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This is the video

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

faeldon-and-batnag.jpg

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

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

By Alcuin Papa, Nikko Dizon
Philippine Daily Inquirer

The Philippine National Police came under fire Wednesday for allegedly engaging in a witch-hunt in an attempt to justify a tough stand against journalists reporting on coups and other crisis situations and deflect criticism that its move infringed on press freedom.

After weeks of insinuating that a female journalist helped Marine Capt. Nicanor Faeldon escape during the Peninsula Manila standoff last Nov. 29, the PNP finally leaked to the Philippine Daily Inquirer the name of the alleged culprit while officially withholding confirmation.

Two PNP officers, who spoke on condition of anonymity, claimed Tuesday that Dana Batnag, a reporter of the Tokyo-based news agency Jiji Press, had provided Faeldon with a press card and that he allegedly used it to slip out of the hotel.

The officers said that the act of the woman with a curly hair was captured in news footage taken by a crew of the sequestered television network RPN-9.

However, a clip provided the Inquirer Wednesday shows a woman, said to be Batnag, apparently interviewing Faeldon in the hotel and not handing him a press card. She appears to be holding a tape recorder instead. Also, her hair was not curly.

Marigold Haber-Dunca, RPN-9 News and Current Affairs director, said in a statement the footage showed “Faeldon in one corner of the Peninsula lobby, speaking with one lady reporter.”

This was apparently before police using an armored personnel carrier and tear gas ended the seven-hour takeover of the Peninsula by rebel soldiers.

Dunca said the footage was taken accidentally. She said the network was not taking sides and was making the TV clip available to anyone in the interest of transparency.

‘My conscience is clear’

She said the network submitted raw footage of the Peninsula siege to the PNP in compliance with a subpoena.

“I am honored to be one of the victims in the government’s witch-hunt against the media. But my conscience is clear for I have done nothing wrong,” Batnag said in a text message to the Inquirer Wednesday.

She said she had not been informed by the police that she was a suspect in Faeldon’s escape.

“I appeal to the authorities to file the proper charges before the courts to prove that this is a government of laws,” she said.

Scapegoat

Faeldon’s lawyer, Trixie Cruz-Angeles, said the PNP was using a woman as a “scapegoat.”

“They are putting the blame on someone else to negate their liability that with 1,500 Marines and 500 cops at Manila Pen, one woman succeeds in helping Faeldon escape, as they claimed … They are trying to excuse themselves from the culpability,” Angeles told the Inquirer in a phone interview.

She recalled that police arrested some 30 journalists at the end of the standoff against former Navy Lt. Antonio Trillanes IV, now a senator, allegedly because one of them had helped Faeldon escape. But she said at that time authorities did not know that Faeldon was no longer in the hotel.

“The insinuation is the media are coconspirators,” Angeles said. “It is distracting us from the main issue, which is press freedom.”

Intimidation campaign

The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines, in a statement issued by its chair, Jose Torres Jr., accused the PNP of engaging in an “insidious campaign” to “intimidate media and control the flow of information.”

“We challenge the police to show the RPN footage that it claims shows Batnag helping Faeldon. We challenge them to file the case if they have a case to file. Otherwise, they should stop the witch-hunting and rumor-mongering done behind the skirt of anonymous and unofficial sources,” Torres said.

Earlier, veteran journalists Ellen Tordesillas of Malaya and Ces Drilon of ABS-CBN slammed the PNP for insinuating that they were involved in Faeldon’s escape.

Faeldon, 42, was among those arrested and charged with rebellion in connection with the 2003 Oakwood mutiny. He escaped in December 2005 and was recaptured a month later. Following the Peninsula incident, a P1-million reward was put up for his capture.

Revelations about the alleged involvement of media in Faeldon’s escape came amid claims by Malacañang and police officials of a new threat to oust President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and warnings journalists covering emergencies face arrest.

ABS-CBN news people have gone to the Supreme Court to contest the threat of future arrests.

‘It’s about time’

Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez said Wednesday if the PNP had evidence against journalists involved in the Peninsula incident it should furnish evidence so that his department could prosecute them.

Published inMediaMilitaryNov. 29 incident

339 Comments

  1. Brownberry Brownberry

    The photo tells me as if the reporter was only asking Faeldon his date of birth. Nasaan ang Press ID na sinasabi nila? Ang hawak ng lady reporter isang tape recorder. Obviously, Faeldon was just being interviewed. Iyan lang ba ang maipapakita nila at ipinagyayabang?

  2. Please pass this message to all Filipinos:

    Stop destroying our sacred institutions. Defend the PRESS and STOP all forms of harrassments.

    The political system has been corrupted, the military and police have been divided, the courts and the church have also been compromised.

    Now, the FOURTH ESTATE, the last bastion of democracy is under attack. LET US UNITE AND STAND TOGETHER TO DEFEND PRESS FREEDOM.

  3. chi chi

    ‘Yan lang ba?! Dana with a tape recorder(?) listening to Capt. Nick.

    With so many people around them, how could they talk of making an escapo?!

    Bakit pa pinatagal na ilabas ang video, wala naman palang binatbat!

  4. Bwahahahahahaha! May tokis ba? Dana should write an article about this and submit it to Jiji Press.

    Hindi naman curly ang buhok ni Dana. Saan nakuha ng mga ungas ang kuwentong kutsero nila? Nakakahiya!

    Calling, calling, Sherlock Holmes! Puede na rin siguro si Mr. Bean!

  5. Chi, you asked, “Bakit pa pinatagal na ilabas ang video, wala naman palang binatbat!”

    Kaya nga hindi mailabas-labas eh. Ginamit lang sa fishing and witch-hunting.

  6. chi chi

    OK, I’ll pass the message to all my friends and relatives at kung sino pa ang abutin. Will ask them to pass it on…

  7. Brownberry Brownberry

    Alam mo Chi, knowing how these idiots’ brains work they would say the photo was only a prelude to more photos they’re keeping. Hindi muna daw nila ilalabas ang mga iba para gawing ebidensiya later. Ewan ko na talaga…time is running short. If there’s going to be a revolution, it has to be NOW. Lalo na’t balita natin na si Esperon pala bata ni FVR. So, FVR is the mastermind and the real bad guy behind the scene. His men are all around government agencies…Ermita, Mendoza, Lastimosa, Esperon. Kaya kung tutuusin, simula pa nang napatalsik si Erap, ang tutoong talagang nagpapatakbo itong si FVR at dummy lang niya si GMA. Agree ba kayo sa ganyang observation?

