options. Would you kindly be specific as to what these options may be? How would ordinary people make use of them? Am just curious.
I’m afraid, ruling out the judicial process as an option is like locking oneself out of the room. We see attempts to align the judiciary to the thinking of the executive, but they are not entirely successful as the recent SC decisions tell us. People shouldn’t hang up their gloves just because the Ombuds(girl)man cooperated.
How can we go on this way? Most of the institutions in the Philippines were destroyed by none other that the Midget and the Pig! Do we wait until EVERYTHING BREAKS DOWN?
Chabeli,
From my end, everything broke down already. Do you know of anything in our society that has not been contaminated yet by the satanic touch of the Pidals? Please tell, please!
hawaiianguy:
Quite apparent to me that judicial process is just a waste of time, and for the numerous reasons all well known to everyone. So, why even bother when the deck is stacked againts you and bogus Gloria got all the resources to remain in power? As I mentioned, there are options and one come to mind is the One Million Pinoys in front of Malacanang for whatever it take to get rid of bogus Gloria. If the Pinoys want their country bad enough, they must take it away from bogus Gloria. There are no other way, since bogus Gloria ain’t leaving. I don’t think the PNP and the AFP has enough ammunition and bullets to kill all One Million Pinoys. Now, I guess, the next question would be is how you get all the One Million Pinoys all in one place in front of Malacanang. I don’t have the answer for you.
Edsa 1 and Edsa 2 are two specific reasons why the One Million Pinoys in front of Malacanang will work. Can you just imagine one morning bogus Gloria waking up with all those people demanding that she and her dogs and pigs vacate the house of the people. I could just see her face now, I’ll pay just to see it. Furthermore, what’s One Million Pinoys when the country has as least 86 million pinoys and great numbers are unemployed. Piece of cake!
hawaiianguy, do you know of other way?
hawaiianguy:
Don’t mistaken me, I’m for the constitution and the rule of law. I believe in the judicial process when it’s fair and just. Most importantly, I’m a big supporter of democracy and the freedom of expression. But, I also understand when the judicial process has it limitation and no longer being exercised by those people holding the positions in the office. Bogus Gloria didn’t care about the due process of the law, instead as VP she headed the mobs on the street to overthrow a legitimate govt along with the Supreme Court, and Congress went along with it, including the two ex-Presidents, Cory and Fidel. As you can see, Philippines don’t believe in the rule of law and the Constitution. So, I believe bogus Gloria deserve the same treatment that she gave President Estrada. Congress and Judiciary Branches are just there to take up spaces. They both useless branches without power. All they’ll recognize is their bank accounts of how they can get it fatten.
Its no longer freedom of the press but “freedom to suppress”. We are not stupid to think that Mike does not know anything about this. We all know how the courts bow to his every whim.
Toney,
“As I mentioned, there are options and one come to mind is the One Million Pinoys in front of Malacanang…”
“Now, I guess, the next question would be is how you get all the One Million Pinoys all in one place in front of Malacanang.”
Well and good. But your guess is as good as mine on how to mobilize 1 million. Unlike you, however, I don’t put much hope on another people power. I like it as an option. It can still be very effective, as before. But after EDSA 1 & 2, and the failed EDSA 3 (if you call it part of “people power”), it appears to me now that the people have become weary, even disappointed. Pinoys must resuscitate the phoenix in EDSA to make it come alive again.
For People Power to succeed, you will need a military component, which at the present time is almost impossible with this Assperon deeply entrenched there. Another, the religious is divided and lethargic. Only a few bishops are willing to do it again after learning, I think, that politics doesn’t seem to change to the better. You also need a catalyst or precipitant to ignite people’s anger. In short, needed is a kind of chemistry that combines some strategic elements to reproduce that power. (Realize that d’ glue was allergic to this massive gathering of people with some military joining it.)
One other option, besides the judicial, is to enter the “lion’s den” – go political. Field, campaign and support good and credible candidates to oppose GMA’s pulitikos in the 2007 elections. Toney, what’s your take on this? Can you “pay to see it,” or, would you rather bet your dollar on people power (when you don’t even know to whom or where to give it)?
Toney, “Don’t mistaken me, I’m for the constitution and the rule of law. I believe in the judicial process when it’s fair and just.” I know, copy you loud and clear.
hawaiianguy:
I don’t think it needed the military component to build a One Million Pinoys, just plain ordinary everyday Pinoys not in uniform as I’ve in mind. Military shouldn’t be part of any politics whatsover. Military are not design to protest on the street, yet they’ve different function if we look at the constitution. We don’t have to follow the footstep of bogus Gloria when she used traitor Angelo Reyes.
2007 elections will not solve the problem or rid of bogus Gloria, but will corrupt the new comers elected to the office. I do understand the power of money buying in the country such as the Philippines, the temptation of million of pesos of a sudden at your palms for the taking not even putting a hard days work. People’s need to take the initiative not through normal process but something out of ordinary. It’s the only thing bogus Gloria will recognize and respect.
As to whom or where to give it…It’s simple solution that doesn’t take much discussion as to my personal view. Bogus Gloria took it away from President Estrada, why not restore him to his rightful position as elected by the people. If he messed up, rid of him as the process requirements. So on and so forth as the next person taking over Malacanang, just can’t let them corrupt have a reign in office unchecked. There must be consequences, checks and balances.
Toney, ikaw naman. I think we have some miscommunication here, or something like the “glass being half-full or half-empty.”
Judging from history, the military component was there when People Power (PP) succeeded. Of course, you would not need them to mass up 1 million, but somehow they should be there after they HAVE LEFT the sitting president. I can’t imagine a PP at one side of the fence, and Assperon’s military (and police) at the other, eager and ready to trounce on them. The scenario could be very bloody, not the “humane” PP on EDSA in 1986 and 2001. (Esp. if it happens tomorow without the participation of the religious and other morally upright icons of Philippine society.) Would you rather have a PP like Romania’s, or the ones we had? What if the military decide to seize the opportunity and take the power unto their hands, rather than deliver it back to the people where it belongs? These are some of the risks, or scenarios, I anticipate for a people-initiated change done alone.
“As to whom or where to give it…” My original question is, where would you bet your dollar – to oppositionists or to PP. I take it now that you prefer the latter, am I right? Why include Erap, when that’s already “history?” You think it’s still possible to do that, without overhauling the meaning or philosophy of PP? Do you treat all the PPs as alike, that is, EDSA1=EDSA2=”EDSA3″(because the last one occurred for the Erap comeback)?
