by Ashzel and Regina Bengco
Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno yesterday justified the police arrest of media men covering last week’s occupation by Magdalo officers and soldiers of the Manila Peninsula and warned they would be treated the same in future occasions if found “obstructing justice.”
Puno gave the warning during a dialogue at the Manila Peninsula with representatives of the media who have assailed the arrest and handcuffing of journalists covering the six-hour stand off between the Magdalo group led by Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV and security forces.
Puno said in future police operations, journalists who fail to comply with an order to leave a crime scene would be arrested and possibly handcuffed.
“Ground commanders would be left with no choice but to arrest any members of the press if everybody’s safety is already at risk and that orders had been given for them to leave the scene,” Puno said.
Puno said the media men who refused to leave the hotel served as a “physical barrier” to police authorities out to arrest Trillanes, Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim and their men who holed up inside the hotel after walking out of the Makati City court.
“You may argue with this, but those media men delayed the criminal process of delivering the arrest warrants against the rebels. If they were not there, the police could have made their way inside and physically subdued the rebels. You served as a physical barricade,” Puno said.
The media representatives, most of whom were executives from television and broadcast networks, said those who covered the stand off never got in the way of the authorities.
“We never obstructed justice. We pulled back when police started the assault. Our mere presence there did not constitute obstruction of justice,” ABS-CBN executive Maria Ressa said.
The three-hour dialogue ended with no agreement on ground rules in covering events like the Peninsula siege.
Puno dismissed the arrest of about 30 media men as a “little inconvenience.”
Media representatives branded the arrests as “unconstitutional” and deplored their “chilling effect.”
Puno said journalists committed two criminal offenses: resistance to a person of authority and obstruction of justice.
“All of us felt bad about what happened. We’re unhappy that the media men have to suffer from such inconveniences. We believed they were unwilling participants in the incident that is why we released them afterwards in recognition of their responsibilities as reporters,” Puno said.
He said the handcuffing of several arrested journalists was “incidental” to the manner of the arrests, adding that ground commanders operated within prescribed police operating procedures.
SUPPRESS REBELLION
PNP chief Avelino Razon said the police did not violate the rights of the media men as he owned the order to arrest and handcuff them.
“The operation was to suppress rebellion, not to suppress press freedom. We made several warnings to leave the scene in consideration of the safety of everyone,” he said.
Luchi Cruz-Valdez of ABS-CBN said journalists who chose to stay behind were aware of the risk.
After the dialogue, Puno said the government would continue talking with broadcast networks and newspaper organizations in the hope guidelines in the coverage of high-profile incidents could be adopted.
“This is not the end of it. We have to learn to work harmoniously because we understand that the media has its responsibilities to fulfill,” he said.
Joining the government panel were Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro, presidential management staff chief Cerge Remonde, Interior Undersecretary Marius Corpus, Metro Manila police chief Geary Barias and military officials led by Maj. Gen. Fernando Mesa of the AFP-NCR Command.
Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez came in late and left shortly after without making any statement.
The dialogue was initiated by the Kilusan ng Mga Brodkasters ng Pilipinas (KBP), whose chairman Ruperto Nicdao Jr. served as the moderator.
The print media was represented by Malaya publisher Amado Macasaet, chairman of the Philippine Press Institute (PPI), and Jose Pavia, PPI executive director.
DOING THEIR DUTY
In Malacañang, Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said police could not be faulted for rounding up the media men.
Ermita said the policemen were just doing their duty in accounting for those who were participated in the takeover of the hotel.
Ermita, in his weekly press conference, said there were reports that some rebels evaded the policemen by wearing media IDs.
“How would we know who are the legitimate members of media and who are not? The fact is merong mga nakatakas, merong report na tinulungan sila na diumano na merong ID ng media. So we cannot fault the policemen on the ground for doing what they did,” he said.
He said if the plotters were thorough in their planning, they could have made fake press IDs.
Ermita also reminded broadcast stations of the rules of the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) and the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster sa Pilipinas in covering crises situations involving coup attempts and troop movements.
He read to the media excerpts of NTC Memorandum Circular 22-89 issued in Dec. 5, 1989, which was issued days after a coup attempt, prohibiting the airing of “rebellious propaganda” and of government strategic information such as troop locations and movements and other tactical operations.
The circular was signed by acting NTC commissioner Josefina Lichauco and deputy commissioners Florentino Ampil and Aloysius Santos.
Ermita also reminded broadcast media of NTC Memorandum Circular 01-03-2006 issued in March 3 after the February 2006 coup try on the agreement of the NTC and KBP not to allow broadcast stations to be used for advocating the overthrow of government by force or violence.
He was quick to say that government was not citing the NTC and KBP rules as a warning to media. He said he was just “reading from a factual document” and letting the public decide whether there were violations by the media.
FILE COMPLAINT
The National Police Commission said the media men who were arrested and handcuffed should file a formal complaint before the commission against the policemen who assaulted the hotel.
Virgilio Mapanaw, Napolcom NCR director, said the Napolcom exercises administrative control and operational supervision over the 117,000-strong PNP.
“The commission can launch an investigation motu propio or even without a formal case being filed but it would be better if a formal complaint is filed,” Mapanaw said.
Members of the elite PNP Special Action Force conducted the assault.
Close to 30 media personalities from the print and broadcast media including ABS-CBN’s Ces Drilon, Pinky Webb and Malaya columnist Ellen Tordesillas were arrested by the authorities and were “processed” at the National Capital Region Police Office at Camp Bagong Diwa in Bicutan, Taguig before being released.
Earlier, the National Press Club filed a case before the CHR over the arrest of print and broadcast reporters.
Sobra namang takot ni Puno sa media.
Puno is an ultimate coward, walang bayag!
“How would we know who are the legitimate members of media and who are not?”- Ermita
Idiot! Kayo pa ang hindi makakakilala sa legitimate media e bawat isa sa kanila ay under surveillance ninyo!
Were they really policemen, Ellen? Is that why they acted like amateur soldiers, but why the military uniform?
They should make it a point next time to make the police wear only police uniform that are now in fact internationalized in color—light blue up, and dark blue down. Riot squads wear a different uniform with helmets and phalanx but none should wear uniforms similar to the soldiers to avoid confusion, and thereby, prevent people like Esperon from evading legal responsibility for the atrocious actions of his men.
As for the ruling by Puno sans approval by the Senate and Congress, the NPC, etc. organizations of journalists should by all means protest against it. It is a violation of international conventions on freedom of the press, speech and assembly.
Tarantado ang tawag diyan, Chi! Kaya nga lahat ng nasa press, may badge at ID, which is standard procedure everywhere.
I was a beat reporter before. I don’t remember going to the field without my ID which was a pre-requisite. I can go to a trial and cover it for instance with just my ID. On other occasion, we are oftentimes given arm bands with the word “Press” to make sure we are recognized.
Ang dami pang palusot ni Esperon, et al kasi alam nilang may ginawa silang mga kalokohan. Lumang tugtugin na! Patigilin na! Nakakasawa na!
Att: Ladies and Gentlemen
R. Puno is the power behind the throne. He wields the most power bar none! The most feared, GMA included!
Presidents came and gone, GMA? We’ll see! Puno? He is here to stay!
The consummate gatekeeper! Take heed! Think about it!
This Bogus Government wants to impose its own rules upon us. Both the Supreme Court and Legislative are USELESS. We have in effect a parliamentary system, where the executive can also make its own laws [EO464, etc.]
I think we should make this blog known to the world [press & blogosphere] so we can have international support much like Myanmar is enjoying right now. In fact, that country is a lot better than us because they are not experiencing hunger as worst than ours where citizens are already considering suicide as a form of protest.
Let’s bring the fight to international fora!
The Equalizer said that, too!
Oh, so Puno is a power trip jackass bar none!
sana sa susunod ay magtagumpay na tayo at ating ma paalis na si gng arroyo..sobra sobra ng ka walanghiyaaan ang ginagawa ni gng arroyo kasama ang mga walanghiyang alipores niya.. sa sususnod na mag tagumpay tayo,ating posasan at lagyan ng bolang bakal sa paa ang mga walang hiyang alipores ni gng arroyo,sa panguguna ni puno,barrias,dolina,ermita, ang dalawang gunggung gonzales at ating panagutin si gng arroyo kasama ang asawa at mga anak niya sa lahat ng krimen sa mamamayang pilipino!! mabuhay sila trillanes, lim, guingona, nemenzo,tiu laurel,orteza.bishop labayen,fr reyes at lahat ng sumama sa hotel peninsula who are all patriots and braves who`s duty is only wants to extricate our country from the sea of scandals it is now drowning in because of GMA`s illegal regime!! i believe that GMA must be ousted the soonest!!
“Both the Supreme Court and Legislative are USELESS” – sampot.
9 Justices of the Supreme Court were educated from UP College, the topnotch institution ran by former UP President and Professor Emeritus Francisco Dodong Nemenzo who advocated shortcut to changing the President. Speaking of UP as an institution and legacy of Dr Nemenzo in the context of UP professionals running the current Supreme Court, it was reduced to one word by sampot USELESS.
“the National Press Club filed a case before the CHR over the arrest of print and broadcast reporters”.
There is a prevailing thought that justice from international body like CHR is attainable than justice from the country’s Supreme Court ran by UP professionals who were molded in the ideals of Professor Emeritus Francisco “Dodong” Nemenzo.
Sometimes, it takes just one person to destroy an institution or even a society. I can only think of Davide now, and how he tarnished the good image of the SC. Surely, for Gloria, Angie and other beneficiaries of People Power 2 that never was, Davide’s action calls for celebration to end a corrupt regime. But for many others, it is a black eye to a sanctified institution that is supposed to protect, or promote, the ideals of democracy. I recall Randy David has written something more eloquently on this before.
Puno is an idiot. Control-freak. I really think Philippines is being ran by devils now. Maybe we need a nationwide exorcism instead of a peoples revolution? Maybe they have an evil plan to make this vulnerable country an entry portal for Satan and the others? 🙂
Speaking of making this international; maybe we could start pressuring CNN to do an expose’ about Gloria’s shitty leadership prowess? We need to create some noise internationaly. I just sent a little email to yesterday to start with.
There is a prevailing thought that justice from international body like CHR is attainable than justice from the country’s Supreme Court ran by UP professionals who were molded in the ideals of Professor Emeritus Francisco “Dodong” Nemenzo.
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Roy Mabasa filed the complaint before the Commission on Human Rights of the Philippines, headed by Purificacion Quisumbing. Their office is located in Quezon City.
“I can only think of Davide now, and how he tarnished the good image of the SC.” – hawaiian guy.
The brilliant Hilario Davide was the product of UP College ran by Professor Emeritus Francisco “Dodong” Nemenzo. Another character to haunt the illustrious former UP President and the venerable institution.
“Roy Mabasa filed the complaint before the Commission on Human Rights of the Philippines, headed by Purificacion Quisumbing. Their office is located in Quezon City.” – atty36252
Created under executive order 163 of Cory Aquino in 1987, however has less bite due to limited functions:
– recommed to Congress (aid of legislation)
– monitor Philippine government on human rights
It has not done well to alleviate the killings of journalists since commission was created in 1987.
Dodong, “The brilliant Hilario Davide was the product of UP College ran by Professor Emeritus Francisco “Dodong” Nemenzo. Another character to haunt the illustrious former UP President and the venerable institution.” I thought Nemenzo and Davide were both products of the UP College. Did their paths somehow cross while in UP?
Back to the main thread, I don’t buy Razon’s reasoning that the “operation was to suppress rebellion and not press freedom.” That word (rebellion) has been echoed a thousand times under Gloria’s misrule, one who uses it according to the regime’s vocabulary is doing the country a great disservice. And why would anyone stop or prevent the press in covering an incident like that? Even under the most risky condition like a war, the press is there to get the news. That’s their reason for being.
“Even under the most risky condition like a war, the press is there to get the news. That’s their reason for being.”-hawaiianguy.
Have you considered that even in your adopted country, press are jailed for obstruction, not just because of being there?
Take it to the international courts? Hindi ba si Brenda Starr of Iloilo is eyeing to be in that court?
Suggestion sa mga taga Media:
Bakit hindi niyo ibisto ang mga illegal activities na ginagawa nila, Puno, Esperon, Barias ,Razon …tutukan niyo iyang mga ugok na yan at ibisto niyo ang mga pinag-gagagawa nilang illegal…Ibisto niyo mga kabit nila, lalu na yang si Barias na balita ko ay dinib-diban si Trillanes…
Ibisto niya mga kulasisi nila, mga pagnanakaw nila, mga tagong kayamanan…..Grabe na ang kawalanghiyaan ng PNP at militar ngayon…Lahat Sila !