  8. Thanks, Chi.

  9. Considering binigyan nga ni Dana ng Press card si Faeldon, papaano pa rin siya nakalusot doon sa cordon when everybody knew him kahit na siguro maglagay siya ng wig gaya noong guard ng Makati. Golly, isa lang ang ibig sabihin ng evidence na ito sa totoo lang! Ang linaw naman. Lutong makaw!

    Puede ba tigilan na nila ang pang-iinsulto sa kapwa nila mga pilipino? Tamaan sana sila ng kidlat. Ilabas na lang nila si Faeldon, puede ba?

  10. chi chi

    Ay naku, tigilan na ng PNP ang “fishing and witch-hunting”, magtrabaho na kayo hoy! Sayang lang ang pinasusweldo namin sa inyo!

  11. Malaya’s editorial:

    Insinua-tions and innuendos against the institution of a free press won’t do. They should put up or shut up.’

    Government officials have finally suc-ceeded in getting a rise on their fishing expedition against a reporter who they alleged helped Capt. Nicanor Faeldon escape from the Manila Peninsula as an assault force, spearheaded by an armored carrier personnel, broke into the hotel. This after weeks of keeping the industry guessing as to the identity of the reporter and placing a question mark over the credibility of all the journalists at the scene.

    Dana Batnag, a correspondent of the Japanese news agency Jiji Press, has come out on record to deny the allegation.

    (Ellen Tordesillas, our chief of reporters, was among the early suspects. We knew Ellen was clean, so we have had no sleepless nights over her possibly being haled to court as government officials threatened. And if the intention was to intimidate Ellen – or other staffers of this newspaper, for that matter – they could not have picked on the least likely media man or woman to succumb to the chilling effect of a accusation naming no one and, in the process, indicting everyone.)

    Batnag’s denial, however, has not removed the Damocles sword hanging over the heads of the members of the industry.

    While Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez said Batnag should come clean, he did not categorically say it was she who was allegedly caught by an in-house camera giving Faeldon a press ID which served as his safe conduct pass through the police lines. PNP chief Avelino Razon also continued to play coy, saying they would name the suspect only after a clearance has been secured from Gonzalez.

    It’s the hoary McCarthy trick. McCarthy stood on the floor of the US House and waived a piece of paper which he claimed listed prominent American citizens in government, in the academe, in the arts and in entertainment field who were “card-carrying” communists.

    McCarthy named no one, but the witch hunt that followed would mark a shameful page in the history of American adherence to libertarian principles.

    That Gonzalez and Razon would resort to the same tactic speaks volumes about the character of the administration they serve. The previous tactic was to tag everybody who does not agree with the Arroyo administration as a destabilizer or at least an accomplice. But at least, one knows where one stands. In the case of the “mystery” reporter, everybody is a suspect with no way of confronting his accuser.

    Gonzalez and Razon should name their suspect and file charges. Insinuations and innuendos against the institution of a free press won’t do.

    They should put up or shut up.

  12. Ellen,

    Will pass the message to my friends in the Japanese media. I’ll send a package of these news items from Malaya, Tribune, Inquirer, etc. to the Nippon Press Club, the info cartel in Japan, where Jiji Press is an active and powerful member.

    Kahayupan na ito. Kakakulo ng dugo!

  13. chi chi

    Parang sine noh?! Ginawa pa ng PNP na nakatakas si Capt. Nick sa tulong ng isang babae. Wow, ganda sana ng anggulo. Kaya lang ay palpak ang ending ng PNP dahil ang kanilang mga ginawang sangkalan sa kanilang drawing-drawing ay mga bravadas at hindi natu-tyope sa kanilang ka-matsutsuhan!

    Kakahiya ang PNP! Sige, balik na kayo sa trabaho!

  14. chi chi

    De nada, Ellen. Basta makakatulong kahit kapiranggot.

  15. One thing I’ve learned as interpreter/translator cum investigator in the Japanese police re the mind of criminals is that they try not to leave any evidence.

    Palibhasa hindi naman kasi mga tunay na imbestigador at pulis ang mga sundalo kaya palpak ang trabaho. Nangangapa sabi nga. Taragis, ang linaw-linaw naman na ini-interview lang si Faeldon. Tignan mo naman ang tayo ni Faeldon. Sumasagot lang sa tinatanong ni Dana.

    Ang dapat na i-demand ng mga pilipino ay kung saan nila dinala si Faeldon. Narinig naman natin iyong ginawa nila sa mga sundalo na hinubaran pa ba ng salawal? Aba, kung ako kay Faeldon, magwawala rin ako. Baka ganoon nga ang nangyari at niligpit na nila iyong tao. Tapos isip sila ng palusot. Tinarget si Ellen una dahil akala nila pipitsugin siya. O loko, di pahiya sila!

    Apparently, hindi rin nila kilala ang pinapasukan ni Dana. Walang binatbat iyong advertising agent ni Dorobo diyan. Kahit kano alam na malakas ang Jiji Press kahit sa China!

    Malaking info cartel ang Jiji Press gaya ng Kyodo News Service. Natural lang na mag-take advantage si Dana na makakuha ng scoop by interviewing one of the main figures in that kangaroo court trial and standoff.

    Puede ba kung mag-iimbento sila ng istorya, iyong kapanipaniwala naman? Taragis naman nagmumukhang mokong, gunggong and worse, kriminal na tulad ni Dorobo na tuloy ang lahat ng pulis at sundalo ng Pilipinas. Kaya nga hindi na takot sa kanila iyong mga intsik!

    In short, BOBO talaga!