Toney, looks like we are the only ones left here. Heheheheh! Why don’t we move up to the recent threads? Ano say mo?
vic Says:
“I’m looking forward to see a Presiding Judge or Trial Judge handling a Libel case filed by what’s his name again (Miguel or Pidal?) tell it right to his face that he has None left to Malign, That His Reputations if ever he has some before had gone to the devils long time ago, or simply to the Dogs of Dirty Politics…”
vic i hope you are saying this figuratively. the administration of justice in the philippines can be frustrating at times, or maybe most of time. judges and lawyers follow an established court protocol and proper decorum inside the courtroom. on the part of the judge, he is expected to display a cold neutrality of an impartial judge. that is why, being a judge can be a frustrating job as well, everytime he makes a ruling, there will always be a party waiting to attack. he should be a passive arbiter. a judge should not pre-empt the move of either party or his integrity and probity will be tainted and and there would no other recourse for him but inhibit from trying a case. if all judges can be careless and reveal to the public how they feel about cases filed in their sala, then they will just be going around a revolving door and no case will ever be decided from start to finish by the same judge. it would cause further delay and clogged court dockets even more.
the case of mia is disturbing. before a warrant could be issued, a criminal complaint is first filed in the office of the prosecutor. the respondent is subpoenaed and the subpoena should be accompanied by the affidavits of the complainant and his witnesses, if any. the respondent is then directed to appear before the prosecutor on a certain date and file his or her counter affidavit. on that date of the filing of the counter-affidavit, the complainant is asked by the prosecutor if he or she is going to file his reply, if the complaint wanted to, another date is set for the filing of that reply, then on the next hearing, the rejoinder of the respondent if he or she wishes to file it, and then the sur-rejoinder. of course the process can be short-circuited if the counsel of the parties wish to and if the prosecutor found he can determine probable cause based on the documents so far presented before him. he may also set a schedule for hearing for clarificatory questions he may need. in that hearing, either party has no right to cross-examine. then when there is no more further document to be filed, the prosecutor informs both parties or their counsels that the case is deemed admitted for resolution.
it is the duty of the counsel of the respondent to follow-up with the prosecutor’s office the date when the resolution of the case should be issued. when the prosecutor issue a resolution finding probable cause and his resolution is approved by a senior prosecutor (provincial or city prosecutor), the counsel can then immediately appeal either to the regional state prosecutor or the DOJ secretary for its reversal if there is a good legal ground to do so. once the case is filed in court, the office of the prosecutor loses control of it. but once the respondent knew that the prosecutor found probable cause against her and the case will be filed in court, the latter can immediately post bail for temporary liberty.
the judge will then review the records and the evidence supporting the indictiment, for purposes of issuing a warrant of arrest. the judge is not bound by the findings of the prosecutor and if he is not satisfied with the evidences on record, he may call the witnesses for further questioning.
in such a long process like this, mia could have been forewarned by his lawyer of what to expect in case the prosecutor later on find probable cause against her. i believe lawyers just do their duty regularly like the basic duty of explaining to your clients the possible scenarios in the future. maybe sometimes media people can be very busy attending news coverage and running time to beat deadlines that they forgot all about their cases especially if they feel that these are mere nuisance cases to harrass. the facts on mia’s case and the surrounding circumstances of the issuance of a warrant of arrest against her is not complete so our comments largely rest on speculations.
Bakit ba itong mga tuta ni Bansot, ang hilig pang magpatsuda na nagpapahamak pa ng iba. Bakit sinasabi pa nilang “some of us” or “there are among us, ” etc. Bakit hindi na lang nilang sabihin “we” meaning themselves at hindi na iyong nandadamay pa ng iba.
Ganyan ang mga name-meet kong mga kriminal na pilipino na ang hilig magtuturo. Kaya nga dito tuwang-tuwa ang mga pulis sa kanila dahil pihadong huli ang maraming kasamahan nila kasi kahit hindi tinatanong, hindi na lang aminin ang sariling kasalanan, magtuturo pa!!!
For one thing, I speak only for me, and for those who share my sentiments. Otherwise, I am not included!!!
Fencesitter,
Mia’s lawyer clarified what happened. They were not sent a copy of the court resolution nor were they informed that a resolution has been made. They were surprised that a warrant had already been issued. The address Mia gave was the address of Newsbreak. Newsbreak also did not receive anything from the courts. This led them to believe that another shortcut of process had been made. What I don’t get is why the didn’t the police nor the courts contact Newsbreak? Even the police could not explain why as their duty was only ministerial.
Toney Cuevas: You are basically talking sense. Example is when they demonstrate against goverment policy in the U.K. ( and they do regularly ) the demonstrators never look for support from the military, its all civilians plus they never use the Palace as a venue, their venue is outside Houses of Parliment (Congress). If there were one million outside Congress demonstrating these jokers couldn’t any longer spin the yarn that their constituents are satisfied with the ongoing corruption. With an event like this its the congressmen’s faces that would be interesting to see!
But it takes discipline, guts and will to demonstrate. But from recent events in Manila it seems that the citizens are not prepared to sacrifice themselves for change but relying on other people or a miracle to happen, but it wont
Thanks hawaiianguy for sharing the time with me!
No problem, Toney.
schumey that was unfortunate indeed. once the last pleading is filed in the office of the prosecutor, the respondent and his or her lawyer should expect that a resolution will follow soon. both should have watched the resolution closely because if it is against the respondent, the filing of the case in court and the issuance of warrant of arrest could follow most likely.
as i said, by then several hearings could have been conducted (submission of counter affidavit, reply, rejoinder, sur-rejoinder). from the time the complaint is filed up to the time the prosecutor issue a resolution, the process could sometimes take several months.
the copy of the resolution of the case by the prosecutor is sent to the respondent or to his or her counsel of record by registered mail. mia and her lawyer can always demand to take a look at the records of the case to determine where was a copy of the resolution sent and who received the same.
if there was administrative lapses in the process, mia can always go after those involved by filing the proper administrative charges while the court processes of her case should be taken cared of properly to secure dismissal of her case or acquittal should she have to undergo trial. for libel cases involving purely news item, the batting average of acquittal is very high. mike arroyo, no matter how powerful others regard him, is waging an uphill battle.
by the way schumey, when the police agency receives a warrant of arrest from the court it is already complete and the only thing they should do is serve it. it is not a duty of the police to inform an accused that there is a warrant for his arrest otherwise the accused will just have to hide.
but of course, then and now, crook policemen make it a source of getting extra money, too.
e-mail from Jong Navarro:
saludo ako sa yong ipinakikitang KATAPANGAN… lubos akong naniniwala na hinde ikaw ang “nabibilang na ang araw” kundi ang mga ARROVOs…their days are numbered..sapagkat sa harapan ng DIYOS na buhay ay hinde nalilingid ang lahat ng ginawang panloloko at pangungurakot ng mga ganid na pulitiko at ng pekeng pangulo kasama ang kanyang pamilya…GOD is a GOD of JUSTICE!!! alam kong sa bandang huli MANANAIG pa rin ang KATOTOHANAN..salamat sa DIYOS sa gayang mong manunulat na nagpapadilat ng mga mata at ng pangunawa sa taumbayan sa tunay na kalagayan ng BANSA…salamat syo..PAGPALAIN ka ng DIYOS na buhay.. baunin mo ang aking panalangin sa iyong PAKIKIBAKA para sa KATOTOHANAN, KATARUNGAN at KATWIRAN.. Pagpalain ka ng DIYOS..God bless the Philippines!