Rose, Pukpukan ang kampanya ni Davide para kay Brenda para sa puesto sa ICJ. Kaya ganyan na lang ang sip-sip ni Brenda kay GMA.!
“Have you considered that even in your adopted country…” I have only one country (the Philippines) and have never adopted another. Sorry, it has not come to my knowledge if some press people (e.g., in the US) have served time for obstructing justice. Please give me some specifics. But I won’t be surprised if such happens in the US. Nixon was forced to resign for that reason. But I hate to make a comparison between the US and the Philippines as far as judicial system is concerned, they are like apples and oranges. Hate to admit it, our country’s is simply rotten, or rotting.
Sa tutoo lang ! Iyang mga hayup na General na iyan at mga sundalo nakiramdam lang sa situation sa Manila Pen kaya inabot nang 6 na oras…Nakiramdam sila kung dadami at susuportahan nang tao…kung dadami ang tao babaligtad iyan …. mga sigurista..iyang mga nakiramdam na yan , kakaunti pa lang ang kasalanan niyan, iyong mga general at sundalong baon na baon na sa kasalanan sa tao hindi na babaligtad iyan maski masunog na ang Manila Pen o buong makati hindi babaligtad iyan !
Madaling makilala ang mga General na at taong di babaligtad, manood ka lang ng TV at lagi sila sa TV daldal nang daldal, galit na galit sa nangyari sa Manila Pen..
I assume your name Hawaiianguy as living in Hawaii. As an example of jailed reporter for obstruction of justice is Mr. Jason Nicholas 37 who works for New York Post in an incident on September 3, 2007.
“Mr. Nicholas was arrested on a charge of obstructing governmental administration, a misdemeanor, when he snapped pictures using a flash after an officer told him not to, the police and witnesses said. His press credentials issued by the Police Department were suspended, and both of his Nikon cameras were taken as evidence.
Three days after the arrest in Chelsea, Mr. Nicholas was arrested for trespassing and given a desk appearance ticket after being on the roof of a building in the Bronx where he was photographing officers responding to an episode in which plainclothes transit officers shot and killed a man who had attacked them on a subway platform at 176th Street.” -New York Times
“Take it to the international courts? Hindi ba si Brenda Starr of Iloilo is eyeing to be in that court? ” -rose
********
Shhh…. quiet! Don’t spoil the plan… Think of it this way… We would rather give her out there… then she will be their problem and we have a saner Senate… this is more elegant solution, di ba? She is happy , we are happy… and it would be fun to watch them react to her tantrums…
Another case is blogger Josh Wolf.
“Feb. 6, 2007 · As of today, video blogger Josh Wolf has spent more time in prison for contempt of court than any other journalist in recent history. Feb. 6 marks his 169th day behind bars.
The 24-year-old video blogger and self-proclaimed anarchist was first jailed for contempt of court Aug. 1 when he refused to comply with a grand jury subpoena for his testimony and video outtakes of a July 2005 anarchist rally. Federal officials say Wolf’s outtakes might contain footage of crimes committed at the rally.
Wolf has now been jailed longer than author/journalist Vanessa Leggett, who spent 168 days in a Texas federal prison for refusing to comply with a subpoena in 2001.”
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As Hawaiianguy said that Philippine and US justice systems are different. Had the 30 reporters in Manila Penn similarly happened in the US, those reporters would have been jailed and their videos and equipment will be confiscated. It is a serious police business. In the Philippines, anything goes with the press.
For the information of everyone, here is a copy of PD 1829, a Marcos era decree which penalizes “obstruction of justice”.
Presidential Decree No. 1829/January 16, 1981
Section 1. The penalty of prision correccional in its maximum period, or a fine ranging from 1,000 to 6,000 pesos, or both, shall be imposed upon any person who knowingly or willfully obstructs, impedes, frustrates or delays the apprehension of suspects and the investigation and prosecution of criminal cases by committing any of the following acts:
(a) preventing witnesses from testifying in any criminal proceeding or from reporting the commission of any offense or the identity of any offender/s by means of bribery, misrepresentation, deceit, intimidation, force or threats;
(b) altering, destroying, suppressing or concealing any paper, record, document, or object, with intent to impair its verity, authenticity, legibility, availability, or admissibility as evidence in any investigation of or official proceedings in, criminal cases, or to be used in the investigation of, or official proceedings in, criminal cases;
(c) harboring or concealing, or facilitating the escape of, any person he knows, or has reasonable ground to believe or suspect, has committed any offense under existing penal laws in order to prevent his arrest prosecution and conviction;
(d) publicly using a fictitious name for the purpose of concealing a crime, evading prosecution or the execution of a judgment, or concealing his true name and other personal circumstances for the same purpose or purposes;
(e) delaying the prosecution of criminal cases by obstructing the service of process or court orders or disturbing proceedings in the fiscal’s offices, in Tanodbayan, or in the courts;
(f) making, presenting or using any record, document, paper or object with knowledge of its falsity and with intent to affect the course or outcome of the investigation of, or official proceedings in, criminal cases;
(g) soliciting, accepting, or agreeing to accept any benefit in consideration of abstaining from, discounting, or impeding the prosecution of a criminal offender;
(h) threatening directly or indirectly another with the infliction of any wrong upon his person, honor or property or that of any immediate member or members of his family in order to prevent such person from appearing in the investigation of, or official proceedings in, criminal cases, or imposing a condition, whether lawful or unlawful, in order to prevent a person from appearing in the investigation of or in official proceedings in, criminal cases;
(i) giving of false or fabricated information to mislead or prevent the law enforcement agencies from apprehending the offender or from protecting the life or property of the victim; or fabricating information from the data gathered in confidence by investigating authorities for purposes of background information and not for publication and publishing or disseminating the same to mislead the investigator or to the court.
Dodong, thanks for the example. That, I wouldn’t question, or even defend or argue about. But the case of “obstruction of justice” coming from no less than Puno (or Raul G), it’s entirely different.
Here is Article 151 of the Revised Penal Code which penalizes “Resistance and disobedience”. This article is the justification used by Secretary Puno in arresting the media.
Article 151. Resistance and disobedience to a person in authority or the agents of such person. – The penalty of arresto mayor and a fine not exceeding 500 pesos shall be imposed upon any person who not being included in the provisions of the preceding articles shall resist or seriously disobey any person in authority, or the agents of such person, while engaged in the performance of official duties.
When the disobedience to an agent of a person in authority is not of a serious nature, the penalty of arresto menor or a fine ranging from 10 to 100 pesos shall be imposed upon the offender.
Dodong, why do we have to make an analogy between two systems, when their conditions are vastly different. In the Philippines, what we have is a system that is being molded in the image of a person. It is, at best, a wrong copycat.
The larger issue about the press, I believe, is whether it should be tolerated or suppressed. Rambunctious though it may be, curtailing it publicly or subtly is unacceptable to those who love freedom. For me, I prefer a rambunctious press to a government that liquidates noisy journalists (reminder: the Philippines is the second most dangerous place in the world next to Iraq, for journalists).
Sampot: We have in effect a parliamentary system, where the executive can also make its own laws [EO464, etc.]
*****
On the contrary, Sampot, it is not how it works in a parliamentary system. What you mean, maybe, is a monarchy or fiefdom of old when the word of the king was considered the word of God!
We have a parliamentary system in Japan, but no one, not even the Emperor now or the Prime Minister can impose their own rules. Everything has to pass the approval of the citizenry directly via an election or via their representatives in the Diet.
I suppose it is the same in UK upon which a lot many of our procedures are patterned, but not necessarily exactly the same considering the fact that the Japanese are different from the British and vice versa.
That is why Filipinos should strongly resist any such nonsense as changing their country’s Charter and make it a parliamentary Gloria Dorobo style. That will be the day when Filipinos can perhaps do a Bastille revolution. Right now, it looks like last week’s Thursday was just another day!
I tried to ask some Filipinos here about their reaction to what happened then, ang sagot (at least, may sagot!), “Well, what can we say but “Sayang!” Bakit hindi pa itinuloy!”
Both Josh Wolf (District Judge William Alsup) and Vanessa Leggett (Federal court in Houston) were incarcerated on the strength of a court order, not a police order.
Puno wants the footage, let him go to court.
Caseblue, “Here is Article 151 of the Revised Penal Code which penalizes “Resistance and disobedience”. This article is the justification used by Secretary Puno in arresting the media.”
Well, he’d better tell Gloria and Raul G. to make that as the charge sheet against Trillanes et al., not the charge of “rebellion.”
What the idiotic sanganos wanted to do is impose their own rule. The media had a job to do likewise, and the police were being abusive imposing their impromptu rules.
There was actually no rules broken by the media in covering the aborted standoff, which was not even a mutiny like Oakwood, nor a coup since the Magdalos were not fighting back like a tooth for a tooth, an eye for an eye, but simply saying inn essence “Filipinos, resist this fake government run by a criminal,” for that is what Gloria Dorobo is in fact if the agencies responsible for putting people like her in jail are not beholden to her!
The police in fact, based on my own experience in Japan for instance, covering events like the wedding of the Crown Prince in 1993, can only arrest erring journalists who have violated set rules or are deliberately violating agreements between police and the press prior to such events. Otherwise, both should abide by some already set rules of coverage of news.
In fact, the police are obligated to protect the journalists from getting harmed especially when they carry their IDs and badges and needed to write the eventually as factually and honestly as they are capable of! In other words, they are obligated to make sure that they are safe, not bombed them with tear gas as what the more appropriately should be called “namumuking sangano” did last Thursday.
Dito nga, give and take pa nga ang media at pulis. Dito naman kasi, hindi nakikialam ang sundalo sa pananatili ng peace and order ng sinasakupan ng mga pulis.
Taragis ang dami pang katwiran ni Puno at Razon. Kahit anong sabihin nila, palpak ang trabaho nila kasi walang sincerity at puro pagsisipsip lang! Kung matino ba ang mga iyan, bakit hindi nila hulihin iyong gumagalang kriminal? Mga inutil!
…saying in essence…
…write the event….
Sorry, ang bilis ng kamay. Ang dami tuloy mali kasi nakakapika naman talaga.
Tama si Atty. Even warrants have to be obtained from the court as standard in most civilized countries. The police are there simply to carry them out.
Fr: EL
guys,
ang mga media executives argument sa dialogue with government kanina ay mahina. sa akin ang dapat na line na tinahak nila ay ito:
when you impede journalists, you impede flow of information that is important to the public so they can assess the situation in their own country, which is guaranteed by the constitution. you are therefore doing something illegal and unconstitutional. when a local law and the constitution clashes, it is the constitution that prevails.
on the supposed pagpapanggap na journalists ng mga magdalo, and sagot doon ay so what? that is not the journalists’ fault and problem. it is a police problem and should be solved not by trespassing the law. what if they disguised themselves as police officers? what if as clergymen. remember, as a wise man said once–it is better to allow a criminal go scot free rather than imprison [in this case handcuff and detain] an innocent man. this is related to the principle of being held innocent until found guilty. [baka naman masyado ng sophisticated para sa mga so-called government leaders ito who only believe is seeing things in black and white]
the basis of their argument should be the law. and the highest law is the constitution. government relied on a police circular. that is not even a law. then puno argued their act is based on the revised penal code. he should have been answered with the constitution.
and when journalists place themselves in harm’s way to get the news–a revered age old tradition — that is their responsibility. look at iraq, at vietnam before that, korea before vietnam, world war II, world war I, etc, etc, etc……
so the police should not concern themselves with those intrepid journalists but with their “enemy” or “target” individual or group in their operations.
i’ve never heard of journalists being handcuffed and detained anywhere in the democratic world until now. and not even during the marcos dictatorship.
the present leadership is much too “bush-istic”, bush being an idol of president glorietta.
cheers!!
“The lie can be maintained only for such time as the State can shield the people from the political, economic and/or military consequences of the lie. It thus becomes vitally important for the State to use all of its powers to repress dissent, for the truth is the mortal enemy of the lie, and thus by extension, the truth becomes the greatest enemy of the State.” — Dr. Joseph M. Goebbel, Nazi propaganda minister
Must be Puno’s inspiration!