  16. parasabayan parasabayan

    Talaga naman itong mga alipores ni DOROBO, walang mapagdiskitahan.
    Hindi ba tayo nakakahalata na itong mga alipores ni DOROBO ay gumagawa lang ng mga kwentong kutsero para mabaling ang galit natin sa kanila at hindi kay DOROBO? In the end wala din talagang katotohanan kaya lang, they succeeded in shielding the DOROBO from the criticisms. This is their modus operandi in the EK. When there are issues like the DOROBO going out of the country to brag on her “economic success” kuno, her lap dogs make up stories to distract us from the main issues so the DOROBO will be free from our criticisms. They have mastered this art of distraction so no one will pay attention to the lies of the DOROBO!

    The real issue is this illegitimate acting president DOROBO! Do not lose the ball!

  17. Valdemar Valdemar

    So what if people or in this case women are associated with any high profile suspects are cavorting with each other socially, or in pursuance of a job or duty, will it make them also criminally suspects? Will it put the priest in the same light taking secret confessions? Or Gonzales (not Raul) at his back door negos?
    or love ones or flirts and the other woman innocently adding romantics to their relationship? Unless the authorities stoop low now on malice for lack of concrete and more decent evidences.

  18. Sinabi mo pa, Chi. Halata naman scripted na may romantic angle pa. Talaga naman! Insulto sa mga pilipino na akala nila kakagat sa bakyang-bakyang kuwentong kutsero nila. Yuck!

  19. chi chi

    BB,

    I dont’ give too much attention about the real figure/s running Pinas. Basta ang alam ko ay si Gloria Pidal, ang pekeng presidente, ang nakapronta na nagpipidal lahat ng kapalpakan.

    At dahil siya ang presidente kuno, siya ang dapat na umako sa accountability at responsibility ng mga nangyayari sa Pinas. Command responsibility baga, hindi ‘yung pakendeng-kendeng lang sa entablado ng mundo. Kaya siya ang sentro ng aking mga poste at ggggrrrrrr!

  20. BTW, ano na ang nangyari sa NBI? Bakit hindi na pumapapel at iyong mga sundalo na lang ang playing pulis-pulisan? I bet you maraming mga tunay na pulis na patay nang hindi mapakali sa kanilang mga libingan sa mga kabulastugang ito ng tuta ni Dorobo!

  21. BTW, Ellen, the photo above does not look like some photo taken through the surveillance video of the Manila Pen. Ang linaw na kuha sa ibaba by someone there when everyone from the media would want to get an interview or two. Ang gago naman! Please, puede ba patigilin na. Lalo lang nawawalan ng credibility ang mga ebidensiya kuno nila.

    Over here, case dismiss agad ang mangyayari agad sa ganyang trabahong pulpol ng mga pulis. Bagay naman kasi, dito tunay ang pulis, hindi pulis-pulisan!!! 😛

  22. Sinabi mo pa, Chi. Dapat inaako ni Gloria Dorobo ang lahat ng responsibilidad. Kaso iyong mismong legal responsibility nga niya ayaw niyang akuhin. Nakakagigil di ba?

  23. jojovelas2005 jojovelas2005

    not enough…baka naman calling card lang yun binigay ng reporter. It is very clear that she is just doing an interview.

  24. chi chi

    Walang maisip na gimmick ang PNP maliban sa McCarthy trick kasi ay ito lang ang kaya nila. Madali nga naman gawin, kesehodang libertarianism! Hindi naman nila naiintindihan ‘yan! Sunud-sunuran lang sila kay Gloria Pidal!

    Ayan, dahil sa nangungopya lang kay McCarthy ay sila ang na-korner! Hahaha! Naging commedy tuloy ang kanilang romance-drama action suspense thriller plot!

  25. Yuko, it’s in the story. Photo was taken by RPN 9. There is no CCTV video.

  26. E bakit sabi ni Gunggonzales, et al, may video. Still pictures na hindi naman puedeng gawing ebidensiya especially when the person they pinpoint is a qualified journalist who does similar interviews all the time. At bakit naman ibibigay ni Dana ang ID niya, aber? E di siya naman ang malilintikan lalo na kung nakasama siya doon sa hinakot sa camp afterward kung totoo ngang binigay niya ang ID niya kay Faeldon.

    Kung lumapit naman si Faeldon kay Dana, I doubt na ebidensiya iyon na may romantic relation sila ni Faeldon. Hindi lang sila magkarinigan ng husto kasi sa palagay ko maingay.

    In short, playing policemen ang mga bobo, palpak pa. Ngek!

  27. Ellen: Photo was taken by RPN 9. There is no CCTV video.
    ******

    Proof, Ellen, na wala silang ebidensiya. Nangangapa lang! Puede ba, ilabas na nila si Faeldon, dead or alive! Hindi na sila makakalusot sa mga taong nag-iisip at hindi nila madenggoy!

    Huwag nilang hintaying maghanap ng scoop ang Japanese media sa nangyayari sa staff ng Jiji Press. Diyan masisira si Dorobo ng husto!

  28. Patay na si McCarthy, Chi. Iyong mga aktibistang mga artista halimbawa, nakakalitaw na di gaya noon. Remember iyong binatikos ni George Clooney sa pelikulang siya ang nag-produce? Iyong “Goodnight and Good Luck”? Kulang na lang i-recognize nila ang mga komunista sa Tate sa totoo lang.

  29. Laski Laski

    Why all this fuss about the photo? This might be a diversionary tactic to steer the media away from the plight of Faeldon … who might be dead by now.

  30. Laski: This might be a diversionary tactic to steer the media away from the plight of Faeldon … who might be dead by now.

    *****
    Kaya nga sabi ko ilabas na nila si Faeldon! At saka si Jonas Burgos, iyong dalawang UP students, et al.

  31. Ano iyan sanay na sanay sila sa pagho-hoodlum. Wala nang takot maski sa Diyos. Here’s one proof FYI:

    —–Original Message—–
    Sent: Thursday, January 24, 2008 9:28 AM
    Subject: Photos/Text: Human rights advocates seek justice for Fr. Rey Roda

    Fr. Reynaldo Roda, school director of Notre Dame of Tabawan in Tawi-tawi, was killed on January 15, 2008 by armed men who tried to kidnap him.