In Christ,
Bro. Jonjon
JIL Church
Thanks, Fencesitter. Your sober legal explanations are always helpful especially for me who has no patience for legal complexities.
I have some questions later. I have to rush to another meeting.
Mia posted bond this morning.
Schumey:
The confusion is caused in fact by the ambiguity of a case of libel against a member of the press who is simply doing his/her responsibility to society to try to expose anomalies that are reported to them but are protected by some international code that they should not reveal their sources. Normally, this kind of expose in more progressive societies is welcome by authorities, who have the prime responsibility to probe and establish the truth about the accusation of truancy, graft and corruption as in the case of this civilian acting as if he is the owner of the Philippine police and Philippine courts. Abogado daw kasi siya!
On the other hand a case of defamation when deliberately done to destroy a person is a crime, and as serious as committing murder itself, at least, over here in Japan because of the tendency of the Japanese to commit suicide when they are shamed and lose their faces. Kung sabagay maraming makapal ang mukha sa Pilipinas and will not have the same effect to the thick faced.
There is also a difference between a subpoena and a warrant of arrest. Over here, a case of libel as those demanded by the Fat Guy who has filed a lawsuit against a journalist who called him “fat” when he is not thin—malisyoso daw whereas he has done the Philippines and the Filipino people a lot more serious and grievious offense as when he admitted that he was most responsible for plotting the removal of a duly elected president, which is an act that is by nature seditious!
He may have his hold on the judges he has asked to be assigned to handle his cases against the 43 journalists he has accused of libel but it does not mean that he is right and justified to accuse them. They may hand down unfavorable judgements for these journalists, but any thinking individual with ample intelligence emanating from heaven, and can be pricked by their conscience will know that these journalists are just doing their jobs, and therefore, not guilty but innocent. It is in fact, what these judges should bear in mind. Their allegiance should be to the people who pay their bills, and want to know the truth, not to these bullies who are apparently trying to cover their dirty activities from the people they swindle of their bread!!!
What we see now in the Philippines is this: “That they may do evil with both hands earnestly, the prince asketh, and the judge asketh for a reward; and the great man, he uttereth his mischievous desire: so they wrap it up.” (Micah 7: 3) Heaven forbid!
fencesitter,
Thanks for clarifying things. Mike knows he’s waging an uphill battle and he couldn’t care less. He just wants to make life a little more uncomfortable for these journalists. And yes, the authorities scramble to please him as they expect a reward from the guy.
Schumey:
Read the verse in Micah 7:3, and other verses in the Bible about the unrighteous judges. Magbabayad sila ng malaki sa Panginoon. Ingat ka diyan. Ako din may sipon ngayon, masama ang ubo ko, but so far, so good.
By the way Ellen, which article did Mia write allegedly maligning the good reputation of Jose Pidal provoking the wrath of Malacanang resulting in the DOJ shortcutting judicial processes (ugh! as if the DOJ has never shortcut legal processes!)?
If maligning the good reputation is what makes this First Baboy go wild and crazy, what about Federico Pascual’s article?
Is Philippine Star’s columnist Pascual on the First Baboy’s death list, er, I mean libel list of journalists?
The Pascual article after all was a direct jab on the good stomach of the First Baboy!
Bata kasi ni Max Soliven(ghost adviser ni tianak) si Pascual!
Takot lang ng baboy kagatin si Maxie!
For those having a hard time accesssing Daily Tribune today.
Big Mike is a real clown!
As sectors slam Big Mike for media harassment
FG threatens more libel suits vs critics
By Sherwin C. Olaes, Angie M. Rosales and Dona Policar
11/15/2006
He won’t stop suing his media critics unless they stop “maligning” and “libeling” him.
This was the strong message sent by First Gentleman, Jose Miguel “Mike” Arroyo, through his spokesman, lawyer Jesus Santos, as he blasted his critics in the Senate and the House, as well as the media practitioners, following their charges that the presidential spouse was abusing his status to harass and silence his media critics.
“Get real,” the presidential spouse said, insisting that it is he who is being harassed, not the media or his critics.
“Mr. Arroyo has no power over the police or anybody in government, being a private citizen so it is illogical and idiotic to claim that the presidential spouse was using the police against his critics.”
Predictably, the presidential spouse, like his wife, the President, challenged his critics to show proof that he had used his influence and power as the husband of the President in ordering the police to arrest the Malacañang and Business Mirror reporter, Mia Gonzales.
His spokesman said that Mr. Arroyo had filed libel suits against the media practitioners and his critics only over their “malicious and baseless lies which had been written by media people who did not even have an iota of professionalism to get his side before maligning him in media.”
In the case of the Tribune, it is on record that Malacañang ignore calls from this paper.
“Mr. Arroyo has every right to defend his honor and reputation and that of his family,” he said and dared his critics in Congress to “denounce the irresponsible media people who have thrown all kinds of accusations against the First Gentleman and never even bothered to get Mr. Arroyo’s side before coming out with (their stories) in media,” he stressed, insisting that Mr. Arroyo is not out on a warpath with media andtelling the media and other critics that if they do not want to be sued for libel, then they should stop lying.
“Stop lying. Be fair and responsible and we will stop suing (the media,)” Santos said.
International press groups, as well as local press groups have denounced the First Gentleman’s penchant for suing the media for their critical stories. To date he holds the record of having filed multi-count criminal libel suits against some 43 journalists, including media subscription and circulation managers.
But the blasts from the presidential spouses’ critics continue.
Malacañang yesterday continued to be bombarded with criticisms by senators over an attempt to serve an arrest warrant on the Palace-assigned reporter charged by Mr. Arroyo for libel, saying it “smacks of abuse of power” by the administration that they believe had a heavy hand in the arrest orders, especially as this concerns the First Gentleman.
Senators from the majority and minority bloc were one in saying that this was a clear case of Palace political harassment of its critics.
“When I was the secretary of justice, I always resolved the doubt in favor of allowing media to have latitude in the exercise of their profession. I am not in favor of haling media to the courts on libel charges,” Sen. Franklin Drilon told reporters in an interview.”In my 20 years of service, I never brought a single media person to court, notwithstanding sometimes, the unfair criticism that I receive. I consider that as part of the game. I never brought anyone to court. The conclusion is inevitable that these libel cases are being used as a tool for political harassment,” he noted.
Sen. Ramon Magsaysay Jr., another member of the administration bloc, shared the observation of many that even personalities highly-identified with Malacañang are trying to send a message not only to ordinary Filipinos and especially journalists “not to mess with them.”