“Think of the press as a great keyboard on which the government can play.”Joseph Goebbel
For no reason at all, why would the chief of of intel at the police hqs panic when visited by the DZBB media team? He was caught with his opants down. The reason perhaps is that the dog on his table was dognapped way back near the headquarters..
Hahahahahaha! As for the fear of Filipinos getting fed up of Gloria’s “bush-shitting” going incognito as journalists, clergymen, etc. reminds me of the resistance we have heard of in WWII, and/or even perhaps, recently the case of members of the Japan Red Army, the group responsible sympathetic to the Palestinian cause, travelling around the world with Philippine passports and pretending to be Filipinos!
Nakita lang iyong naka-wig na employee ng Makati City Hall, sasabihin nang peke ang mga journalists na naiwan sa Peninsula! Magaling pang mang-insulto ha. Mga batikang journalists nga ang karamihan natira doon, anong sinasabi ni Punong hindi nila sila kilala?
Mahinang katwiran din ang mga sipsip apparently!
I agree they could get at the male press people in their way, but not the weak, the old and the ladies for any reason. Where is the Filipino tradition or universal tradition? Even the UK that has no constitution observe that.
“In the first place, it was for the safety of correspondents there. Thank God that a firefight did not break out. But bullets don’t choose their victims when they start to fly,” he said. (Puno)Inquirer, 11/30/2007, Thea Alberto
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Really? Salvage victims are always chosen.
Why the need for a firefight when Trillanes was unarmed? His guards were armed, but as Esperon said, they were there to ensure that Trillanes would not escape. So walang danger na mag-shoo-shoot back ang mga Magdalo.
Kung noong Oakwood nga, where they were heavily armed, the Magdalo did not harm anyone, ngayon pang walang armas?
The real danger (to the Hobbit), baka may manawagan, gaya ni Butz Aquino in 86 (“Mga kababayan, magkita tayo sa Santolan. Tulungan natin si Enrile at Gen Ramos.”). So they (Puno) could not wait for a night, because baka magka-groundswell.
Istorbo kayo mga media. Patay na sana ang mga Magdalong yan – “trying to escape sir, so we opened fire.”
Reminds me of Rolando Galman. Hindi ba hinarang din ang media? That is the primordial reason why the media should not be shut out of unfolding events.
Ermita, in his weekly press conference, said there were reports that some rebels evaded the policemen by wearing media IDs.
How about this:
There were reports that thieves looted 2 rooms of their mini-bars’ liquor and the Resident Manager’s room of several valuables. Did they evade detection by removing their police uniforms?
Gandang argument ito a. Simple but very logical. Puedeng pulutin ng attorney ni Trillanes, et al. Nabibisto lang nagsisinungaling si Puno at Razon with conflicting statements as when they claimed that the armed guards were there to insure that Trillanes, et al could not escape.
Truth is di naman kailangang maging genius ang isang nilalang para makita ang logic ng katwiran. Kaso nga mahilig mag-imbento ng kasinungalingan ang mga galamay ni piglet Dorobo kagaya niya.
Iyong fabrication pa nila ng mga ebidensiya ang dahilan kung bakit walang naso-solve na kaso sa Pilipinas kahit na iyong mga sensational crimes like the murder of Ninoy o kahit na iyong pagpatay kay Nida Blanca na gusto pang ibintang kay Erap. Maski nga iyong bombahan sa Batasan, scapegoat lang nila iyong non-cooperative kay piglet na Congressman from Mindanao. Humirit na nga iyong former Mayor na binugbog siya para umamin kuno.
Hopeless case na ba talaga? Kawawang Pilipinas!
Tongue, I heard that myself. According to (ABS-CBN) TV Patrol News, the hotel staff said it was the police who looted them of valuables. This gets to be very interesting, “bantay salakay pa ang labas.”
dodong coming from a very liberal jurisdiction, where press and any individual have the same rights as guaranteed by our charter (we are equal before and under the law) with limits as prescribed by law, I understand that there are limits to all the rights like like Obstruction, Hate Law, Discrimination, But the Question here, the case in the Philippines was Pure Harassment, because they did it without even a single charges filed after and no formal apology for the heavy handed methods of doing it and not even citing a statute or law under which the action was taken, but instead more threats of the future arrests. You don’t expect that treatment from a stable democratic government but from a seriously threatened one.
PNP chief Avelino Razon said the police did not violate the rights of the media men as he owned the order to arrest and handcuff them.
If they were decent enough, they could have used metal cuffs but instead they used nylon cable ties which purpose is keeping cables neatly bundled. The other common use is tying the feet of frozen bovine so they don’t get tangled with the conveyors in meat processing plants. Also to securely hold mopheads to their stems.
I don’t think UK inventor Panduit Ltd. designed it for humans. It’s dangerously sharp at the edges you could cut your wrist or even pop a vein if yanked too tight.
It’s inhumane. The mere application is police brutality already!
Arrest of media men will be the rule:Puno
It’s time for Mr Puno to put his money where his mouth is and publish rules & regulations for the PNP procedures and not rely on some add hock system but real easy to understand rules & regulations that the PNP MUST follow.
But of course Mr Puno knows rules & regulations perform in a two way street and it will be even harder for the PNP to conseal its misdemeanours with proper transparent rulles & regulations for the PNP to follow.
Mr Puno don’t talk so daft and too big when everyone and their uncle knows that training in the PNP is lacking. Get the training in place, then start talking like a professional for goodness sakes.
conceal – sori
HG: This gets to be very interesting, “bantay salakay pa ang labas.”
*****
Akala nila siguro na-annihilate na nila lahat at libre na sila to take “the booties of war”!
Ermita said next time around, authorities should nip rebellion off the bud in order prevent plotters from gaining mass support.
He cited the case of the Edsa 1 People Power revolt which was initially underestimated by the Marcos government until it gained the support of millions of people.
“Gaining from previous experience, as much as possible we want to stop it immediately. Otherwise, it might get bigger. It’s just like fire. You have to put it out while it is still small,” he said. Malaya, Dec 6, 2007
*****************
Ayun, at inamin din. Mukhang napa-paranoid na.
Gaya ng sabi ng Sinn Fein, you (Ermita) have to win all the time. They (Magdalo) only have to score once.
Mahimbing ang tulog nila Querubin. I can’t say the same for Esperon. Uneasy lies the head that wears the crown.
Tongue: The mere application is police brutality already!
*****
Ano pa ba ang ginawa nila? Di police brutality unless of course they admit that it was in fact a military attack that Esperon would not like to take responsibility for kaya doon na lang sa subordinates na nasa PNP which is in principle more like a military police with its head coming from the military that should actually not be the case!
Wow, sourgraping pa ang ungas! Apparently, their attempt to poison the public’s mind failed. Nag-boomerang ang ginawa nila sa kanila dahil buking na buking sila na gusto lang nilang mag-abuso!
On the other hand, bakit pumapapel kuno na naman itong si Ermita. Being left out ba sa padulasan ngayon trying hard siya ngayon na sumipsip?
“a military attack that Esperon would not like to take responsibility for kaya doon na lang sa subordinates na nasa PNP which is in principle more like a military police with its head coming from the military that should actually not be the case!”
With its head coming from the military, spot on target.
Separate the two organisations to have a more efficient PNP.
It is easier to control a civilian orientated PNP.
Caseblue,
Thanks for that PD on obstruction of justice. Kung iyan ang basehan ni Puno ay walang ebedensya laban sa media bilang obstructionist of justice sa nangyaring Pen standoff.
Caseblue, “Here is Article 151 of the Revised Penal Code which penalizes “Resistance and disobedience”. This article is the justification used by Secretary Puno in arresting the media.”
Meron pa bang mahahalukay si Puno para ma-justify ang unjustifiable na media arrest? Buti pa na aminin na lang niya na ang pag-aresto sa media ay upang makontrol sila para sa interes in Gloria.
WWNL:
When an US MP in Iraq was interviewed about the creation of an Iraqi police a year or two ago, he said he welcomed the idea because dealing with the civilian according to him was actually not the work of the military police. He actually distinguished the function of the ordinary police and that of the military, which was geared more to military discipline, and yes, even combat.
Whoever among the Philippine lawmakers went along with the proposal of then FVR regarding integrating the police with the military must be as stupid as those who proposed it.
You’re right. The police should be civilian oriented run by civilians in fact like a police commission participated in by non-uniformed members of the citizenry, and positions there should be made available only through a civil service exam, and training comes after they get in at some police academy not run by the military!
Palibhasa kasi hanggang ngayon parang trial and error pa rin ang palakad sa bansang sinilangan na napuno na ng mga inutil at iyong mga matatalino naman kasi pinalayas na!!!
Intimidation ang ginagawa ni Puno, Razon, et al. Kahit sino naman siguro halata ang layunin nila dahil kung matino sila, anong ikakatakot nila sa media. Kaso nga puro kabalbalan, kabulastugan, katarantaduhan, etc. ang ginagawa nila na parang mga ulol na sunod ng sunod doon sa kriminal dahil gusto nilang palimusan/padulasan din sila!!!
BTW, folks, hindi kasama si Atienza sa Europe. Nandito siya sa Japan ngayon sabi ng source ko. Ano kayang kabalbalan ang gagawin dito? Kakausapin ang mga hapon para ibalik ang mga Japayuki sa Japan? Hindi papayag ang mga haponesa na ang mga asawa ay umuuwi na nang maaga ngayon sa totoo lang! 😛
Intimidation, harrassment at pananakot ang gustong mangyari ng mga ungas!
In a democratic society, information about government, politics, military affairs or police operation serves both a social function and as an element of the media business.The independent media is a business for its publishers, so information and event is part of business.Furthermore, business and the social functions are directly connected. They cannot be separated.The very essence of the business practices of quality publications is earning money on the social function, on the fact that the civil society wants to know how effective the government is.In particular,it wants to know how effective the government is in ensuring national security and protecting its citizens and how effectively it spends the taxpayers’ money.
The public prefers to learn this information from sources independent of the government the media.It is ready to pay for such information, buy copies.A problem always exists, however the choice between writing what readers want to read and writing objectively.A sensible compromise is necessary. Proportion is key.This is largely an editorial choice for the particular media outlet,its position and its long-term development strategy. Artificial limitations are unlikely to work. Journalists generally remain objective in their coverage of the issues or if they are subjective,they express their own opinions,rather than write purchased articles.journalists reporters and columnists who are generally independent-minded and prepared to adequately and correctly satisfy the social demand of the civil society for coverage.
Pero nagkamali sila. Sa tingin ko, the more they talk, the more they lose their self-perceived credibility. Meron isang columnist na nagpapadala ng article niya sa akin. Iyong initial reaction niya sa Thursday event, negative. Aba kanina, nasa gitna na siya! Ayaw pahuli kahit na naiwan din yata sa pansitan! Talaga naman!
con’t;
Our government and the military are currently becoming more aware of their own faults in relations with the media, in particular with regard to admitting their mistakes.Whether they want to or not,they tend to confess misinformation in order to clear themselves of the responsibility for purely military,police matter and military-political mistakes.
To a certain extent,the critical attitude towards the spin doctors within the administration is probably a reflection of contradictions and clashes between various groupings within the circle of our government itself.They criticize their own propaganda workers as well as bad journalists: Seeing certain talking heads comment on various events, one gets the feeling that the point is not informing the public, but protecting the interests of the relevant departments, protecting the interest of the big bosses.
It is the Media-Media Vis a Vis Comedia!
Meanwhile, let us hold on tight to what we believe to be right so as not to be deceived. Maganda pa nga magdasal for divine guidance para hindi madenggoy. Let us keep in mind that there is definitely a difference between information and propaganda.
A bad government undoubtedly propagates the latter, and that is definitely what the government of the piglet Dorobo does even with this present attempt to rally the royalties of Europe behind her.
Thanks. Now I understand why Brenda Starr tags along..sa halos lahat na lakad ni Gloria…pero hindi ata tama na ang gobierno ang bumayad ng gastos niya.. Si Angara naman, bakit kasama?