    On January 23, the Interfaith for Human Rights Advocacy based in Mindanao or MIHRA organized a candlelighting for Fr. Roda at the Notre Dame University attended by faculty and students, non-government organizations and professionals.

    Please visit:

    http://www.arkibongbayan.org

    Arkibong Bayan Web Team

  32. chi chi

    Laski,

    Hindi lang ikaw ang nag-iisip ng ganyan. Ang video ay para patunayan nila na nakaeskapo si Capt. Nick, and then bigla ay …kayo na ang magtuloy. I refuse to entertain my thoughts!

  33. atty36252 atty36252

    Good point, Laski. Nakatakas nga bang talaga? O nadakip at tinago?

    Kung nakatakas yan, may paramdam at least, sa Magdalo, o sa website.

    Puwede ba, bigyan niyo ng press ID si Glo sa Davos? Pasensya na, nangangarap lang.

  34. vic vic

    If the Secretary of Justice, the PNP Chief and all officers responsible for the Pen fiasco still have decency left with them the least they can do is apologize, since it will take a Mac truck to drag them away from their coveted power tower and no power above have Guts to fire them up anyways..just apologize in public, even just for Show…

  35. PSB: Hindi ba tayo nakakahalata na itong mga alipores ni DOROBO ay gumagawa lang ng mga kwentong kutsero para mabaling ang galit natin sa kanila at hindi kay DOROBO?

    *****
    Sinabi mo pa, PSB. Dati na nilang modus operandi iyan para sa whitewashing ng to-be puntod ni Gloria Dorobo. Hindi nila alam lalo lang nabubulok ang bangkay doon. Konting panahon na lang siguro puputok na.

    Who knows, itong ginagawa nila sa staff ng Jiji Press, baka maging mitsa ng buhay ng rehimeng ito? Come to think of it, baka iyan naman ngayon ang balak ni Fidel—not Castro, si Ramos! 😛

  36. Sa totoo lang, Ellen, I could not help being amused thinking about you as the first suspect of the weirdos especially doon sa pinakalat na romantic angle between the journalist and Faeldon. Kung sabagay, age does not matter kahit na halimbawa mas matanda ka kay Faeldon. Ate ko nga, 20 years ang age difference doon sa TNT na huling asawa niya.

    Like Chi, I would feel flattered kung ako ang sinabing journalist na may romantic link kay Faeldon kaya lang nga hindi puede kasi may asawa ako and I would not like to be investigated in church and go through a church court kasi sa simbahan namin adultery is a ground for excommunication.

    Kung dalaga ako, payag ako kahit na omiai (brokered marriage). Golly, pogi na matapang pa! Kahit hindi ko type ang pinoy, papayag ako kung si Faeldon! 😉

    Kiss na lang siguro kung buhay pa siya at magtagumpay na masipa nila si Gloria Dorobo and Company!

  37. Truth is I wanna play grand Tita to these young fellows of the Magdalo ala-Tandang Sora. Remember that patriotic Katipunera of the famous “Cry of Balintawak”?

  38. hawaiianguy hawaiianguy

    How shallow!

    What evidence are they talking about? A reporter caught on video whispering to Faeldon is no evidence whatsoever of any malice or wrongdoing.

    How about Gloria talking to Garci 15 times, asking him “Will I still lead by more than 1 million votes?” To them, this is not evidence. It did not even exist.

  39. HG:

    Nakita mo ba ang picture ni Gloria Dorobo noon na muntik na silang mag-lips to lips ni Nani Perez? Iyon ang revealing. Pero itong litrato ni Faeldon at Batnag na lumapit lang si Faeldon dahil hindi sila siguro magkarinigan. Tapos ginawan na ng tsismis! Yikes! Yuck pa!

  40. Diego K. Guerrero Diego K. Guerrero

    Re: Faeldon in one corner of the Peninsula lobby, speaking with one lady reporter.

    Ano kung nag-uusap? Wala akong nakikitang conspiracy dito. Razon and SiRaulo Gonzalez are witch-hunting. Baka ang ibig sabihin ni SiRaulo may sariling helicopter si Dana Batnag kaya nakatakas si Capt. Faeldon. Palpak ang script. Ito’y maliwanag at isang uring media intimidasyon ang kanilang ginagawa.

  41. faeldon using a press identification card wouldn’t work anyway, because the police rounded up and arrested all the media people it could, hindi ba?

  42. Gossip – I submit that we are being used as bait because its in the interest of the very top leaders of the PNP to get people talking about anything other than their total incompetence at the Pen Hotel affair. In fanning this gossip the PNP at the same time appease the administration and judiciary in particular because it is these two institutions that allow the PNP to file cases without the necessary evidence, bend rules & regulation and break laws of the land. It is a known fact that in all countries their police service is only as good or bad as their government will allow. That’s why Japan, the United Kingdom and Singapore have an efficient law enforcement service by ensuring checks and balances transparent to the public with discipline and punishment of erring officers made public.
    The reason why street robbery, cars stolen at the point of a gun, banks and convenience stores robbed by the hour, rape, shootings, stabbings and murder are on the rise is because the PNP leaders know this administration puts more importance to rumor mongering in an attempt to keep them in power even for a day at a time. Besides it is easier to spread gossip than to reduce the crime rate, the later requires hard work.
    So, I believe that every time people comment on such unworthy gossip we play right into their hands, let them put up or shut up, its that simple.

  43. balweg balweg

    I guess Ka BB, the PNP is try to sabotage the media sector in order them to shut up their continous attacks to GMA and cohorts.

    I watched already that video footage and i wondered that this RPN 9 was a spy of some criminal element in the PNP/AFP thru the supervision of DOJ sickretary Gonzales.

    It’s ashamed for them to show that video footage just to implicates Ms. Dana about Capt. Faeldon disappearance. I suspected DOJ is trying to misled the people but i hope Capt. Faeldon safe and sound.

    The gov’t is using the PNP for their own dirty works and trying to implicate more personalities just to continue their evil and corrupt practices.