“It is appallingly unimaginable how this government would allow the arrest of a beat reporter in the very sanctuary of the Palace which she is covering. Nothing else could speak most ill of the current situation in the Philippine media than this one which straightforwardly and evidently emphasizes the iron hand of the administration in dealing with the critical press.
“Employing the superior strength and influence of the incumbent who chooses to engage an ordinary reporter in an unmatched conflict definitely runs counter to the purposes for which government exists in the first place,” said Magsaysay.
The incident, however, is seen to backfire at Malacañang as senators are now prompted to act expeditiously on the pending bill seeking to decriminalize libel.
Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, who like his colleagues, assailed the incident, which he said is part of an insidious plan to terrorize and harass media personalities who continue to criticize the reported abuses of the Arroyo family, noted that this could be the opportunity for the Senate to review proposed measures to protect journalists.
Estrada, chair of the Committee on Labor and Employment, said he will again ask Sen. Ramon “Bong” Revilla, chair of the Committee on Public Information, to start public hearings on the creation of a Magna Carta for Journalists to enact legislation to protect the welfare of mediamen.
“This is another clear proof that Mr. Mike Arroyo is abusing the powers and influence of the office of the President to terrorize and harass mediamen who expose anomalies in the Arroyo administration,” Estrada said.
“I filed the bill to create a Magna Carta for Journalists, which is now pending in the Senate, to help crusading mediamen practice their profession free from harassment by influential people,” Estrada pointed out.
Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr., for his part, advised working journalists to mount a sustained lobby with Congress for the bill decriminalizing libel to secure its approval in the face of the apparent indifference of Malacañang to the measure. He said concerned journalists should lobby with the Senate committee on mass media and public information, chaired by Revilla to report out the bill seeking to decriminalize libel as well as to give the public the right to reply. The journalists should do the same in the case of the counterpart bill from the House of Representatives.
Senate President Manuel Villar Jr. urged the likes of Mr. Arroyo not to be onion-skinned.
“They should have prepared themselves from the very beginning (against criticisms),” he said even as Villar stood amenable to the proposition decriminalizing libel.
It was the same sentiment expressed by House members who rang the alarm bells over the continued harassment from the presidential spouses.
House senior deputy minority leader Alan Peter Cayetano, who is himself facing several libel suits along with expulsion suits filed by Mr. Arroyo, said the attempted arrest by the police of reporter Gonzales was a clear message of the administration to its critics not to mess with them.
“People were promised hope by Mrs. Arroyo but the kind of hope we are getting is harassment, oppression, persecution and executions. All these, be they be against critics, media, congressmen, clergy or activist, are calculated moves, sending a message not to mess with the administration,” Cayetano said in a text message.
He expressed no surprise over the arrest attempt on Gonzales on libel charges leveled against her by the First Gentleman.
He said the arrest attempt inside the Palace was calculated to produce a chilling effect on administration critics.
“We should demand a free media whether or not we like what is being reported or how it is reported,” the congressman said as he also challenged the Arroyo administration to certify as urgent the proposed decriminalization of libel law.
“President Arroyo should certify as urgent decriminalization of libel law to show they believe in true freedom of the press,” he added.
In a related development, a partylist congressman yesterday offered himself to be a “middle man” or go between for Mr. Arroyo and Gonzales.
Alagad Rep. Rodante Marcoleta, in a statement, said he was willing to “bridge the gap” between the accuser and the accused. Marcoleta, an avid supporter of the administration, appealed to Mr. Arroyo and Gonzales to patch up the misunderstanding.
But opposition congressman Gilbert Remulla (Cavite) said the attempt to arrest Gonzales inside the Palace was not a simple thing to be ignored.
Remulla, who was then a reporter for ABS-CBN, said the attempt to harass Gonzales was condemnable. He even described the attempt as a classic case of the intoxicated use of power.
Administration congressman Douglas Cagas (Davao del Sur), for his part, slammed the laxity of libel law in punishing media personalities.
“The law on libel is actually being abused so I would suggest we even strengthen it. The law is too lax on media. It is used to harass people from all walks of life,” said Cagas.
Predictably, Malacañang yesterday denied an on-going crackdown against members of the media critical of the Arroyo administration.
Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye said that while the involved policemen were just trying to enforce a legal order, the controversy and confusion could have been avoided if they had coordinated with his office.
“It is unfair to conclude that the President had something to do with the incident,” but stressed that on the issue of the presidential spouse’s penchant for filing libel suits, “we cannot control the action of a third party, I cannot speak for the First Gentleman.”
Here is another blunder from dwende stupida. Ano pa nga, e di ang mga OFW na naman ang tinamaan!
Pinoy workers pay price for Manila snub of Taiwan gov’t
By Michaela P. del Callar
11/15/2006
Despite the Philippine govern-ment’s One-China policy, a Malacañang official yesterday admitted that Manila had issued a clearance to allow the aircraft carrying Taiwanese President Chen Shui-Bien to fly over Philippine airspace en route to Palau last September.
China’s officials in Manila, however, intervened, prompting the Air Transportation Office (ATO) to reverse its previous decision by barring the Taiwanese aircraft to pass through the Philippines, the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
Such move, he added, displeased the Taiwanese leader, who has ordered the suspension of labor quota for Filipino workers to Taiwan in 2007.
The Palace official said the labor ban for local hands may be in place for “quite some time.”
“We could expect serious economic implications because thousands of Filipino workers will be affected,” he added.
The official noted that the first time Taiwan flashed the labor card was during its negotiations for an air agreement with the Philippines a few years ago.
The Philippine de facto embassy in Taiwan, the Manila Economic and Cultural Office (Meco), was said to have been informed about Chen’s decision last month.
Meco officials headed by its chairman and chief executive officer Tomas Alcantara and representative and managing director to Taiwan Antonio Basilio last week personally went to Malacañang to discuss the matter with President Arroyo.
“The thing is, we cannot do anything about this (latest flap) because we adhere to the One-China policy. We didn’t see this coming. We were not expecting something as harsh as this (suspension of the labor quota),” the Malacañang official said.
Taiwan has refused to lift the suspension it imposed on the processing of visas for Filipino workers over Manila’s recent “undiplomatic” move against Chen.
“That’s the price that we have to pay even if it would hurt our labor sector,” the official said.
As a policy of the Philippine government, any planned stopovers or visits by Chen or other Taiwanese government officials will not be allowed by Manila.
But the Philippines may allow a ranking Taiwanese official to transit only in cases of engine trouble or medical emergency.
Manila maintains economic but not diplomatic relations with Taiwan.
Taiwan has been separated from the Chinese mainland since 1949 but the Beijing government claims the island as part of its territory.
China objects to any foreign contact that appears to treat Taiwan as a sovereign government.