The Constitution indeed is the highest law of the land and should supercede over other laws and rules invoked by Puno. He does not sound like a man of wisdom, as he justifies the arrest of the media. You are all right, Esperon and his people (to include Gloria) are getting paranoid with what is happening. I doubt if Gloria can still have that happy smile she wore in her portrait at their ancestral house in Iligan, where she was wearing a wrap-around (tapis)…well, unfortunately, she does not look like Mona Lisa but a trying hard “pandak,” who will do everything to keep herself in power. Conjugal visits at Tanay are not allowed because of the Peninsula incident. Huh! For security reasons or a sign of Esperon, who looks like a nervous wreck now. I’m sure he is ordering his allies to do the necessary loyalty check among his ranks. But who really knows the truth? They (soldiers) might say they will follow the Rule of Law to protect themselves, but deep within, they are simply waiting for the time when the Queen and her men will fall. After all, “You strike, when the enemy is weak.”
The way I look at gov’t reaction to the incident… they are really running scared…
Had they been in real control and the forces of Trillanes and Lim had been licked to the boot, why this stern warning or threat to those who will be “in their way” of saving the gov’t from the next incident…
Since Thursday, instead of basking in their glory for “putting down” the group, they still seem to be edgy about something….
Yung paglakwatsa nila GMA last Saturday, e maari kayang panigurado lang na iwas gulo just in case may makalusot na unit nang militar sa Manila? At least safe sila doon and money is not a problem dahil they ought to have substantial loots carefully hidden abroad…
I can already see fear in their eyes. There’s no way they can overkill the situation at Manila Penn if they’re not afraid.
This is an unsolicited advise to the Media, if ever this kind of incident happens again, may pagka-pilosopo ito,pero imodify na lang ninyo.
Police: Kailangan namin kayong dalhin sa presinto para i-process.
Media: Anong ibig mong sabihin na ipa-process kami?
Police: Para malaman namin ang mga identities ninyo, baka may nahalong Magdalo sa hanay ninyo.
Media: Heto ang ID namin, mga tunay na Media kami.Hindi pa ba sapat ang mga ID namin?
Police: SOP namin na dalhin kayo para i-process.
Media: Hindi kami sasama, hindi naman kayo mga pulis, patunayan nyo muna na mga totoong pulis kayo,malay namin.
Police: Heto, ID namin.
Media: Hindi kami naniniwala sa ID ninyo kung kami nga ayaw ninyong tanggapin ang mga ID namin, bakit namin paniniwalaan ang mga ID nyo at saka ang nakalagay sa ID nyo PNP – “Pulis Ni Pandak”
The bottomline: “Give them a dose of their own medicine.”
Ace:
Sa totoo lang ipinapahalata ng mga gunggong na puedeng magpeke ng mga dokumento sa Pilipinas kasabwat pa iyong mga nasa pulis, NBI, etc.
Kung sabagay uso naman kasi iyong mga gatecrashers using press badges diyan. Nakakahiya man sabihin pero totoo! Dami kasing tsetseburetse kaya ang mga tao napipilitan mangpeke. Ang gagaling kasing magpalusot at puede ang connection. Kaya sa mga katulad ni Ellen, I bet frustrating talaga.
Pero mas hanip iyong nakaupo sa Malacanang. Ang alam ko pa ngayon, wini-withhold iyong pag-issue ng mga machine readable passports kasi iyong database hindi pa tapos ang pagretoke!!! 😛 Kasi nga naman hindi na sila makakapeke pag naayos ang mga machine readable passports.
Ace;
HEHEHEHEHE!Perhaps it’s useful,if just for a moment,to fantasize yourself as a hardened criminal, caught up in the police extermination machine. Sure, all those blueshirts, Esperon butchers, are nasty, brutish, uncivilized little wretches.You’re even so bold as to mutter such treasonous natterings into the ears of your closest confidants from time-to-time, whenever you think nobody’s watching or listening.But have you ever considered just how and when your little behind-their-backs whimperings even stand a chance showing your fake media ID? Will you stick with your “protest strategy” right up until they shove you into the torture chamber? As the door slams shut behind you, will you continue to hold out hope that, after all, maybe it is only a shower Just keep clinging to your dreams.
Of course, you’re not a Red from the mountain bailiwick of Ka Roger, you’re a good student at Letran. Back in Marcos’ day, there were Metrocom just like the santcher soldiers of Palparan.They were good soldiers. These good Monkies claimed that, if they had only known that their bad colleague in the military were industriously rounding up activist student at Nemesio Prudente’s college and exterminated them in massive droves right under the Pasig river, they surely would’ve done something to stop such salvaging.Unfortunately they failed to convince anyone else of their hapless ignorance. They executed Kumander Silang of the NPA.Those secret police were a hippie, they have a shoulder length hair and wearing bell bottom pants like the replica of Elvis although they hated Tom Jones sideburns. As a good Letran scholar, do you expect to claim that you knew nothing about the disappearance of Jonas Burgos? And once a suspected red supporters finally suffers its ignoble collapse, its “worst of the worst” these criminals are brought to court found guilty and executed, and the barbaric traumatic shock is exposed for the disgraceful of it. If you are still awake by 2010 and we have a new president. Smile!
it seems to me that pinas has two choices, a police state or a military regime.
“Of course, you’re not a Red from the mountain bailiwick of Ka Roger, you’re a good student at Letran.”-cocoy
No,I’m not a Red from the mountain bailiwick of Ka Roger neither am I a Blue from the bailiwick of Ka Gloria. A good student at Letran? I hate to disappoint you but no,I never went to Letran.
Its very obvious THE RULE OF LAW in the Philippines is no longer exist. Because the LAW is in their hand, they have the power and no one can phantom them except THE FILIPINO PEOPLE who love there country and the community.
Its also clear na mashado silang ma higpit sa MEDIA because ang MEDIA ang laging bumubolabog sa katarantadohan nila. Nag hinayang sila na cancel ang ZTE, loan sa world bank at iba pa dahil panahon na sana nila magnakaw bahang nasa puwesto pa sila. Wag na kayong magtaka maraming ngyari sa pilipinas na kabaglahan dahil habang nandyan sila. Hindi yan matatapos…. may solution dyan.
PATAYIN SILA!!! dahil wala na silang takot sa batas at damdamin sa mga masang pilipino. Kawawa ang mga TAX PAYERS sila ang mga nagpakain sa mga HAYOP na POLITIKO sa bayan.
Tuloy ang laban sa mga HAYOP na POLITOKO katulad kay PIKE PRESIDENT MACAPAL ARROYONG HUDAS queen.
Cge
Rose: Now I understand why Brenda Starr tags along..sa halos lahat na lakad ni Gloria…pero hindi ata tama na ang gobierno ang bumayad ng gastos niya.. Si Angara naman, bakit kasama?
******
Baka si Senadora Sira la Cabeza ang adviser ni piglet Dorobo! Tignan mo nga may dala pang kodigo doon sa reception at the Spanish palace. Si Angara naman, natoto na ring magsipsip!
Pero wait, come to think of it, si Senadora Sira la Cabeza, Enrile at Angara di ba ang mga advisers din ni Erap noong matatanggal na siya? Parang may triumvirate ang tatlong ito, ano?
CHAMPION OF HUMAN RIGHTS. President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo details the successes she has achieved in defense of human rights in the Philippines. Video taken by INQUIRER.net reporter Veronica Uy at the Universidad de Alcala in Madrid, Spain.
Aba comedian pala itong si piglet Dorobo. Nagpatawa sa Madrid! Ano kaya ang sasabihin ni Alston pag nalaman niya ito?
Taragis ang ungas, hindi nakakaintindi ng command responsibility kung hindi nga siya ang nag-uutos na iligpit ang mga kalaban at critics niya! Kahit maghugas siya ng kamay, siya pa rin ang dapat managot ng ginagawa ng mga hindi daw niya inutusan pero alam ng lahat na siyang nagpapaligpit ng mga mas may tunay na malasakit sa bayan.
Kawawang Pilipinas! Napuno na ng mga ungas!
Hi ellen. I hope you’re still fine. You know how the minds (if any) of these media-paranoids work (if at all). There is just no excusing the unfair treatment on the media at the Manila Pen by the police. Know what? I found this speeech by an administration congressman (of all people). I would have understand if somebody from the opposition delivered the speech condemning the police and defending press freedom. I am posting the speech below (copied from the transcripts):
PRIVILEGE SPEECH
by REP. MARCELINO “MARCY” R. TEODORO
1st District, Marikina City
December 03, 2007
IN DEFENSE OF PRESS FREEDOM
Mr. Speaker, if I may freely speak here now is because I exercise my right to do so. That I may do so in this hallowed floor of the House of Representatives is because of the privilege conferred upon me by the democratic ideals to which our system of government has subscribed.
In the same way, if journalists are with us now, that is because they have a right which they may as freely practice. Mr. Speaker, it is in the matter of that component of our democracy which compelled me to take the floor: the freedom of the press.
Of all the articles in the constitution, Mr. Speaker, I find Article III unique for it clearly proscribes with a series of “Nos” certain actions our government may not do with its people and persons. For one, Section 4 partially expresses: “No law shall be passed abridging the freedom of speech, of expression, or of the press….” “No law…” allows no law and thus far, we have complied with that prohibition.
At the same time, I find Article III most enigmatic for it escapes understanding why a set of prohibitions can be interpreted to mean exactly the opposite. Mr. Speaker, it is regrettable that the police misunderstood that provision in our Constitution.
A violation of even one provision of the Bill of Rights is abominable enough. Throughout the constitution, the branches of our government, the executive, the legislative, and the judiciary, are vested with awesome powers. In effect, the Bill of Rights is a guarantee of persons, of the people in the social contract theory: we surrender some of our rights and retained the rest in exchange for some social order.
Last Thursday, Mr. Speaker, the police bound with plastic ties the wrists and hands of journalists, hauled them into a bus, and brought them to Bicutan where they were supposedly “processed” and identified. All these happened without any of the journalists knowing why. When Ms Ces Drilon of ABS-CBN asked whether they were being forcibly taken as witnesses, she was visibly stunned when a police officer shot back: as witnesses and as “suspects.” Suspected of what? Nobody knew the answer. Later on, the police averred to intelligence information that some so-called rebels were trying to escape by disguising themselves as members of media and referred to their dastardly acts as an “invitation.”
The press, of all profession, has specific mention in the constitution. That is because the press is not merely a profession in the ordinary meaning of a “profession.” That the press is historically a shield that protects our democratic and republican system of government from forces hostile to freedom is indisputable.
But sometimes, Mr. Speaker, extraordinary circumstances require more exercise of authority by law enforcers such that they are called upon to act with urgency in order to maintain social order. The Constitution had the foresight to provide extraordinary powers to the authorities for them to meet brute action with brute action if social order is to be preserved. In such times, the rights of our people may lawfully be limited. But in no time should they be utterly disregarded. Even expanded powers should not be capricious and arbitrary.
It is undeniable, Mr. Speaker, that last Thursday was an extraordinary circumstance. Once more, we found ourselves in the throes of irresponsible actions. But I believe, Mr. Speaker, that last Thursday was a situation that did not call for the police to be unreasonably and flagrantly brute with the press.
The prevailing jurisprudence is that the right to free speech is not to be denied, even constrained, except in times of “a clear and present danger of a substantive evil that Congress has a right to prevent.” In other words, the press must be unhampered in its exercise of free speech so long as journalists exercise their rights within constitutional lines which I believe was the case last Thursday, Mr. Speaker.
Furthermore, Mr. Speaker, we must be anxious about the unlawful arrest, intimidation and threatening of journalists. Ms Pinky Webb of the ABS-CBN reported that a police officer threatened to arrest her if she did not surrender her team’s camera. If it is the case, Mr. Speaker, that the journalists were being held up as suspects by the police as what Ms Drilon was told, our laws provide for a lawful procedure of arresting suspects. The police should have secured an arrest warrant, the police should have informed the journalists of the charge against them, the police should have told them the Miranda rights, and the police should have not intimidated and threatened with arrest Ms Webb for her to yield her news team’s camera.
To my mind, Mr. Speaker, the deprivation of liberty of the journalists last Thursday is nothing short of an unlawful arrest. In the case before us, the Revised Rules on Criminal Procedure allows arrests without warrants “when a crime has just been committed in the presence of the arresting officer and the officer has personal knowledge that the person to be arrested committed the crime.” Indeed, Mr. Speaker, the question is whether the police who arrested the journalists last Thursday have personal knowledge, by the intelligence information they gathered, that some of the journalists at the place of the crime were so-called rebels disguised as journalists.