    We, sovereign Filipino people MUST be united against this evil DOJ con PNP/AFP practices, ang also we need to identified those media personality who supported the enchanted kingdom et al.

    Our camaraderie shall reborn again as united community even we have different ideas or dream for the best of our country.

    Hail Capt. Faeldon and co. together with a new promising Ms. Dana in the news front page “Video Tape the Movie”, now showing!

  44. Who’s falling for this gossip here? Nobody with sanity does, I guess. Binabatikos nga para hindi sila makalusot, because silence in fact serves this government well. Akala nila nakatakot na sila. Neknek nila! Nahahalata lang gunggong sila!

  45. It’s mere gossip apparently, but if it is meant to defame it is a criminal offense. It cannot be taken for granted. Dapat kasuhan.

    Over here defamation is a serious crime. The reason is because it can move the victim of slander to do something drastic like hang himself or jump from some tall building.

    Libel is another thing as a matter of fact. That is the one that can be tried in civil court in contrast with defamation or slander that is tried in criminal court.

    I guess it is a matter of morality and that strong sense of responsibility that people in the government of the dorobo must be lacking of or do not possess at all.

  46. balweg balweg

    Hi WWNL,

    You are correct about Gossip that still roaming around in our country? Instead these gov’t officials and PNP/AFP personnels concentrates in their owned specific job to be more efficient and effective to serve the gov’t and the people, but they are PASAWAY and hard-headed Pinoy who wanted to portray that we have strong Republic.

    Yaks, they are dreaming and ofcourse the gov’t become worst and worst since 2001 till now. Pinoy style politics really has no vision at all and ONLY lips service portrayings that we have strong corrupt Republic, and backwardness economy run by Trapo/Balimbing politicians.

    The Int’l community already downgraded our country from many things due to mismanagement of GMA regime and also pinpointed the miliraty establishment who are the real enemy of our people in accordance to human right violations (why? 800+ extrajudicial killings still not yet resolved up to this time).

    Now, what are we expecting for this regime? NOTHING! Majority of our Pinoyz wanted to kickout GMA from Malacanang but NO guts to unite and support those who led the withdrawal of supports to GMA gov’t.

    Lessons for ALL Pinoyz to be more matured and be a kind loving Filipino to attain our dreams to have a peacefull and progressive Philippines once and for all!

  47. balweg balweg

    Hi Ka Grizzy,

    RE: Dapat kasuhan?

    I wonder who will be charged in this messed? The DOJ, PNP/AFP and who else? It will be happened ONLY if the people of the Philippines put ALL of them in the people’s court because we don’t have any trusted courts existing in our country.

    Supreme Court is under with sickretary Gonzales and also Sandigan ni Gloria who convicted Erap. What else, i think nothing more due to illegitemacy of ALL appointed officials most in all gov’t institutions except those elected Senators/Congressman except Subiri.

    Let it be…let it be… watch the “Video Tape the Movie”, now showing…starring Capt. Faeldon and new promising star Ms. Dana the PEN!

  48. balweg balweg

    Hi Johnmarzan,

    I agree with you 101%!

    They are dreaming and continuously spitting their venom to victimatized those innocent media practitioners and civilians who symphatized and supported PEN standoff.

    What’s wrong if we Pinoys who are willing to support and help our Katipuneros? History it will repeats again and again, if our people will not learn from the past agonies and tyrannies done by some or few individuals who suppressed the freedom and civil rights of our people.

    Watch out their venoms still strong and can kills us anytime!

  49. balweg balweg

    Hi DKG,

    RE: Ano kung nag-uusap? Wala akong nakikitang conspiracy dito.

    Alam mo praning na ang mga iyan! Kulang kasi sa sleep dahil walang ginawa kundi mag tsismis na lang sa enchanted kingdom. Malig sigurong manood yan ng Boy & Kris, kaya ang laman ng brain eh tsismis, tuloy ginagawang showbiz ang enchanted kingdom para malibang ang mga Pinoy kasi nga eh buryong na at marami na ang kumakalam ang sikmura.

    Tingnan mo several armed Pinoys ang nangholdap ng banko, pero walang pulis-patola…kaya pala eh nasa harap ng kani-kanilang telebisyon at nanood ng Kapamilya o kaya Kapuso, yaks!

    Wala tuloy silang nahuli kahit isang kawatan? Pero ang gagaling nila na harasin ang mga taga-Media at ordinaring mamamayan, akal mo kung gasino sila kagaling eh.

  50. balweg balweg

    Kumusta ka na Hawaiianguy, busy ba sa trabaho!

    Do you know na ang video pala ng gusto nilang ilabas eh, now showing na sa Manila?

    …entitled, “VIDEO Tape the MOVIE!

    Starring : Capt. Faeldon
    Promising star : Ms. Dana the PEN
    Kontrabida : Sickretary Gonzales
    Music Organize By: RPN 9
    Produced by : GMA Enchanted Kingdom Production, Ltd.

    Ang lakas ng hatak sa takilya Pre!

  51. balweg balweg

    Ka Vic,

    You have a point, but i think MOST of our Kababayang Pinoyz doesn’t like them to stay more in the enchanted kingdom.

    Is too late for them to apologize due to the seriousness of all their allegations and accussations against our media practitioners and also to the Filipino people.

    They are buying times now to prolong their stay in the enchanted kingdom thru their dirty tricks manipulating the minds and hearts of innocent people who wanted ONLY a simple living, peaceful society and progressive Philippines…that’s ALL!

  52. balweg balweg

    Jojovelas2005,

    RE: not enough…baka naman calling card lang yun binigay ng reporter. It is very clear that she is just doing an interview.

    Tama ka, calling card lang yon….di ba practices na pagnagkita ang sinuman eh may konting tsikahan at pagkatapos eh magbigayan ng calling card. Ang galing mo Pre! Gets mo……

    Hay naku ako nga eh isang katutak na calling cards ang collection ko from different people and companies pa nga.

    Plano ko nga eh humingi ng calling card kay Capt. Faeldon, AT4, Gen. Lim para naman may souvenir di ba. Baka naman magtampo si sickretary at generals eh hingi na rin tayo para oks!