“China is the recognized state, not Taiwan. Although we could feel the effects of Taiwan’s action in the years to come, I think we will benefit more from China because it is an emerging economic and political superpower in the region,” the official said.
Since last Oct. 1, some 1,000 Filipino workers have not been deployed to Taiwan after their visas were not processed by the Taiwanese government.
Taipei has announced that it had an opening for 80,000 foreign workers but it excluded Filipinos from its roster of nationalities to be allowed to work there next year.
The Philippines has been deploying an estimated 35,000 Filipino workers annually in Taiwan.
Its apparent sticking to the One-China policy is seen as appeasing the Chinese government, which the Arroyo administration banks on, at least for the completion of a multimillion-peso railroad project.
The Northrail deal, designed to modernize an abandoned line linking Metro Manila to a number of key provinces in the Philippines’ Central Luzon region, has been reported to be disadvantageous to Manila.
Mrs. Arroyo, in a veiled threat to the Bush administration after it practically eased her out from the so-called “coalition of the willing” leading the war on Iraq, had spoken of the economic advantages from improved diplomatic relations with Beijing.
Click here for Mia Gonzales’ (pen name: Concepcion Paez) article in Newsbreak that earned her a libel suit from Mike Arroyo.
Ellen,
Thanks for the link but am getting only “error ‘80004005’
/newsbreak/include/Frontend.asp, line 16 ” when I click on the link you provided here…
Anna:
I’ve posted the article from Ellen’s link in the nene group. You may read it in full shortly.
All the more reason why the braver of the journalists with scruples in the Philippines should write more articles on the Fat Guy. The more the merrier. Tignan natin kung magkandaugaga ang mga judges nila. Mabuti iyan para maubos ang perang pangsuhol ng mga iyan. Oops, sorry pera pala ng bayan ang nilulustay, but anyway, all the better reason to expose this guy. E di isampa ang mga prueba din sa kaniya.
Dapat diyan kasi magbuklod-buklod ang mga charged journalist through the journalist association taking up their causes, and then salpakan nila ng counter-demanda! Sayang kasi na walang katulad ng aming Nippon Press Club dito na may clout at hindi puedeng tapakan ng mga politikong gutom sa power at ganid sa nakaw!
Dapat ngang sabihin doon sa tabatsoy, “Go tell it to the marines!” Sabi nga, may hanggahan ang lahat ng kawalanghiyaan! Dapat makunsumi ang walanghiya!
Walang crackdown sa media? Sinong niloloko nitong si Bunyeta? Komo hindi kinakasuhan ang mga binabayaran nila, walang crackdown sa media? Go tell it to the marines!
Pidal’s belly is already shaking in fear. He can sense that his dishonorable wifey is already going, going, going, that he’s running after the matatapang na journalists. As if natatakot sa kanya ang mga kinukorner niyang mamamahayag. Hindi talaga nag-iisip, di ba niya alam na sisikat ang mga ito at lalong makakakuha ng simpatya. Ay, the fatman’s ego is bigger than araneta coliseum.
Senators back bill decriminalizing libel
By CHRISTINA MENDEZ
The Philippine
Senators expressed support Tuesday for the passage of a law decriminalizing libel following the attempt of Manila policemen to arrest a female business reporter covering Malacañan the other day.
Senate President Manuel Villar joined his colleagues Senators Franklin Drilon, Jinggoy Estrada, Ramon Magsaysay Jr. and Senate minority leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr. in condemning what they described as moves to curtail freedom of the press.
Villar said he would push for the decriminalization of libel, adding that the government should respect press freedom under a democracy.
“Malaya ang ating press, at guaranteed yan,” Villar said. “Hindi naman puedeng absolute na walang responsibility.”
Villar agreed with Drilon that the filing of libel cases against members of the media is used as a tool for political harassment.
“Yung pag criticize ay matagal nang nangyari yan. Lahat naman ng opisyal ng pamahalaan ay subjected diyan. Pag pumasok ka sa pulitika, dapat handa ka sa mga ganyang bagay. Hindi ka puedeng balat sibuyas sa pulitika,” Villar said.
The strong reaction from lawmakers came after Manila policemen attempted last Monday to serve a warrant of arrest on Business Mirror reporter Mia Gonzalez, one of 43 journalists facing libel charges filed by First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo, right inside Malacañan palace.
Drilon recalled that when he was secretary of justice during the term of President Aquino, he “always resolved the doubt in favor of allowing the media to have latitude in the exercise of their profession.”
“I am not in favor of bringing media to the courts (with) libel charges everyday… In my 20 years of service, I never brought a single media person to court notwithstanding the sometimes unfair criticism that I received,” Drilon said.
Pimentel advised working journalists to mount a sustained lobby with Congress for the bill decriminalizing libel to secure its approval in the face of the Palace’s apparent indifference to the measure.
The measure remains pending in the office of Sen. Ramon “Bong” Revilla, who chairs the Senate Committee on Public Information.
“The problem that I see is that some members of the press want only to decriminalize libel but not the part that says the public should have the right to responsible reporting,” Pimentel said.
schumey Says:
“fencesitter,
Mike knows he’s waging an uphill battle and he couldn’t care less. He just wants to make life a little more uncomfortable for these journalists. And yes, the authorities scramble to please him as they expect a reward from the guy.”
what a sharp and pointed observation you got schumey. the “sipsip” syndrome is a long existing malady in the bureaucracy. in extreme cases, a bureaucrat will do the most stupid act thinking it would please the dispenser of power and the only motive you can ascribe from them is no other than their selfish desire to move up the hierarchy ladder a notch higher. most of these “sipsips” possess zero IQ and the only way for them to go up is to play hatchet man to do the dirtiest job.
i heard a story about a newly elected US president. before his inauguaration, he was touring the white house for a presidential orientation. the protocol officer who was conducting the orientation was walking with the newly elected president at the back palace ground when suddenly a squirrel directly crossed the new palace tenant’s path causing him to trip. instinctively, invectives spontaneously flew. after the inauguration and the new president moved in the palace, he was horrified to see palace personnel catching those squirrels roaming the ground when there was no order from him to do so.
after that warrant of arrest SNAFU, all of those supposedly involved are washing their hands. after all, there is a standing memorandum of agreement between the PNP and the NPC that any warrant of arrest issued against a journalist should first be coordinated to the latter. clearly, there was a violation of that memorandum. then the NPD chief, his name i could no longer remember, tried to downplay their stupidity that the purpose of the police in going to malacañang was only to inform mia about the warrant. CRAP! if the real purpose was merely to inform mia, why do they have to dispatch 6 plainclothes policemen. no wonder, the PNP cannot hold petty criminals down city streets at bay because its manpower resources are utilized elsewhere, to score personal points for them, where they are not needed.
the assurance of sec. bunye that mia’s case does not mean malacañang’s media crackdown was not reassuring at all! this is the kind that easily erode people’s trust in the government, when government officials are unable to match their words with actions. unfortunately, the institution they represent go down with them.