No, the Supreme Court answered in the case Posadas, Torres-Yu, and Lambino v. the Ombudsman and Dizon. Personal knowledge “must be based upon ‘probable cause’ which means an ‘actual belief or reasonable grounds of suspicion.’” A suspicion is reasonable if it is “based on actual facts, i.e., supported by circumstances sufficiently strong in themselves.” Mr. Speaker, an intelligence report is hardly “based on actual facts” such that the decision by the police to arrest the journalists on the basis of an intelligence report was not an intelligent decision. In candor, whatever form the police choose to clothe in order to justify their actions last Thursday, their actions remain unlawful.
By all indications, Mr. Speaker, the “invitation” which the police would have us believe is really an illegal “warrantless arrest.” The failure of the police is inexcusable since as law enforcers, they are, or should have been, familiar with legal procedures. There are instances when speculations and impulses are passed off as intelligence reports such that these become the only basis for inflicting harm and inconvenience to a person. It is simply objectionable and intolerable that several rights of the journalists were violated on the basis of a flimsy intelligence report.
All that was accomplished by the police in illegally arresting 30 journalists is to give the message that the police can temporarily supplant the supremacy of the constitution without compulsion.
The police also resorted to the excuse that the media were in harm’s way. The police need not justify their actions by raising the specter of casualties among the ranks of the journalists. Mr, Speaker, even granting, for the sake of argument, that the journalists were an obstacle to police and military operations last Thursday is not a justification for violating their rights.
If the police do not know who they were looking for, they cannot simply be impulsive and bind the hands of journalists and haul them into the Bicutan Jail without proper basis for doing so. There can be no trial and error in dealing with constitutional rights.
Mr. Speaker, I laud the order of the president to “expedite the processing and release of media as soon as possible.” We must give credit, too, to the police for their success in prevailing over the so-called rebels who sought to undermine our democratic way of life. But once they stepped beyond the limits on their exercise of powers such as when they violated the press, we must guide their steps back within the lines so that none would be trampled upon.
In all that happened last Thursday, Mr. Speaker, it was not solely the Manila Peninsula that was damaged. The press, too, was the press. Mr. Speaker, the journalists were doubly victimized by the rebels and the police.
Journalists have taken up the burden of informing the public even during the most extraordinary of times. A specific protection expressed in a clause in a single provision in the Constitution should have been enough protection for them; they have no need to arm themselves to pursue their constitutionally-endorsed profession. In the words of our own Chief Justice Reynato Puno:
“The media provide information and data to our people to enable them to have an enlightened participation in our democratic process, for a democracy in which the people are kept in the dungeon of ignorance cannot last.”
Mr. Speaker, if the police may violate the freedom of established and big media organizations, the small ones may not challenge even blatant and flagrant unconstitutional restraints in the future. Worse, media may altogether avoid covering newsworthy events that involve the police. Mr. Speaker, the House should thwart putting this erroneous precedent into place.
What happened in Makati last Thursday does not involve weighing of countervailing public interests in gathering information and preserving order. There was no need to sacrifice one in order to serve the other. Indeed, the media have not been an obstacle in the police operations last Thursday.
Traditionally, the press is a watchdog against government excesses. Nonetheless, a free press does not presupposes that journalists and the government be antagonistic toward each other. There can be a reasonable balance between freedom of the press to inform citizens and public order without violating the constitution.
Congress may take the step of determining what tilted the balance against the press. I, therefore, urge the House of Representatives to conduct inquiry on this matter. The police had started down on a path of curtailing press freedom. We should stand on their way if we are to preserve an institution of our democracy.
Mr. Speaker, Justice Brandeis warned in the US Supreme Court case Olmstead v. United States that:
“Our government is the potent, the omnipresent teacher. For good or for ill, it teaches the whole people by its example. Crime is contagious. If the government becomes a lawbreaker, it breeds contempt for law; it invites every man to become a law unto himself; it invites anarchy.”
We must heed these words if we are to reap the fruits of a democratic society. The police must observe the law scrupulously in our government of laws.
Our message should be clear and unanimous: The police may not go against the constitution and impede the freedom of the press. Let the media alone.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Dranko, do you have a website? I’d like to just link the speech of Rep. Teodoro.
I’m sorry fro the mistake in the list. I’ll erase his name there.
harion, you have resurrected again under this name after you have been baned under your previous aliases.
If you want to participate in the discussion in this blog, you are free to do so but stop your nitpicking. It’s pathetic.
Was the handling of the Manila Pen incident by the government forces a case of incompetence or frustration?
Frustration because they have a plan A and they cannot swiftly execute it because of the presence of the Media.The presence of the Media entails two things:
1. They might get into harms way and be hurt in the process, at worst be killed.
2. The documentation of the arrest or assault by the Media in which any extra-judicial act (if any)cannot be executed lest it be caught by the Media on camera.
So,as we all know now, some members of the Media opted to stay and this cause the frustration and annoyance of the “one calling the shots” and those who will execute the plan on the ground, therefore Plan A was aborted and they just settled with plan B – Operation Teargas.
Incompetence because the questions that begs to be asked are:
When did they thought of the plan to use teargas? Was this plan an afterthought (after plan A became unfeasible)? Was this the only plan (plan A from the very start)? Were all the tactical preparations centered on this plan? If it is the plan all the while, why not execute it right away exactly at 3 p.m.? Why wait for two more hours if it has the same effect and use the benefit of daylight? Why use an APC and riddle the lobby of the hotel with rounds of ammo if the teargas alone can do it?
If the fracas between the police and media was a result of the absence of an impregnable and airtight tactical plan then incompetence is it.
If the fracas between the police and media was a result of the police blowing its top then frustration is it or maybe,just maybe, a combination of both.
Meanwhile, I read somewhere that Arroyo has just received a Spanish award for being a human rights champion?
She will now use this award in every govt press release until the public start to believe it’s true a la Goebbels. She’s already programming the public to believe that she believes in the rule of law by mentioning it at every turn. What a laugh!
Don’t know what’s wrong with Spaniards but I have a feeling that either they don’t know what’s going on in Pinas or the award is their way of “apologizing” to the Philippines for the ‘cruelties’ inflicted on Pinoys during Spain’s colonization of Pinas (it’s kind of the fashionable thing to do now in Europe, i.e., apologize to ex colonies.)
Could also be that Spain has no idea of where human rights begin and where human rights end — based on recent EU news, one of the most popular sports in Spain is wife or concubine or mistress beating and has a very high rate of battered wives/women among countries in Western Europe.
In NATO, the Spaniards are not exactly the most admired — members of their delegation are so magulo, often members of NATO from northern Europe, Britain, Norway, France, etc. are frustrated by their tupsy-turvy manner of going about work; one comment I hear often from NATO delegate friends is their Spanish colleagues are unreliable. Can tell you that even in industry, the British get fed up with them because work that could be done in short time ends up getting done after a very long time.
Kabayang Chi, praning na kasi ang gobyernong GMA, akalain mo tangke at tirgas ang isinagupa kina Sen. Trillanes/Gen. Lim. Ang daming taga-Media ang nasa loob ng PEN.
See, wala silang paki basta ang objective nila tapusin ang siege na ito. Grabe ang pangbabastos sa taga-Media, akalain mo eh pinosasan pa.
Kaya lesson ito sa mga taga-Media, wag kayong pasindak kay Tita Glo at lalo na yong mga ASO niya, kitam kanya-kanya ng sorry sa Media. Kapalmuks eh!
Hoping na ang taga-Media eh magkaisa at wag pagamit kay GMA, nasaksihan ko kasi ang EDSA III at biased ang Media at that time, only few of them ang nagbalita ng totoong nangyayari.
Karma ito sa ilan nating mga taga-Media kasi nga eh sa halip na suportahan ang EDSA III eh nagamit pa silang instrumento ng gobyernong GMA.
Dapat magpakatotoo ang ilan nating taga-Media kasi nga partisan sila. Yang PCIJ eh #1 kritiko ni Pres. Erap at siyang naging instrumento para sirain ang pangulo. Pinonduhan yan ng GMA & co.
Doon naman sa mga Makabayang mediamen, na ang hangad eh balanseng pagbabalita ang dapat nating suportahan at ipaglaban ang kanilang karapatan.
Good day to you AdeBrux,do you mean na si Tita Glo eh nakatanggap ng Spanish award for being a human rights champion? Yaks, paano na yong extrajudicial killings… sa termino niya eh highest pointer siya kung sa basketball pa dahil #1 ang rehimeng GMA.
Binobola lang tayo ng mga Kastila, di ba sila ang nagfiring squad kay Gat. Jose Rizal, ang gusto lang ng pobre eh kalayaan. See, inuuto lang tayo ng mga Kastilaloy na yan at si GMA naman nakangisi pa.
Alam mo ba yong ngising ASO, “plastic” yan in laymans word. Kasi kung galing from her heart, ang Masang API eh hapi din pero sa totoo lang nagngingit-ngit ang mga kalooban.
Tutal napag-uusapan lamang natin ito eh wala namang personalan, kasi nga ang TOTOO eh tagos yan hanggang kalingkingan.
Anna:
Maybe, the Spaniards are just being sarcastic or the communication there is still slow that the people in Spain must have not heard of nor know of the report of the UN rapporteur, Philip Alston. Sabi mo nga makupad pa sa daga.
Sa totoo lang siguro, nagbuburutan! Hopefully, the Brits will not be as stupid as to bestow such honor to the creep, who has done more human rights violations, etc. than even perhaps Marcos.
Shalom cg_pinas! You mentioned about THE RULE OF LAW in the Philippines is no longer exist? Tumpak ka! Sino ba ang nagsabing may Batas na umiiral sa ating Bayan? WALA as NO!Since 2001 pa.
Do you know, Chief Justice H. Davide Jr. yan ang yumurak sa ating Konstitusyon. Di ba siya ang nagpanumpa kay GMA eh puro naman pala bobo sa batas. Kay simple naman ng ating Konstitusyon eh di pala naunawaan ang nilalaman nito.
Ang treason & conspiracy eh wala pala yon sa kanilang dictionary, kaya marami sa ating mga Abogago eh mga sinungaling at tanga. Isa na diyan si Atty. De Vera sobra ingay niyan at against Erap.
Hayon naka-upo ngayon (Chief Justice R.Puno na naman), yong nagsabing constrative resignation daw ang ginawa ni Erap dahil sa diary na kanyang isinulat ayon kay Angara na balimbing.
Pobreng mga taga-Media magising na kasi kayo, uso ang onsehan ngayon pag-IN ka may 500T o 1M ka may dagdag na bonus pa trip sa Europa, at pag-OUT ka for sure sa MUNTI ang bagsak mo.
Dapat sa darating na ELEKSYON eh WAG ng IBOBOTO ang lahat ng TONGRESSMAN na kakampi ni GMA at ZTENADOR na balimbing, isama pati yong mga Gobernor at Mayor ng bawat probinsiya at bayan na kaalyado nila.
Eh sa wakas wala na tayong problema kasi OUT na sila, TAYO naman. GAME NA BA KAYO!
and, they have the power and no one can phantom them except THE FILIPINO PEOPLE who love there country and the community.
Its also clear na mashado silang ma higpit sa MEDIA because ang MEDIA ang laging bumubolabog sa katarantadohan nila. Nag hinayang sila na cancel ang ZTE, loan sa world bank at iba pa dahil panahon na sana nila magnakaw bahang nasa puwesto pa sila. Wag na kayong magtaka maraming ngyari sa pilipinas na kabaglahan dahil habang nandyan sila. Hindi yan matatapos…. may solution dyan.
PATAYIN SILA!!! dahil wala na silang takot sa batas at damdamin sa mga masang pilipino. Kawawa ang mga TAX PAYERS sila ang mga nagpakain sa mga HAYOP na POLITIKO sa bayan.
Tuloy ang laban sa mga HAYOP na POLITOKO katulad kay PIKE PRESIDENT MACAPAL ARROYONG HUDAS queen.
Cge
“…a sign of Esperon, who looks like a nervous wreck now.”
Thanks, Invictus, for this info. It will only take a shout of any of the Men of Honor and Asspweron will be a complete wreck. Sige, takutin pa ninyo si Ass!
Ace,
Re: Media: Hindi kami naniniwala sa ID ninyo kung kami nga ayaw ninyong tanggapin ang mga ID namin, bakit namin paniniwalaan ang mga ID nyo at saka ang nakalagay sa ID nyo PNP – “Pulis Ni Pandak”
Swak! hahahaah!
Balweg,
“Doon naman sa mga Makabayang mediamen, na ang hangad eh balanseng pagbabalita ang dapat nating suportahan at ipaglaban ang kanilang karapatan.”