  53. balweg balweg

    This is the Video tape…
    This is the Video tape…that sickretary Gonzales has made,
    We will not rejoice coz’it’s only a gimmick and tsismis,
    RPN 9 give this video tape footage to EK, for making money out of the blues.

    There only motives just to mock media entity that’s critical to GMA,
    This is the video tape NEVER exist except ang tsikahan lamang nila Ms. Dana & Kapitan!

  54. Ellen,

    If I were a member of a jury, based on govt evidence, i.e., tape and picture above, my verdict will be a definite NOT GUILTY…

    With a not guilty verdict, Dana can then turn the table around against Razon, Puno, Gonzalez and a host of evil doers and malicious officials and file charges against them, etc.

  55. Isagani Isagani

    “If I were a member of a jury,…”

    Out of character comment from AdeBrux. You would not preclude nor prejudge. Your sense of fairness would not allow you.

  56. DJBRIZALIST DJBRIZALIST

    Adebrux,

    What is this, a Kangaroo Court?

    Nick Faeldon’s escape was a blatant crime. Most ordinary people see this. It’s the duty of all loyal citizens to uphold the Law, whether they are civilians, journalists or govt officials.

    Just imagine that was Romeo Jalosjos holding the Manila Pen with a bunch of armed goons after walking away from a court hearing.

    Can anyone here honestly claim that these good Mass Media folks would’ve acted the same way, and be staking the whole fate of PRESS FREEDOM on his behalf, to demand that they be there to witness or prevent a bloodbath? Would someone have stood in the way of the cops, acting the nonchalant, sophisticated journalist, ignoring the order to vacate the crime scene, and casually help him or any of his men escape?

    Once the police had declared the scene a crime scene and asked civilians to vacate, anyone who does not obey has to be considered a suspect or a material witness in the crime. To me the detention of the press was reasonable on the face of it, since in fact a new crime occurred: Faeldon escaped.

    Journalists ARE civilians because they are mere agents of private commercial enterprises engages in the acquisition and production, buying and selling of information.

    What hypocrites the media are! And if they think the people don’t see that, it’s only because the Media think the people are stupid.

    It’s too late getting your panties wet over “martial law” or “fascism”. The Filipino people already know all about those mental illnesses and won’t ever allow them to dark their door again.

    The people don’t need the Media infantilizing them or acting like they’re above the Law.

    If we are to uphold Justice as Fairness, what really is the difference between Faeldon escaping and Jalosjos escaping?

  57. DJBRIZALIST DJBRIZALIST

    It’s been a mighty deft, but despicable trick the Media has played on the police…they’ve turned the tables on them and changed the subject to Press Freedom, a battle whose ground and terrain they long ago mastered.

    The Police are at a great disadvantage in the public debate provoked by the veddy veddy litret moguls of media, involving such lofty constitutional rights as Press Freedom and the Freedom of Speech. It’s just a matter of spokening of English, know what I mean. And then there’s the matter of the “barrels of ink”.

    But it’s the wrong subject, di ba? It should be obstruction of justice, because that is what aiding and abetting the crime of flight from justice amounts to. osep!

  58. DJBRIZALIST DJBRIZALIST

    SUSMARYOSEP!

  59. Dean,

    Stop your hystrionics already!

    The item is about Dana; she’s accused and the idea is if she were brought to court, one of the very illustrious Philippine courts where justice prevails and where there is absolute adherence to rule of law… of course, come to think of it, you guys don’t have a jury system.

  60. Ellen,

    Re: “McCarthy named no one, but the witch hunt that followed would mark a shameful page in the history of American adherence to libertarian principles.”

    But hold your horses, Dean here is a self-calibrating McCarthy — he’s just named the entire Philippine media!

    In that, withhunting Dean beats McCarthy hands down!

  61. Isagani,

    That’s why I predicated the whole jury thinggy on “If I WERE a member of a jury, BASED ON govt evidence, i.e., TAPE and PICTURE above, …”

  62. Dean, take note of John’s remark which is right on the mark:

    “faeldon using a press identification card wouldn’t work anyway, because the police rounded up and arrested all the media people it could, hindi ba?”

  63. Anna: you guys don’t have a jury system.

    *****

    Most countries in Asia don’t. Jury system will not work in the Philippines either, for what they used to have in the Philippines long, long time ago was a Council of Elders, who surely would make good judges based on experience but not in this and future generations of Filipinos, majority of whose elders now lamentably are more like wannabe criminals, shenanigans and hoodlums who love to put some crazy titles before and/or after their names!

    Wala talagang tulak kabigin. Halos lahat mukhang nasanay na sa pandarambong! 🙁

  64. Yuko,

    Probably better that way lest a multiplication of Dean gets on the jury (heh)…

  65. MrG MrG

    Were they that stupid? Using a lady’s ID to help a crew-cut soldier to escape with a Press ID. Perhaps the PNP suspects Press people to be going to their beats ready with extra IDs or wigs…. in the same manner that some policemen carry with them paltiks or drugs to plant on hapless victims

  66. chi chi

    “The Inquirer article said that according to unnamed police sources Batnag gave a press identification card to Faeldon that allowed the wily leader of the band of rebel soldiers to escape.”

    Something very very wrong here. “Kulot ang logic” (pahiram Atty) ng PNP.

    Did PNP mean that Capt Nick was in a woman’s dress (sinong nag-bold para ipahiram kay Kapitan ang damit?); wearing a wig (hinablot siguro ni Kapitan ‘yung wig nung isang sundalo na guardia; at napakabobo naman nila na nasa operation pero hindi tinitingnan ang ID ng mga lumalabas. Nagtugma siguro ang mukha ng reporter at mukha ni Kapitan. Remember, sabi ni Razon, he did not say if the reporter was a male or female. Lulusot na naman matapos hindi makalusot sa mga bravang female journalists.