NATIONAL UNION OF JOURNALISTS OF THE PHILIPPINES
STATEMENT
November 11, 2006
Arrest attempt on Gonzales shows utter disregard for press freedom and the working journalist
The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) is extremely alarmed at the attempt by policemen to serve an arrest warrant on Malacañang reporter Mia Gonzales right in the Press Working Area of the Malacañang Press Corps, of which she is vice president for print.
Gonzales, who now writes for Business Mirror, is one of the 43 journalists facing libel suits filed by the president’s husband Joe Miguel “Mike” Arroyo. The suit against Gonzales stemmed from an article on President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo published in Newsbreak magazine on June 7, 2004 titled, “Will She Now Change?”.
According to Malacañang reporters, six policemen came to the Malacañang Press Corps office at around 10 a.m. today and asked to see Gonzales, saying they only wanted to ask her something. But in the security logbook at the entrance, they wrote down that the purpose of their visit was “to serve warrant.”
NUJP finds the attempt to arrest and detain journalists who have written unfavorably about the Arroyo administration as a brazen violation of the freedom of the press, coming on the heels of the serving of arrest warrants against Malaya editors and staff, also on
libel charges filed by Mr. Arroyo.
That the attempt to arrest Gonzales was made right inside the Palace grounds, which is not only her workplace but also home of her accuser and his powerful spouse, the President of the Republic of the Philippines, cannot but make us suspect that this was a deliberate attempt to send a chilling warning to journalists that no place is sacrosanct when it comes to appeasing the whims of the mighty.
We firmly reiterate our position on the libel spree Mr. Arroyo embarked on: He and his wife should face the issues raised against them where they are best addressed — in the arena of free and democratic discourse.
They should stop harassing journalists and stop using an antiquated libel law as a tool to silence criticisms against this administration.
As international media groups have repeatedly pointed out, the Presidential spouse has gone out of control with his libel spree, which is simply proving how, in this country the powerful show no qualms in using antiquated laws to stifle the freedom of the press and expression and shield themselves from public scrutiny.
We would also like to remind the Philippine National Police of a Memorandum of Agreement signed between the PNP and National Press Club that any arrest of a member of media should be coordinated with the NPC.
The NUJP also calls on Congress to immediately work to repeal the law on libel and strike it off the Revised Penal Book to decriminalize libel.
References:
Jose Torres Jr., Chairperson
Rowena Carranza-Paraan, Secretary-general
Dito, Ellen, police do not usually make arrests at one’s place of work for privacy reason. Kasi iyan ang ibabanat ng mga lawyers dito, iyong right to privacy.
This reminds me. Kung si Iggy when he was not yet a Congressman, ginamit ang gimmick na iyan, bakit itong mga journalists hindi puede niyan. Unfair ha?
I’m supplying copies of what you post here to the Diet people we are meeting in the future. Isasama namin ito sa mga evidences namin dahil dito matindi ang respect for this right of free assembly, speech and press, and even privacy.
Golly, ang hilig pang magpahiya at mang-insulto ni Bansot at ng Fatsong asawa niya. Tignan lang natin kung hindi sila mapapatalsik. Si Marcos nga napatalsik, sila pang mas garapal sabi ni Satur Ocampo, et al.
Will she now change?
By Concepcion Paez
NEWSBREAK Contributing writer
As her supporters applaud President Arroyo during her inauguration as the country’s 15th Chief Executive, opposition members and other like-minded people are expected to sneer at the sidelines, persisting in their claim that she had won on the strength of a well-oiled machinery fueled by the people’s money.
The campaign fund issue is expected to be one of the controversies that would continue to hound Ms. Arroyo as she embarks on a full term, together with her husband’s perceived crookedness and his influence in governance despite three years of exasperated denials from the President herself.
It’s not uncommon to hear people say that they believe the President is an honest hard worker and that the “problem” is her husband, whom they deeply suspect of pulling strings to expand his clout and fatten his bank account. The opposition tried several times to scorch Ms. Arroyo with allegations about him, but they failed each time.
Losing politicians being the bitterest creatures around, it would not be surprising to find them coming up with new twists in the Jose Pidal controversy involving Mr. Arroyo or making new revelations.
The opposition had even tried to link him to the grossly overpriced Diosdado Macapagal Avenue, the controversial road project that became the first big corruption issue against the Arroyo presidency, the issue that had eroded public confidence in an administration that had anchored itself on moral ascendancy.
Abolition of PEA
As this gnawed at her approval ratings, the President at the time said she would abolish the Public Estates Authority (PEA), which negotiated the scandalous contract and which was embroiled under the Ramos administration in a land scam with Amari Corp., dubbed the “grandmother of all scams.”
Keynoting the Bonifacio Day celebration in Malacañang in December 2002, the President said she would seek the abolition of the PEA through a draft bill proposing the transfer of its assets to the appropriate agencies. Malacañang later issued Administrative Order 53 recommending the “perpetual” barring of seven resigned board members of PEA from government service.
Malacañang had said the present and old PEA boards approved contract price adjustments worth P252 million without prior approval from the Office of the President and that the contract price was “grossly disadvantageous to the Filipino people and the Philippine government.”
It had referred its findings and recommendations to the Ombudsman for possible criminal prosecution, together with its findings and recommendations on the culpability of PEA board members appointed by former President Joseph Estrada. Meanwhile, PEA remains intact.
Population & AIDS
Population and development would continue to be twin problems that the administration would have to contend with, especially as it is expected to pursue its Church-approved natural family planning policy, one of the four points that the El Shaddai and the administration had agreed to work on, apparently in exchange for the religious bloc’s support for her in the May elections.
The US-based Human Rights Watch had warned the government that it risked a “possible explosion” of the AIDS virus by not promoting condom use. The Arroyo administration supports a natural family planning policy that favors natural methods, and leaves the promotion of other legal methods to local governments.
While the Philippines has a low incidence of AIDS-a fact that has left international health experts wondering how low condom use and low AIDS incidence could exist in the same environment-Human Rights Watch fears that the Arroyo administration has “stood in the way of aggressive HIV prevention strategies by, among other things, failing to support comprehensive reproductive health legislation that would expand access to condoms.”
The Department of Health said the country has only 2,009 HIV cases over the past 20 years, including 645 cases that developed into AIDS, a low rate in a country of 80 million.
More than the AIDS issue, a high birth rate-1.7 million more Filipinos each year-places a greater strain on an already thinned-out budget.
Ms. Arroyo, an economist, had said that she recognized the impact of population on development but that her administration would not address it through a family planning program that would favor artificial contraception. Alongside her family planning program “based on moral choice” would be an intensified bid to enlarge the “economic pie” so that “more Filipinos can avail [themselves] of their rightful share of the national bounty.”