Totoo yan, Balweg.
Kaya dito sa Ellenville ay nagbabaksyon lang ang mga residente at bumabalik, “walang iwanan” gaya ng Magdalo group. Ngayon ay kilala na natin ang mga manunulat/journalist na makabayan.
Who cares about that champion of human rights award to the unano? Ang espanol na hari ang nagbigay niyan kaya duon si unano tsampyon, hindi sa Pinas. Sa mga pinoy, murderer pa rin si Gloria and no amount of awards will erase that.
Gloria and co., don’t come back…magpa-ampon na lang kayo sa hari at reya ng Espanya, tutal ay nagkakasundo naman kayong mag-ululan!
One more thing, mga bakya ang espanyols…hindi nakakaaintindi ng wikang Pinoy!
cpn’t…kaya hindi sila nakakabalita/nakakabasa ng mga katarantaduhan ng unano na walang buhay itong sinasanto maliban sa kanya!
Wow, kilig na kilig sa piglet dorobo na sabi ng Inquirer malugod daw na tinanggap ni Queen Elizabeth pero bakit walang flash news sa BBC or CNN. In other words, walang binatbat!
At saka, kundi ba naman inutil, sabi sa mga pilipino sa London daw mamasyal daw sila sa Pilipinas samantalang ang dapat na sinabi niya, “Umuwi na kayo!” kung talagang maganda na nga ang buhay sa Pilipinas.
Neknek niya. Ang lakas pang mangloko. Lokohin niya ang lelang niyang panot. Katatanggap ko nga lang ng mga application ng mga gustong pumasok sa kompaniya ko na nakaka-sponsor na ng mga dayuhan.
Gosh, hindi malaman ng mga ungas kung ano ang gagawin kay Trillanes, et al kasi puro haka-haka lang sila!
For one who has seen police efficiency in Japan, I really find the actuation of Razon, et al as bordering at stupidity! Nakakahiya! In fact, they should just probably be better off to shut their mouths, and stop trying to impress the people, because they are in fact giving a different impression—mukhang mga mokong!
If they think they are able to convince everybody about Trillanes, Lim, et al, aba, mag-isip sila. Wala namang naniniwala sa kanila kundi siguro iyong mga kapareho nilang mga bobo dela yuca!
Taragis, iba-iba ang sinasabi. Kahapon, mag-a-apologize daw sila sa media, tapos biglang singit si Ermita at sabi dapat lang ang ginawang pag-aresto sa mga periodista. Ano iyan lokohan? Nagpapapel lang itong Ermita na ito para makasama sa susunod na Rainbow Tour ng mga piggies, palpak pa ang sinabi. Lalo lang nagmukhang mokong!
PMAer din ba iyan? Golly, anong klase bang military academy meron ang Pilipinas? Mukhang mas maraming gunggong na alumni ang PMA kesa talagang puedeng purihin. Bakit nagkaganoon? Ano itong kulturang ipinupunla ni piggie Dorobo? Golly, back to the future pa ang labas! Nagsipsip pa doon sa mga kastila ang ungas! Que lastima!
A question that seems to be on everybody’s mind these days turns out to be: Is Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo the worst President in recent history?
(A recent informal, unscientific poll of my blog’s viewers found that 80% of votes cast for “Worst President” rate the current presidency as a very serious contender for the dubious title.)
But how do you judge? Is she really the most morally disgusting? Have we as a people forgotten and/or forgiven the terrible transgressions of some of her recent predecessors in the Presidential seat in Malacanang?
Objectively, isn’t Ferdinand Marcos the most worthy candidate for worst President? Maybe the young have no memory of the brutal years of martial law regime, his silencing the free press, his dictatorial control, the imprisonment, torture, murder and disappearance of thousands and his shameless plunder of the nation’s treasury.
Don’t we at least remember Marcos’ partner in the “Conjugal Dictatorship”? Maybe her pathetic look these days is deemed by our people good enough punishment for a woman whose beauty was legendary decades ago.
How about Gloria’s most recent presidential predecessor? Isn’t Erap, our unlucky 13th president, another more worthy candidate for the worst President? Just three months ago, the Sandiganbayan finally gave its decision, finding Joseph guilty of plunder “beyond reasonable doubt” and sentenced to “Reclusión perpetua.”
Maybe our people think that he has already been punished enough. After all, he served more than six years in detention — six years and six months to be exact. First in an air-conditioned suite at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center in Quezon City, and then at his own well-appointed rest house in Tanay town, outside Manila. (Of course, Erap was quickly pardoned by Gloria.)
This brings us to Gloria. It’s still too early to tell, but if the current signs mean anything, she has got a lot to answer for.
How could so many scandals of an elected (?) president and her cadre remain unexplained, unchallenged, and unpunished? When? Probably never.
We’re not talking mistakes, here. We’re not talking poor judgment or failed policies. We’re not talking politics as usual, with its underhanded array of pork and perks. But we are talking about very serious violations of the public trust, and very possibly the law, perpetrated by the elected (?) leader of this nation and her handlers.
Even more amazingly, we are talking about the shameful reality that not a single one of these offenses has been investigated by a truly independent, non-political, neutral commission, armed with subpoena powers and adequate funding, and answerable ONLY to the people of Philippines. Not a single one.
What ever happened to the investigation of?
* The National Power Corp. (Napocor) -CPK-Kalayaan rehabilitation project.
* The race horse importation fiasco.
* The overpriced Diosdado Macapagal Boulevard exposé.
* Misuse of the fertilizer funds.
* The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. scandals.
* The jueteng scandals.
* The ZTE-NBN scandal (“Buck off!”).
* The Bribery of Governors and Congressmen in Malacanang.
* The MOTHER of ALL SCANDALS: THE HELLO GARCI Mega Scandal that influenced the last Presidential elections.
* The Extra-Judicial Killings of Activists as reported by the United Nations special raporteur on human rights.
* And many more…
One of the criteria for being worst is how much lasting damage the President did. The dictator Ferdinand Marcos for instance, did more than words can convey. With Gloria, the historical reckoning is yet to be made.
Let history judge her.
The Equalizer,
Your blog’s survey is really unscientific as Gloria is unelected Pinas president. Nevertheless, I agree with the result, and I already judged her as such, to add. By 2010 (if she’d ever leave), the items in your list will be ‘sky is the limit’ na.
May ikukuwento na naman ako sa mga kaibigan ko sa Tokyo MPD–iyong mga looters ng pulis ni pandak! Yuck! Hindi kaya nahihiya ang mga ungas sa ginawa nila? Never heard over here! Dito lahat accounted for. May mga standard forms nga ng mga kinukumpiska at ibinabalik sa kinumpiskahan sa totoo lang. Sa Pilipinas yata word of mouth lang may kasama pang panakot!
Kaya ano iyong ipinagmamalaki ni Puno, Razon, Ermita, at Malacanang? Golly, sila pala ang dapat na hulihin at ikulong!
Yuko, kung yong mga amo nga nila magnanakaw, sila pa kaya? Ang ikinakatakot ko lang ay yong sasabihin ng iba na kung yong Pangulo niyo nga magnanakaw e di lahat ng kayo magnanakaw. Nakakahiya ano? Para bang sinabi mong, da dog is a good guard, esperon is a good guard(of Glorya), therefore ESPERON is a DOG!!!!!
Anna,
Dick Pascual’s column yesterday mentioned that the porky couple was going to talk bridges. Mabey & Johnson, he said, had strong connections in Buckingham. Reminders, please?
GOOD NEWS! GOOD NEWS! GOOD NEWS! GOOD NEWS!
1. Manero and Jalosjos are to be released soon.
2. Transparency International Corruption Index lists Philippines as # 10 most corrupt. We should aim for no.1!
Good work, Ate Glue.
Pagbutihan mo pa Ma’am.
Yeheey!!!!!
Sir Raul O. Gonzales : We will look at the TV stations’ franchises if they violated any conditions of their franchises.
Go ahead, stoneface! Close GMA and ABS-CBN, now! Better yet, include ABC, UNTV, NET25 too! You have been itching to do that since February last year, remember, taking over “utilities” in times of emergencies?
Sampot,
I’d like to hear Hysterical Katrina Legarda bitching again, this time against Jalosjos’ scheduled commutation. She sent him to jail for raping a child prostitute whose pimp-stepfather’s blackmail attempt against Jalosjos went sour. Jalosjos isn’t even 70, Katrina can now train her guns and spit venom at Gloria.
On the latest Transparency International ratings, 32% of those suveyed admitted they had to offer bribes in exchange for service. Unbelievable!
Only 32%?
Re: Transparency International Corruption Index lists Philippines as # 10 most corrupt.
Mali ‘yan, Pinas under Glue is definitely no.1!
Baka meron na namang lumakad para maging no. 10 man lang!
Tingnan ko nga kung magyayakyak si Katrina Legarda ngayon. Kung hindi ay siguradong bayad na rin siya!
Sori for my ‘lapse of memory’, who’s Manero na nga?
“GMA plans to proceed to Kuwait to plead with the Emir for Ranario’s release”.
If it was merely a “plan” why did they have to announce it?
Papogi lang, para masabing may ginagawa siya para sa OFW? O pumayag na yung pamilya nung napatay na palayain si Ranario, kailangang nandoon muna siya bago i-announce? Hindi pa nga sigurado, nagsisikand-thot pa, di ba Serge Apostol?
Sir Raul O. Gonzales : We will look at the TV stations’ franchises if they violated any conditions of their franchises.
**********************
Typical airhead blabber. Franchises are granted and revoked (repeal is the term used) by Congress (Section 11, Art XII, Const.)
So the executive is now the whole Congress? To answer my own question, yes. After all, nabili na ang majority. Money talks; Pinoy legislators listen.
Hi Tongue,
Re: “Dick Pascual’s column yesterday mentioned that the porky couple was going to talk bridges. Mabey & Johnson, he said, had strong connections in Buckingham.”
Did he?
Don’t know if there are strong connections but if the principal owner of Mabey&Johnson that was once nondescript UK businessmen was knighted, not because they have “strong” connections to Buckingham but strong connections to a political party and were good enough to have made huge donations — suspect they have connections with Labour Party under Tony Blair (the guy that Peter Brookes, political illustrator for The Times described as being “Purer than pure horse shit”).
The story is that MabeyJohnson amassed their fortune largely from deals with the Philippines.
Other stories:
That Mabey&Johnson have now extended their claws in New Guinea through Gloria Macapagal, that contract to supply bridges to Papua was signed between M&J big boss and New Guinea president or PM in the presence of Gloria during her birthday party in Malacanang a couple of years ago.
That Mabey&Johnson “gifted” the Arroyos with properties in London.
That UK NGO have been trying to trace properties and couldn’t find a link. That M&J are facing a probe in the UK for suspicion of bribing foreign govt officials using UK taxpayers’ money (funding for bridges were through UK grants.)
Incidentally, a few months ago, I believe right in Ellen’s blog or in a Malaya news about the martial problems between Iggy Arroyo and wife, the latter anodynely made mention that about the properties in London in Iggy Arroyo’s name.
Sadly, I couldn’t find the said article anymore or I would have sent it to the NGO — because that could be a lead or could provide the missing link.
Re Mabey&Johnson — here are some links:
British family firm accused of getting rich by building bridges to nowhere
· Philippines ’squandering’ aid on pointless structures
· UK government criticised for supporting company
· Read the documents here
David Leigh and Rob Evans
Tuesday December 20, 2005
The Guardian
A little-known family who became one of the richest in Britain have been accused of making excessive profits in an aid project, by building what their critics call “bridges to nowhere”.
A Guardian investigation has discovered that steel bridges costing more than £400m have been sold to the Philippines by the Mabey family, all secured with UK government-backed loans and grants. But many of the crossings, which were supposed to open up the flood-prone jungle terrain, have no roads to go with them.
http://www.politics.guardian.co.uk/foi/story/0,9061,1671092,00.html
Another one: http://www.image.guardian.co.uk/sys-files/Guardian/documents/2005/12/19/IR0545docsforrelease.pdf
Excerpts from Rob Evans report:
Analysis of M&J’s accounts show that the Philippine contracts have returned an exceptionally high rate of profit and turned the Mabey family into Britain’s 141st richest. They have the former Conservative trade minister John Redwood on their payroll as an investment adviser, and donate to the Conservative party.