  67. Etnad Etnad

    BB says: “So, FVR is the mastermind and the real bad guy behind the scene. His men are all around government agencies…Ermita, Mendoza, Lastimosa, Esperon.” Nakalimutan mo yatang ilagay si JDV.
    Matagal ko ng sinasabi yan. Pati yong coup kay Erap, siya din ang utak. Bise pa lang si Erap ini-isip na niya kung papano niya titigpasin kasi alam niya walang mananalo kahit sino pa ang ilaban niya na bata niya. Sinubukan niya yong Cha-Cha pero walang nangyari.
    Kanya’t kahit anong sabihin pa ng mga military at ni Gonzalez na destabilisasyon noong isang linggo, umalis pa din si Glorya. Kasi nga siguro gusto pa din nila FVR @ Co. ay si Esperon pa din ang Chief. At yon lang ang paraan para ma-extend si Esperon. AT doon naman sa pag-downgrade sa PAL ng Amerika o di ba inatasan ni Glorya si Ebdane na ayusin niya. Alam ni Glorya siguro na walang kakayahan ng mga General na yan pero wala siyang magagawa dahil hawak nila sa leeg.

  68. chi chi

    Re: It’s the duty of all loyal citizens to uphold the Law, whether they are civilians, journalists or govt officials.

    Tell it to Gloria Pidal first, she’s the number 1 (kuno) govt official!

  69. SULBATZ SULBATZ

    DJBRIZALIST,

    What’s the difference between Jalosjos and Faeldon??? Well, Jalosjos is a rapist while Faeldon is fighting against those who raped the Constitution and a whole nation.

    You should have asked about the similarity between Jalosjos and that of Gloria Esperon Razon… they are all rapists!!

  70. SULBATZ SULBATZ

    Gloria Esperon Razon is no different from that of a terrorist… they are holding a whole nation hostage.

  71. klingon klingon

    Lets see, first the PNP leaked that a female reporter was caught on tape aiding and abetting Capt. Faeldon. Then they insinuated a relationship. Then they said it was Ellen. Kumpleto na: “Sex, Lies and Videotape.”

  72. Brownberry Brownberry

    Etnad, sorry nakalimutan ko si JDV. Isa pang ahas iyan. Kasing haba ng ahas ang tenga niyan. Maririnig niya ang bulong kahit 1,000 Kms ang layo. Pero ewan ko kung bakit ganoon na lang ang galit ni FVR kay Erap…I don’t remember Erap having done anything serious to him. O baka naman hindi siya pinagbigyan ni Erap sa gusto niya. Halimbawa, gusto ni FVR na ilagay ang lahat niyang bata sa cabinet at ahensiya pero hindi pumayag. The one person who I still don’t understand was this late Cardinal Sin. Bakit ganoon na lang ang galit niya kay Erap? Baka hindi na naman pinagbigyan. So far all throughout Erap’s political career, I don’t think he has done anything serious to other people. Sobra nga ang pakikisama at iyan ang nagpahamak sa kanya.

  73. Hahahaha! Badabooom!

    Re MrG’s comment: “Using a lady’s ID to help a crew-cut soldier to escape with a Press ID.”

  74. SULBATZ SULBATZ

    DJBRIZALIST says….”It should be obstruction of justice, because that is what aiding and abetting the crime of flight from justice amounts to. osep!”

    It’s good that you mentioned that. By the way, who aided the flight of JocJoc Bolante, Garcillano and Bedol? Of course, you don’t have to look far…who is preventing government officials from being investigated for graft and corruption? Obstruction of justice you say? Hehehe

  75. Brownberry Brownberry

    Ngayon si Dana naman ang ibinibintang. Pero paano na iyong “tip” o “clue” na binitiwan ni Gunggongsalez at PNP na ang lady reporter ay may letrang T with Visayan accent? Dapat isama din ito sa demanda na isinampa ng journalist especially to the person the “tip” was alluded to.

    And for the information of these PNP goons, here’s the latest word from SC Chief Puno: “No one should be jailed for libel”, says Chief Justice. Kaya ano man ang sinulat at sinabi ng isang jounalist ay hindi maaaring ikulong agad. Puno said he would issue such a circular. Tama naman ang sabi ni Puno na the journalists might have the honest and good intentions in making statements that are perceived to be libelious. Trabaho nila iyan. Medyo pinahanga ako ng kaunti nitong Chief Puno…di tulad ni Davide.

  76. Sulbatz: What’s the difference between Jalosjos and Faeldon??? Well, Jalosjos is a rapist while Faeldon is fighting against those who raped the Constitution and a whole nation.
    ******
    Sinabi mo pa! Witty! Bwahahahahahaha!

    On the other hand, kailangan pa bang itanong ang ganyang stupid question?

  77. Subatz,

    In other words, PNP, Razon and Barias abetted rebeliion.

    Couldn’t be as clear cut as that now, could it?

  78. Brownberry Brownberry

    Grizzy said “Libel is another thing as a matter of fact. That is the one that can be tried in civil court in contrast with defamation or slander that is tried in criminal court.”

    Pardon me, but is there any difference between libel and slander? I know one is committed verbally and the other in writing. Both have the same level of offense. So, why is libel only a civil case and slander a criminal offense? Any explanation or clarification shall be appreciated.

  79. azcarraga_times azcarraga_times

    tanay hearings to be transferred to camp aguinaldo. sounds odd. akala ko ba may destabilization tapos ngayon, their gonna take the boys from the mountains to the city. the evil gang of esperon is up to something, probably trap the tanay boys and girl into something.

    the officers club is a stone’s throw away from esperon’s white mansion. arraignment by batches din pala. is that allowed? conspiracy means lahat. then by groups. nasisiraan na ng bait si esperon, minamadali niya na kasi patapos na rin siya. news is although highly recommended by himself, he wouldnt be extended. he might replace ernie deleon as ambassador to australia siguro.

  80. Kundi ba naman mga gago, noon sinabi nilang letter-T ang apelyido noong journalist girlfriend ni Faeldon. Akala tuloy ni BB si Ellen.

    Pero ang ibinulgar nila ngayon si Dana Tab…err Batnag pala. Pag nag-file ng protest ang Jiji Press, pihado, hindi lang baligtad ang gagawin ng mga ungas. Tiwarik pa at baka next time balik na naman sa E. T., ‘yong unanong extra-terrestrial na nagsabing, “E. T. phone home!” 😛

  81. SULBATZ SULBATZ

    AdeBrux,

    “In other words, PNP, Razon and Barias abetted rebeliion.”

