January 2008 – Page 2 – ellen tordesillas

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.”

SC favors fine over imprisonment for libel

Published by Ellen on January 24, 2008

by Evangeline de Vera

The Supreme Court is set to come out before the weekend with an administrative circular wherein a judge in libel cases may rule for payment of a fine instead of imprisonment.

Chief Justice Reynato Puno yesterday said after inducting officers and members of the Financial Executives Institute that the circular will be an “interim measure.”

Puno said the circular should not be mistaken for a bill decriminalizing libel which is pending in Congress because the guidelines simply direct judges to prefer the payment of fines instead of imprisonment in case of a conviction.

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

CSC: 40% of govt officials unqualified for posts

Published by Ellen on January 23, 2008

Update: Axe 15 excess aides, Ermita asks Gloria

From ABS-CBN online:

Malacañang: “Sweeping generalization a disservice to government employees”

Forty percent of 3,000 government officials, including Cabinet officials, are unqualified to hold their positions, the Civil Service Commission (CSC) bared Tuesday.

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.

Ilabas ang video tape

Published by Ellen on January 23, 2008

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

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

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

Arrested media seeks “amparo” protection

Published by Ellen on January 21, 2008

Abante column:

Resbak ng taga-media

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

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

Disputing government lies

Published by Ellen on January 20, 2008

Army Capt. Ruben Guinolbay, who is detained in Camp Capinpin in connection with the alleged plan to withdraw support from Gloria Arroyo in February 2006, sent us a note to dispute what he said were the lies that the government is peddling against his “men” who were arrested last week and charged for allegedly planning to stage a coup.

The soldiers are former Army Rangers Sgt. Orlando Valencia, Corporals Ramon Perania, Redantel Maranan, and Walter Francisco. They once belonged to the Third Scout Rangers battalion that Guinolbay commanded.

A civilian driver, Kim Agas, who was mistaken as a former soldier, was also dragged in.

Mapayapang protesta

Published by Ellen on January 19, 2008

Related story in Inquirer: Ermita: Forget Edsa II

Mapayapang idinaos kahapon ng iba’t-ibang grupo ng mga manggagawa, estudyante, mga miyembro ng simbahan at ng tinatawag nating “civil society” ang protest rally sa paggunita ng Edsa Dos na naglukluk kay Gloria Arroyo sa Malacañang kahit hindi binoto ng taumbayan pitong taon na ang nakaraan.

Nagsimula ang protest rally sa talakayan sa canteen ng De la Salle University sa Greenhills mga ika-apat ng hapon, tapos nag martsa patungong Edsa Shrine mga 6:30 ng gabi. Plano sana nila ay magtirik ng kandila sa Edsa Shrine mismo bilang simbolo ng pagdadalamhati ng bayan sa mapanupil na rehimen ni Arroyo ngunit hindi sila pinayagan ng mga anti-riot police na nakapaligid sa Shrine.

Month: January 2008