In Manila, the company is even better connected politically. Mabey would not name its agent, to whom it has passed millions of pounds in commission. However, he is a businessman, Teodorico Haresco, who is close to President Arroyo.
Some more: “Analysis of the company’s accounts shows that the dramatic leap in fortunes has come largely from its Philippine contracts, worth £429m and all funded by UK-backed loans. In the last five years it has booked £137m in trading profits, whereas 10 years ago, it was making less than £3m a year. Mabey & Johnson’s operating profit margins have tripled to more than 30%.”
My take: Difficult to contradict Rob Evans — he’s a very astute journalist and if he says, Maybe&Johnson had ex-Conservative trade minsiter Redwood on M&J payroll, then Redwood must have lobbied hard for M&J owner to be knighted as well as allowed easy access to Ministry of Trade’s foreign grants.
“Puno wants the footage, let him go to court.” – atty36252.
I agree. The court interprets the law.
SFO studies corruption claims against UK bridge builders
David Leigh and Rob Evans
Wednesday December 21, 2005
The Guardian
The Serious Fraud Office is examining allegations of possible corruption involving the British bridge-building firm Mabey and Johnson in both the Philippines and Iraq, it has emerged.
The Guardian yesterday revealed that the firm, controlled by the Mabey family, has been accused of over-charging to build £400m worth of Philippines bridges which critics say “go nowhere” and have no roads connected to them.
The SFO is looking at allegations of graft levelled by local campaigners against Philippine officials and “private persons”.
A UN inquiry recently accused Mabey and Johnson of paying illicit kickbacks to win a contract from Saddam Hussein’s regime between 2001 and 2003.
Wait, alam nyo bang gigil na gigil sa media ang “move-on” crowd dahil imbis matuon sa OA nilang reaction kay Trillanes ang mga balita, napunta sa police harrassment ng media ang mga kwento? Nagmukha pang gago yung mga humarap sa meeting. Hahaha!
Pagkatapos, pumutok pa yung balitang 34 na Congressmen na nag-junket kasama ng mga syota, anak, pati lezbo lover, naubusan sila agad ng gana sa hate campaign nila vs AT4.
Ang pamatay, yung bagong P900M air transportation…ULIT! P900M air transportation consultancy contract na pinirmahan ng walang kasing-kapal na si DOTC Sec. Mendoza noong isang linggo. Japanese funded, ergo, Japanese-supplied, walang bidding.
Tangna, ZTE din yan, walang kadala-dala ‘tong hayup na ‘to! P900M para sa consultant pa lang? Magkano na naman ang letseng uutangin para sa buong project?
O, paano yan, let’s move on na lang uli? Hindi papayag si Yulo niyan!
Firm faces bribery allegations
Guardian, Thursday July 29 2004
David Leigh and Rob Evans
The British authorities are examining allegations that a firm controlled by the Mabeys, one of Britain’s richest families, paid bribes to gain a lucrative contract to build 116 bridges all over Papua New Guinea. The company strongly denies it. The Metropolitan police said it had referred the Papua allegations to “another agency”, understood to be the Serious Fraud Office. (…)
(…) population centres,” he said. Published accounts of the Mabey bridge-building subsidiary, Mabey & Johnson, show it stands to make a profit approaching (…)
Select Committee on Trade and Industry Written Evidence
APPENDIX 4
Further memorandum by the Corner House
Continue reading here: http://www.parliament.the-stationery-office.co.uk/pa/cm200506/cmselect/cmtrdind/1124/1124we05.htm
INTRODUCTION
The Corner House is a not-for-profit research and advocacy group, focusing on human rights, environment and development. Over the past six years, it has closely monitored the policies and operations of the UK Export Credits Guarantee Department (ECGD) with regard to corruption.
The Corner House is pleased to submit evidence to the Committee in relation to the support provided by the Export Credits Guarantee Department (ECGD) to the UK exporter Mabey & Johnson for a bridge-building programme in the Philippines. The bridge-building contracts are the subject of allegations of corruption and over-pricing in the Philippines. These came to light following a complaint filed at the Ombudsman by the Philippine NGO, Sinag ng Bayan Foundation in 2005.
The Corner House considers that the case illustrates a number of points that are relevant to the questions posed by the Committee:
AGENTS
It is alleged that the agent used by Mabey & Johnson was a member of the President’s Bridge Programme (PBP). This demonstrates the value of the steps taken by the ECGD to require exporters requesting ECGD support to provide the ECGD with the name of any agent involved in the transaction that has been appointed by or on behalf of the exporter. It also underlines the need for the ECGD to go further and require exporters to provide information on the relationship between the agent and the buyer of the exporter’s goods or services and to include the use of the local diplomatic mission for obtaining local knowledge on agents in its “Special Handling Procedures”.
According to Corner House, UK anti-corruption watchdog, in their report to House of Commons
“M&J’s former agent, Mr Ted Haresco (see Annex 1C), until recently was concurrently a member of the President’s Bridge Programme (“PBP”) committee which was part of the Office of the President. He was therefore highly influential in determining which suppliers should be awarded contracts. As the PBP has now been moved to DPWH, this is no longer the case and Mr Haresco has been elevated to Business Development Director of M&J’s Philippine operations. However, why was he allowed to play such an influential role in contract awards for so long when he was in the pay of M&J?”
Hindi papayag si Yuko …
Thanks, Anna. Ayan kumpleto iyan!
“But the Question here, the case in the Philippines was Pure Harassment, because they did it without even a single charges filed after and no formal apology for the heavy handed methods of doing it and not even citing a statute or law under which the action was taken, but instead more threats of the future arrests.” – Vic
Police can arrest anybody at the scene if you don’t comply police instruction. It is universal – be it in UK, US, Canada or Philippines. A charge is only necessary if you have to stay in jail longer than what is allowed by law without charge (varies between countries). Announcing future arrests is public information. Press can call it harrassment. I doubt the court will touch it, it is not substantive issue.
From the net, profile of Mr Mr. Teodorico Haresco Jr.,
Excerpts:
….one of the nineteen most outstanding Filipinos who have contributed to the development of the Philippines through their commitment, dedication, and love of the country – “The British Legacy to the Philippines – 425 years of Philippine-British Relations”
….conceptualized the President’s Bridge Programme (PBP) as a parallel intervention to regular government infrastructure programmes. This very successful reengineering model in the Philippine is being duplicated in Sri Lanka, Papa New Guines, Cambodia, Siberia and other parts of Asia.
…Director of Asia Pacific Business Development for Mabey and Johnson, Teodorico Haesco was a vital factor in the Special Zone in Peace and Development Bridges of Hope- President’s Bridge Program completing 526 bridges nine months ahead of scheduled, materials savings for over more bridges and the first Philippine bridge project with no cost-overruns.
continue reading here: http://www.network54.com/Forum/5345/message/1159932409/Teodorico+Haresco,+Jr+Profile
He is also included in Congress Watch Report:
No. 97 – 30 November 2004
The President’s Men
Teodorico Haresco, Jr. PNOC Board member
http://www.mbc.com.ph/congresswatch/cwrep/cwrarchive/cw97/cw97_p2.htm
The Office Of The President – News Page
Leading the awardees were two business luminaries—Teodorico Haresco for the Pilar Category … http://www.op.gov.ph/printerfriendly.asp?newsid=16382 – 5k
Tongue,
It would be great if any of Ellen’s readers could track that article about the marital debacles between Iggy Arroyo and his wife wherein the wife speaks of their properties, citing among them the property/ies in London in Iggy Arroyo’s name.
Then can pass it on to: unicorn@againstcorruption.org in the UK.
Thanks.
I think I found it but can’t find original Inquirer article:
http://www.frjessie.wordpress.com/2007/06/27/wife-sues-iggy-arroyo-over-depletion-of-p127m-in-assets/
Excerpts:
She listed the assets they owned as of 2005: Three houses in Las Vegas, Nevada; two properties in La Vista subdivision, Quezon City (she said that the second property — an 8,000-square-meter lot — was supposedly being encroached on by the houses of the First Couple’s two sons, Mikey and Dato Arroyo); two condominium units; lots in Muntinlupa, Tagaytay and Subic, and two haciendas in Negros Occidental province.
She said she had also been informed that the lawmaker recently acquired other assets, including a house in San Juan City, A FLAT IN LONDON, two condominium units in Metro Manila, a property in Arizona and another condominium unit in Boston, Massachusetts.
“However, these properties were not declared by the respondent in his SAL filed in 2007,” she said in her petition.
“Dodong, why do we have to make an analogy between two systems, when their conditions are vastly different. In the Philippines, what we have is a system that is being molded in the image of a person. It is, at best, a wrong copycat.” – hawaiianguy.
Because in large part, Philippine laws and government (3 co-equal branches) are copycats. I disagree on the image of a person due to the fact that anybody can be a President and the rules are still the same. The problem is that the sitting president has taken advantage of majority number in legislature to kill impeachment by pork barrel. That is legal. US has that too. The independent judiciary understand the legality too. The disconnect is the constituents reactions to their elected congressmen who received the pork barrel and save the President. By local government code, the constituents can recall a congressman. Democracy is rule by majority. Unfortunately, that majority tolerated the congressmen whose majority sided with President. You can call it tyranny by majority as imperfection of democracy.
“The larger issue about the press, I believe, is whether it should be tolerated or suppressed. Rambunctious though it may be, curtailing it publicly or subtly is unacceptable to those who love freedom. For me, I prefer a rambunctious press to a government that liquidates noisy journalists (reminder: the Philippines is the second most dangerous place in the world next to Iraq, for journalists)”. – hawaiianguy.
Most people don’t see the press as being suppressed since the fact that they can print what they want. The arrest is grounded as being on the scene and refusal to vacate the scene for police operation.
I agree that journalists is the most dangerous profession in Philippines next to Iraq. But it is a localized problem and widespread. A local politician can make a hit against another powerful local politician with impunity, the risk is even greater with a journalist without any protection at all. The LGU setup has adverse effect on journalism since the local leader will endorse a local police chief who will likely wash an investigation on possible journalist hit by local leader.
“reminder: the Philippines is the second most dangerous place in the world next to Iraq, for journalists”
In the Philippines, there is the pattern of picking up the weakest point -individual capacity. I will illustrate some samples.
1. Journalist hit (to silence him) by local politicians.
2. Code of conduct charges against a policeman (to remove from service) carrying out an order instead of his suprerior.
3. Warrant of arrest on saleman to prevent collection instead of expensive litigation cost against a company.
4. Bank file charges against employee to recover cost through salary deduction on bad customer loan which should have been a company loss.
I have seen these in the Philippines so deplorable.
“The problem is that the sitting president has taken advantage of majority number in legislature to kill impeachment by pork barrel.”
This affirms the fact that Philippine politics is image or person oriented. Loyalty to the person, rather than to the party or nation, is what counts most. Like it or not, that’s what we have in our political system – a system of patronage. Personal loyalty, which money summons, becomes the driving force to prop up an immoral and illegal president, never mind what it costs the nation.
Your name “Dodong” suggests to me that you are possibly a Cebuano, like Dodong Nemenzo, who is from Cebu. Over there, and in Mindanao, it is customary to hear of young kids saying “ayaw ko Marcosa ha?” (don’t deceive me, ok?) – an anecdotal evidence of a lingering, everyday politics that centers on a “strongman” image (Marcos), that is, one who exploits others.
“That is legal (pork barrel).” Yes, certainly. But it is also immoral. Ask CBCP Bishop Lagdameo. The motto in Philippine politics now is this: “pera-pera.” Pork barrel is very true to form, “bariles-bariles na kuwarta sa baboy.”
“The disconnect is the constituents reactions to their elected congressmen who received the pork barrel and save the President.” Yes, because generally Filipino voters have yet to become informed, rational. Choice and free will are elusive elements, or many lightyears away. Hakot system, vote buying, and yes, “Hello Garci,” are still the norms.
Yes, we do have democracy. It lies in our ideals, but quickly slips away in practice.
“Our message should be clear and unanimous: The police MAY NOT go against the constitution and impede the freedom of the press.”- PRIVILEGE SPEECH by REP. MARCELINO “MARCY” R. TEODORO IN DEFENSE OF PRESS FREEDOM
With all his strong arguments for press freedom, the congressman from Marikina still qualified his statement with “MAY NOT” at the end in respect to inherent police power of the state.
A father to a child: “You MAY NOT leave the room!”
Command.