The country’s population is expected to hit 84 million by year-end, who will all have to fight tooth and nail for a crumb of that pie.
Six Pledges
The budget deficit continues to be a concern for the administration, especially as Ms. Arroyo had made six pledges to the people in her next six years in office. She said all of these could only be carried out with enough funds through improved revenues and a good deficit management policy.
On top of this, the total public sector deficit has reportedly risen to P5.1 trillion, an increase of P750 billion in a year’s time, based on the estimate of former National Treasurer Leonor Briones, a professor of the University of the Philippines and co-founder of the Freedom from Debt Coalition. In a recent forum, she warned of an economic “big bang” if the government fails to manage its huge debt problem.
Remember Nani Perez?
When the President assumed power, she vowed not to favor friends, relatives, or political allies in her quest for good, honest governance. Not a few, however, believed she had turned into lead the golden opportunity to make good on that vow by allegedly protecting former Justice Secretary Hernando Perez. He had been accused of extorting US$2 million from businessman Mark Jimenez for a favorable justice department opinion on a government power contract with an Argentine company, Industrias Metalurgicas Pescarmona Sociedad Anonima. Perez resigned last year to keep the presidency from being burdened by what he called “false and baseless” charges against him. A year later, Malacañang cleared him of charges of obstruction of justice in connection with a memorandum he issued in late 2002 prohibiting the Bureau of Immigration from divulging the travel records of the president, vice president, congressmen, senators, and Cabinet members without his prior written approval.
Perez cited terrorist threats when he issued the memorandum on Nov. 16, 2002, but his critics accused him of doing so to keep investigators from determining whether he had flown to Hong Kong on a certain date to receive the alleged pay-off from Jimenez.
The Presidential Anti-Graft Commission (PAGC) earlier opined that Perez was guilty of violating the Administrative Code and the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees, but as he had already resigned at the time, the PAGC recommended that the criminal aspect of the case be referred to the Ombudsman.
The Palace created a committee to look into PAGC’s recommendation and declared that Perez’s issuance of the memorandum was not contrary to law as “it does not absolutely prohibit the disclosure of travel documents of the public officials” and was “justified” because of terrorist threats. Malacañang recommended the dismissal of the case, which is still pending Senate investigation.
Jueteng Is Back
The President had also promised to eliminate the illegal numbers game jueteng, which caused the downfall of her predecessor. Interior Secretary Jose Lina even devised a scheme to keep the National Police on its toes in stamping out jueteng all over the country, complete with a tally board that was supposed to update the public on what the police had achieved in their areas in the anti-jueteng drive.
Lina had said that Task Force Jericho, especially created for the task, would swoop down unannounced in various areas in the country, and if it found unabated jueteng operations three times in the same area, the police provincial commander concerned would be relieved. Three years and presumably many Task Force Jericho visits later, jueteng persists with no less than Catholic bishops renewing calls for a more effective campaign against it.
Computerized Elections
In her first State of the Nation Address in 2001, Ms. Arroyo said that one of her legacies at the end of her term would be computerized elections. She declared: “To reduce corruption among elective officials, we will help honest people get elected by financing the full computerization of elections.”
True enough, she released P3.4 billion for this. The project, however, was shot down by a Supreme Court ruling nullifying the contract to computerize the elections because of technical deficiencies.
But the President indicated that she would persist in her dream of automated polls. At a thanksgiving luncheon with reporters after the elections, one of her guests noted that she had invested a lot of funds in election modernization, only to see it fizzle out. To this, Ms. Arroyo said with a laugh, “We have until 2007.”
Unity & Reconciliation
She would also have until 2010 to show if she could finally forge national unity and reconciliation, one of her battlecries since she became president. At the start of 2003, she welcomed the idea of a “Government of National Unity (GNU)” and asked then Defense Secretary Angelo Reyes and Social Welfare Secretary Corazon Soliman to “further evolve” the concept initially proposed by Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr.
The evolution never seemed to have taken place. In November of the same year, the President Arroyo disclosed a plan to pursue “principled reconciliation” with groups known to be government adversaries, but Palace officials declined to give details of the expectedly controversial process, saying it would rather undertake it “quietly without much fanfare.”
Malacañang went through the process so “quietly” that not a peep was ever heard of it until the campaign period started and Ms. Arroyo resurrected her call for a GNU. Her envisioned government would have in its supporting cast the “best and brightest,” but she overlooked members of the opposition. That was, of course, during the campaign period. Politicians can be magnanimous in victory.
FG threatens more libel suits vs critics
By Sherwin C. Olaes, Angie M. Rosales and Dona Policar
11/15/2006
He won’t stop suing his media critics unless they stop “maligning” and “libeling” him.
This was the strong message sent by First Gentleman, Jose Miguel “Mike” Arroyo, through his spokesman, lawyer Jesus Santos, as he blasted his critics in the Senate and the House, as well as the media practitioners, following their charges that the presidential spouse was abusing his status to harass and silence his media critics.
“Get real,” the presidential spouse said, insisting that it is he who is being harassed, not the media or his critics.
“Mr. Arroyo has no power over the police or anybody in government, being a private citizen so it is illogical and idiotic to claim that the presidential spouse was using the police against his critics.”
Predictably, the presidential spouse, like his wife, the President, challenged his critics to show proof that he had used his influence and power as the husband of the President in ordering the police to arrest the Malacañang and Business Mirror reporter, Mia Gonzales.
His spokesman said that Mr. Arroyo had filed libel suits against the media practitioners and his critics only over their “malicious and baseless lies which had been written by media people who did not even have an iota of professionalism to get his side before maligning him in media.”
In the case of the Tribune, it is on record that Malacañang ignore calls from this paper.
“Mr. Arroyo has every right to defend his honor and reputation and that of his family,” he said and dared his critics in Congress to “denounce the irresponsible media people who have thrown all kinds of accusations against the First Gentleman and never even bothered to get Mr. Arroyo’s side before coming out with (their stories) in media,” he stressed, insisting that Mr. Arroyo is not out on a warpath with media andtelling the media and other critics that if they do not want to be sued for libel, then they should stop lying.
“Stop lying. Be fair and responsible and we will stop suing (the media,)” Santos said.
International press groups, as well as local press groups have denounced the First Gentleman’s penchant for suing the media for their critical stories. To date he holds the record of having filed multi-count criminal libel suits against some 43 journalists, including media subscription and circulation managers.
But the blasts from the presidential spouses’ critics continue.
Malacañang yesterday continued to be bombarded with criticisms by senators over an attempt to serve an arrest warrant on the Palace-assigned reporter charged by Mr. Arroyo for libel, saying it “smacks of abuse of power” by the administration that they believe had a heavy hand in the arrest orders, especially as this concerns the First Gentleman.
Senators from the majority and minority bloc were one in saying that this was a clear case of Palace political harassment of its critics.