“The police MAY NOT go against the constitution and impede the freedom of the press.”
means exactly:
“The police IS NOT ALLOWED TO go against the constitution and impede the freedom of the press.”
conveying exactly this meaning:
“The police IS NOT PERMITTED TO go against the constitution and impede the freedom of the press.”
Check Oxford English A Practical English Grammar by AJ Thomson and AV Martinet, Oxford University Press
REP. MARCELINO “MARCY” R. TEODORO IN DEFENSE OF PRESS FREEDOM qualified his statement precisely to mean that the police is NOT ALLOWED to go against the consitution and impede the freedom of the press.
For those who disagree, I suggest they contact Messrs AJ Thomson and AV Martinet who wrote Oxford English A Practical English Grammar through Oxford University Press
Walton Street, Oxford OX DP
Ooops, Postal Code: OX2 6DP
Thanks, Anna.
The background information is that the bill of rights is set to limit the inherent powers of the state. The congressman understand that. Those rights including free speech are not absolute. There is supreme court ruling on that one already.
Hence, it was not worded as WILL NOT.
The right to free speech is not absolute. The Supreme Court has ruled that the government sometimes may be allowed to limit speech. For example, the government may limit or ban libel (the communication of false statements about a person that may injure his or her reputation), obscenity, fighting words, and words that present a clear and present danger of causing violence. The government also may regulate speech by limiting the time, place or manner in which it is made. For example the government may require activists to obtain a permit before holding a large protest rally on a public street.
dOdOng,
You’re welcome. Allow me to disgress — I think you will find that WILL NOT in that context, i.e., “The police MAY NOT go against the constitution and impede the freedom of the press.” connotes a much stronger meaning when “will not” is used as in the imperative, eg. “You shall not…”
If you put the phrase using the auxiliary “WILL” in the affirmative form using the 2nd person, eg., “You shall honour thy father and thy mother,” denotes absolute authority.
In my opinion, Rep Teodoro knew how to word his statement — typical English English (to distinguish from American English) way of delivery that one might hear during a debate or a session in the UK House of Commons.
Oh dear, didn’t pay attention to the entire phrase “Hence, it was not worded as WILL NOT.” but focused on “WILL NOT”.
Sorry for the unecessary explanation right above this.
The Spaniards awards their own kind, colonialist. For all I know, we are considered a colony of PGMA.
elen, alam mo ba kong bakit lately sumasang-ayon sa lahat na pinaggagawa at lahat na sinasabi ni sec puno si tatang ermita? kasi kapag pumalag pa siya ulit hindi na siya magpapalamig ng ulo sa new york kong hindi sa kanilang bahay, as in tatalbok siya sa malacanang. or in short, bye bye malacanang tatang ermita.
High time they put a bridge between Caticlan and Boracay. Those ferries are outriggered boats and never meet minimum safety stability requirements. The coast guard and Marina are closing their eyes for a long time now for political accommodation. Look what happened at Taal lake and elsewhere involving outriggers accidents carrying passengers. At least that bridge will lead somewhere.
Gloria and Puno-afraid of the (keyboard) pen? It appears so what with the coming up with rules on what and what not media can do. As if the gag orders to the cabinet members are not enough to suppress information, that they have to trespass to the world of the fourth estate and arrogantly told them of the upcoming rules when covering a “situation” with a threat of arrest and cuffs. If these are not obstruction of the flow of information, then we don’t have any name for it. Inspite of their thick hides comparable to a carabao or hippopotamus, somehow they still feel the piercing effect of the mighty pen of the press, thus they have to do something even if they will go against the constitution (they always do it anyway) which guarantees such freedom.
Freedom of information is the dissemination of information in which the public has a legitimate interest. In a democratic world, democracy is anchored on the premise of free and open discussion and debate of public issues. It guarantees the freedom to criticize the government, the police and military and all those who exercise power and authority in society. But all these guarantees mean nothing to them. They just want everybody to toe the line. When illegitimate rules are issued, it may only serve as a guide but not as a command and enforcing them to convince that this illegitimate and bogus government must not be challenged is deplorable and will more likely gather steam of dissent and protest. Members of the media are human beings, they know their job, they know what they are doing and they do not need to be told on what and what not to do.
Patience is a virtue but during these trying times it’s almost impossible. Maybe that’s what driven Trillanes et al. To Gloria and her henchmen what they saw in him is a dangerous rebel, but to others, he is an inspiration, and a hero. In giving himself up maybe some were turned-off but in the final analysis, it shows maturity, wisdom and bravery. Never mind the hecklers or catcalls. Just be practical, why waste yourself and why continue to fight when your chance is nil; give up yourself physically but not your ideals, beliefs and principles- live and fight another day.
Hi Chi,
Mr. Manero is a member of Ilaga group.
For your further INFO.
Vigilante Groups’ Revival: Back to the Dark Days of Anti-Communist Hysteria Statement of the Philippine Alliance of Human Rights Advocates March 10, 2000
Human rights organizations led by the Philippine Alliance of Human Rights Advocates express alarm over government’s renewed interest in the Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Units (CAFGUs). CAFGUs are formerly the Marcos-era’s Integrated Civilian Home Defense Units (ICHDF) with a new name. These paramilitary forces were responsible for thousands of massacres, killings, enforced disappearances, torture and rape of many Filipinos during their active service. One of the most notorious of these groups is the Manero brothers’ Ilaga group, now named the Christian Mercenaries Association.
In its 1993 report “CAFGUs Against Human Rights”, the Philippine Human Rights Information Center cited cases of paramilitary atrocities ranging from forced evacuation, to salvaging and cannibalism. The question of whether the victims were actually “communists” became irrelevant in the light of heinous criminal acts perpetrated against them. CAFGUs and other paramilitary formations were disbanded in 1997 not only because obviously they failed to help military efforts to contain communist insurgency, but has wreaked death and destruction with impunity, against the civilian population, victimizing mostly NGO workers, church workers, women and children.
Complaints against armed civilian vigilante groups have reached the UN Commission on Human Rights (UNCHR), and the International Labor Organization (ILO) in Geneva. The UN Working Group on Involuntary Disappearance sent a mission to the Philippines in 1990 and seriously recommended the disbandment of such groups in order to remedy cases of human rights violations. Cases of Trade Union rights violations were also cited by the ILO, which recommended to the Philippine government the disbandment of CAFGUs and prosecution of perpetrators.
Government assertions that CAFGU recruitment would be strict, is nothing new. Previous Aquino and Ramos administrations vowed an educated, disciplined and highly trained paramilitary group. The final product were salaried battalions of death squads who burned, pillaged, raped and murdered at will. Assurances of close military supervision is neither a relief, as one rots the other. The armed forces’ human rights record is not exactly clean.
Government’s helplessness in addressing criminality or rebellion will not be aided by reviving, or encouraging the revival of paramilitary structures. This will only aggravate the already deplorable human rights situation in the country. Not only will it put the Philippines in the “world’s most notorious” list once again, but would undermine official mechanisms already in place to deal with the same. Pahra urges government to seriously rethink its”vigilante mentality”, and avoid going back to the dark days of dictatorship once again.
Santos A. Lamban
PAHRA Secretary General
Good day to you D0d0ng/Adebrux,
I want to join in your discussion.
About, “Our message should be clear and unanimous: The police MAY NOT go against the constitution and impede the freedom of the press.”- PRIVILEGE SPEECH by REP. MARCELINO “MARCY” R. TEODORO IN DEFENSE OF PRESS FREEDOM
Rep. MRT is 100% correct, but GMA regime violated the sactity of our Constitution and Press Freedom.
They used the Military and the Police forces to overthrow
Pres. Erap gov’t.
The Constitution was trampled in the face of Erap, but no justice and fairness of judgment granted to him.
Where is justice? The Police violated our rights and our freedom of expression. Extrajudicial killings are rampant and still working against GMA enemies and critics.
The Police must be the one to protect our right and freedom.
chi,
Manero was the notorious cannibal who ate Fr. Tulio Favali’s liver.
TT,
Yeah, I’m waiting for her reactions, too. It would surely make her Christmas a merry one.
LEARNING THE HARD WAY!
by: Ninez Cacho-Olivares
The Daily Tribune, 12/07/2007
The one thing the Philippine media must learn, and learn well, is to fight for their rights, on principles and under the same standards, else, that which they ignored, on political partisan grounds, will eventually come to haunt them.
Take the memorandum circular issued then by the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) under the regime of Corazon Aquino.
While this was done due to the coup situation then led by then cashiered Col. Gregorio Honasan, it covered mostly electronic media, but was nevertheless an infringement on the constitutional guarantee of the freedom of the press.
The print media, being an independent enterprise, with no need for a stamp of congressional approval or franchise, were not, and are still not affected by that Aquino circular, yet some members of the print media fought against it, but somehow gave up the fight because electronic media were not fighting against that form of censorship from the Aquino government through the NTC circular. After all, if broadcast media didn’t fight for their right to be free, they couldn’t expect the print media to do the fighting for them.
Call it what the regime then wanted to call it, but the fact remains that while the coup was ongoing, media, both print and broadcast, were doing their job, which was covering the event, even at the risk of life and limb. Yet when this circular which was clearly a blatant form of government censorship was issued, not even the electronic media fought against it fiercely, mainly because the press, both print and broadcast, were largely being protective of Cory Aquino.
Truth to tell, the media were so politically partisan in the matter of Cory Aquino that even the pro-administration media were critical of any and all opposition media that were doing their job as media.
During Fidel Ramos’ time, as he had offered amnesty to the rebel soldiers who were involved in the coups against Aquino, there was largely no need to refer to the memorandum circular as this was not even in the consciousness of media.
Now, with the petticoat tyrant in power, and with her dictatorial ways, media are fighting back, the first fight under Gloria being her declaration of emergency rule, where the Daily Tribune was raided and where the chief of police made it clear that he would be taking control of the editorial content of the paper, and where broadcast media were asked by the government to stop their coverage of the Edsa I’s 21st anniversary along with the Marines standoff, where there were threats to the broadcast media’s freedoms issued.
Again, the issue died, and there has been no move on the part of Congress to eliminate that circular, despite the case having reached the high court.
Now comes the Gloria regime, using the iron hand to cow the journalists, by getting them rounded up, arrested and cuffed, for doing their job in covering the big story, which was the Manila Peninsula mutiny staged by detained Sen. Antonio Trillanes lV and refusing to heed the police’s orders to leave the premises.
And now come again the threats from government of taking away the franchise and the license of the electronic media as the rules in the circular were not followed and as the media were claimed to have been obstructing justice. And media are up in arms, and rightly so. And this time around, the media are united in their fight for their rights and freedoms.
The thing to do, despite the circulars and government threats is for the media to keep on fighting for their right to do their jobs, and blow the government’s claim of obstruction of justice, because it is this Arroyo government that has been obstructing justice, and continues to obstruct justice.
The people’s right to know — by way of the media coverage, whether print or broadcast, is superior to some silly circular that is meant, not to protect and defend the people, but to protect a bogus government that is moreover into suppressing the rights and freedoms not only of the media, but of the Filipino people at large.
Just what kind of circular is that which calls for a stop to broadcasting activities on claims of treasonous and subversive? That is patently an illegal and unconstitutional circular since it is not the executive that judges whether any act or utterance is treasonous, seditious or subversive.
If such meanings are left to the executive that is hated by the people, then everything and anything negative aired or published against her and her government would be deemed seditious, subversive and treasonous.
More to the point, Gloria and her government have no moral ascendancy to even invoke the crimes of treason and rebellion, and subversion and sedition.
Gloria and her civil society mounted a coup d’etat and ousted a constitutionally elected and popular government and media, which was so anti-Estrada, covered this, for days.
At the time of Gloria’s unconstitutional coup, she thought it right for media to give her full coverage. But now that she sits in Malacañang, she wants media choked off.
Both media and government should learn their lessons well. The same standards must always apply.
# Sampot Says:
December 7th, 2007 at 7:23 pm
chi,
Manero was the notorious cannibal who ate Fr. Tulio Favali’s liver.
***
OMG, ang Gloria will release him? Satan will release the son!
“Manero was the notorious cannibal who ate Fr. Tulio Favali’s liver.” Chi, meron pa nalimutan sabihin si Sampot. Kinain din ni Manero ang utak ni Fr. Tulio, parang BOPIS!
Ellen,
Re: “Arrest of media men will be the rule: Puno”
Total intimidation tactic na yan!