“When I was the secretary of justice, I always resolved the doubt in favor of allowing media to have latitude in the exercise of their profession. I am not in favor of haling media to the courts on libel charges,” Sen. Franklin Drilon told reporters in an interview.”In my 20 years of service, I never brought a single media person to court, notwithstanding sometimes, the unfair criticism that I receive. I consider that as part of the game. I never brought anyone to court. The conclusion is inevitable that these libel cases are being used as a tool for political harassment,” he noted.
Sen. Ramon Magsaysay Jr., another member of the administration bloc, shared the observation of many that even personalities highly-identified with Malacañang are trying to send a message not only to ordinary Filipinos and especially journalists “not to mess with them.”
“It is appallingly unimaginable how this government would allow the arrest of a beat reporter in the very sanctuary of the Palace which she is covering. Nothing else could speak most ill of the current situation in the Philippine media than this one which straightforwardly and evidently emphasizes the iron hand of the administration in dealing with the critical press.
“Employing the superior strength and influence of the incumbent who chooses to engage an ordinary reporter in an unmatched conflict definitely runs counter to the purposes for which government exists in the first place,” said Magsaysay.
The incident, however, is seen to backfire at Malacañang as senators are now prompted to act expeditiously on the pending bill seeking to decriminalize libel.
Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, who like his colleagues, assailed the incident, which he said is part of an insidious plan to terrorize and harass media personalities who continue to criticize the reported abuses of the Arroyo family, noted that this could be the opportunity for the Senate to review proposed measures to protect journalists.
Estrada, chair of the Committee on Labor and Employment, said he will again ask Sen. Ramon “Bong” Revilla, chair of the Committee on Public Information, to start public hearings on the creation of a Magna Carta for Journalists to enact legislation to protect the welfare of mediamen.
“This is another clear proof that Mr. Mike Arroyo is abusing the powers and influence of the office of the President to terrorize and harass mediamen who expose anomalies in the Arroyo administration,” Estrada said.
“I filed the bill to create a Magna Carta for Journalists, which is now pending in the Senate, to help crusading mediamen practice their profession free from harassment by influential people,” Estrada pointed out.
Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr., for his part, advised working journalists to mount a sustained lobby with Congress for the bill decriminalizing libel to secure its approval in the face of the apparent indifference of Malacañang to the measure. He said concerned journalists should lobby with the Senate committee on mass media and public information, chaired by Revilla to report out the bill seeking to decriminalize libel as well as to give the public the right to reply. The journalists should do the same in the case of the counterpart bill from the House of Representatives.
Senate President Manuel Villar Jr. urged the likes of Mr. Arroyo not to be onion-skinned.
“They should have prepared themselves from the very beginning (against criticisms),” he said even as Villar stood amenable to the proposition decriminalizing libel.
It was the same sentiment expressed by House members who rang the alarm bells over the continued harassment from the presidential spouses.
House senior deputy minority leader Alan Peter Cayetano, who is himself facing several libel suits along with expulsion suits filed by Mr. Arroyo, said the attempted arrest by the police of reporter Gonzales was a clear message of the administration to its critics not to mess with them.
“People were promised hope by Mrs. Arroyo but the kind of hope we are getting is harassment, oppression, persecution and executions. All these, be they be against critics, media, congressmen, clergy or activist, are calculated moves, sending a message not to mess with the administration,” Cayetano said in a text message.
He expressed no surprise over the arrest attempt on Gonzales on libel charges leveled against her by the First Gentleman.
He said the arrest attempt inside the Palace was calculated to produce a chilling effect on administration critics.
“We should demand a free media whether or not we like what is being reported or how it is reported,” the congressman said as he also challenged the Arroyo administration to certify as urgent the proposed decriminalization of libel law.
“President Arroyo should certify as urgent decriminalization of libel law to show they believe in true freedom of the press,” he added.
In a related development, a partylist congressman yesterday offered himself to be a “middle man” or go between for Mr. Arroyo and Gonzales.
Alagad Rep. Rodante Marcoleta, in a statement, said he was willing to “bridge the gap” between the accuser and the accused. Marcoleta, an avid supporter of the administration, appealed to Mr. Arroyo and Gonzales to patch up the misunderstanding.
But opposition congressman Gilbert Remulla (Cavite) said the attempt to arrest Gonzales inside the Palace was not a simple thing to be ignored.
Remulla, who was then a reporter for ABS-CBN, said the attempt to harass Gonzales was condemnable. He even described the attempt as a classic case of the intoxicated use of power.
Administration congressman Douglas Cagas (Davao del Sur), for his part, slammed the laxity of libel law in punishing media personalities.
“The law on libel is actually being abused so I would suggest we even strengthen it. The law is too lax on media. It is used to harass people from all walks of life,” said Cagas.
Predictably, Malacañang yesterday denied an on-going crackdown against members of the media critical of the Arroyo administration.
Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye said that while the involved policemen were just trying to enforce a legal order, the controversy and confusion could have been avoided if they had coordinated with his office.
“It is unfair to conclude that the President had something to do with the incident,” but stressed that on the issue of the presidential spouse’s penchant for filing libel suits, “we cannot control the action of a third party, I cannot speak for the First Gentleman.”
Statement of CENTER FOR MEDIA FREEDOM AND RESPONSIBILITY (CMFR)
nelbar Says:
November 15th, 2006 at 5:51 pm
Will she now change?
By Concepcion Paez
NEWSBREAK Contributing writer
nelbar,
sabi ng lelang ko noong siya ay nabubuhay: ” merong mga taong sa salita ay bumubuti pero sa gawa at iniisip mas sumasama kaysa dati.”
meron pa ba tayong aasahang pagbabago tungo sa pag-unlad at pagkakaisa sa ilalim ng administrasyon ni glutonia?
puputi ang uwak, iitim ang tagak,
subalit ang ganid sa malakanyang
pagbabago’y baliktad!
Our incarnations are as many as the pathways to them. Be well and strong, make good choices.
“puputi ang uwak, iitim ang tagak,
subalit ang ganid sa malakanyang
pagbabago’y baliktad!”
ang tagal ko ng hindi naririnig ang uwak at tagak line, Mrivera! thanks.
How about this Chi:
puputi ang uwak, iitim ang tagak,
labis kong ikagagalak,
kung itong baboy, si pandak,
malunod na sa darak!
Wow, akmang-akma!
tongue, kapag nalunod ang baboy, baka hindi na pwedeng litsunin!
Mrivera,
pwede pa ring litsunin, basta may apoy..
apoy, babad na ang taba, parang asupre na ang amoy. ipakain na lang sa mga kaalyado niyang buwitre!
Mrivera:
may kasabihan nga sa Tagalog:
“kung sino ang umihip sa lusong, syan naman ang napupuwing”
lusong : bayohan ng palay