    You can say that again. Not only do the PNP, Razon and Barias, including Gloria Esperon et al, abet rebellion. They are actually fanning the flames of rebellion.

  82. chi chi

    Sulbatz,

    I like that “Gloria Esperon”!

  83. Over in Japan, BB, may difference. They are written with different Chinese characters as a matter of fact.

    Parang katulad ng prostitution defined as procuring sex for monetary reward/benefit using specifically the vagina. Pag ginamit ibang parte ng katawan gaya ng puwit, hindi na makakasuhan ng prostitution. Lascivious act na lang ang labas. Get mo?

  84. BOB BOB

    Sa Picture sa taas, mas mukhang tinulungan pa siya nuong babaeng naka Blue (nakatayo sa likod ni Faeldon)kaysa kay Dana Batnag na naka upo at may hawak na tape recorder,… para siyang look-out, diba ? PNP , hulihin niyo din yung babaeng naka blue kasi look-out siya ni Faeldon…….mga ungas na at bobo talaga ang namumuno sa PNP.

  85. vic vic

    The idea of the Police Line is that when it is put up nobody outside the line may cross it as the the Scene is a Crime Scene.. But the Pen was a Different Situation…The civilians were all Inside before the Police declared it a Crime Scene.. it is the Duty of the Officer to evacuate the Place safely, but can not assume that the civilian inside are free to vacate by themselve because they could be subject to being use as hostages or shields…after the facts the cops may say it was not the case, but all after the FACTS..not Before…

  86. klingon klingon

    Nick Faeldon’s escape was a blatant crime. Most ordinary people see this. It’s the duty of all loyal citizens to uphold the Law, whether they are civilians, journalists or govt officials. — DJBRizalist

    ==============
    The Revised Penal Code, in Art. 157 punishes the evasion of service of sentence, however the same requires that the escapee must have been convicted first. Capt. Faeldon is still undergoing trial, and has not been convicted. Under PD 1829, obstruction of justice punishes the person who aids in the escape of a person to prevent the escapee’s prosecution or conviction.

    Its possible I’m missing something. But I guess thats the point. It isnt a crime. Or at least what Capt. Faeldon has done is not evidently a crime. It does have negative consequences though, as it can be construed as evidence of guilt.

    Assuming, of course that there was an actual escape.

  87. Valdemar Valdemar

    Sumasarap yata ang usapan coming yet from the voice of experience. Kung minsan, the word video alone connotes so much.
    Sayang, that driver of the gasoline truck chickened out. He’s supposed to plow his tanker into the palace. Maybe he was afraid they might shoot him. Or he gets more pay if he applies as a suicide bomber in Iraq or Pakistan.

  88. Brownberry Brownberry

    Kung ako si Dana, Babatnatan ko sila ! Sige Dana…batnatan mo!

  89. DJBRIZALIST DJBRIZALIST

    The whole enterprise of journalism actually depends on the credibility of the Media with the Public.

    Now those of you who have had experience dealing with children often know when they are fudging the truth, or lying in a very clever and cute manner.

    That’s how the media strikes me on this one. Every angle used to dodge the charge of obstruction of justice, or will full interference with the police, reeks of INTELLECTUAL DISHONESTY.

    That is the most corrosive acid on the Media’s credibility. And they are pouring it all over themselves.

  90. Intellectual honesty dictates that we should accept that all the posturings by Razon, his PNP troops in hotpants, Gonzalez, et al are merely to INTIMIDATE MEDIA and coerce reporters and to abridge freedome of expression.

    Unless you accept that DJBRizalist, your rants will be relegated to the bottomless pit of intellectual mediocrity.

  91. SULBATZ SULBATZ

    “The whole enterprise of journalism actually depends on the credibility of the Media with the Public.”..DJBRIZALIST

    In like manner, the whole enterprise of governance is credibility and accountability of government officials to the public. The only difference is we pay our taxes to the government and not to media. DJBRIZALIST, you can damn the media all you want, but why don’t you focus those same efforts to Gloria Esperon Razon who deserves your utmost attention as well. Or are you just being selective? Now, that’s what we call INTELLECTUAL DISHONESTY.

  92. chi chi

    Napahiya si siRaulo Gunggong, umaatras na. He threatened the press without seeing the video. Ayan, hindi pala kulot si Dana, at si Dana ay hindi pala si Ellen! Pahiya!

    But Razon still insists that he has a witness to prove Capt. Nick escaped with a reporter’s help, hindi daw niya sinabi kung babae o lalaki ang reporter! Heh!

    The PNP Chef also said that he’s unravel the reporter’s name once The Capitan is captured. Huh, we’ll never know the reporter’s identity then! Ilabas nila si Capt. Faeldon ng BUHAY!

  93. Subaltz,

    Re Intellectual dishonesty

    In a post over at Uniffors, I asked Dean in sum what has happened to him that he now turned around and now admires Gloria and Esperon…

    Haven’t got the answer yet.

  94. As what I observed regarding the video tape that they are taking as an evidence, the Lady Reporter is interviewing Mr. Faeldon and there is no anything or reason that the reporter have any connivance with Mr. Faeldon to escape.

    It only shows that the People or Government Officials who accused the Lady Reporter is 100% IDIOT, INSANE and waste of Tax Payer money for the reason that any cause of probability connecting the reporter for the Escape of Faeldon. Most government officials are unqualified from their post for the lack of DIGNITY, TRansparency and Competence, the same what happened to JALOSJOS release fron National Bilibid Prison. Then what they are going to do is to cover up their mistake and IDIOT MIND by blaming other people instead accepting their. People who cannot accept their mistake are IDIOT and Incompetent that there is nobody in this world is PERFECT.

  95. Brownberry Brownberry

    Pero kung sabihin naman ni Gunggongsalez, chi, dating hindi kulot si Dana at nagpakulot lang ngayon? Kilala mo itong si tanda, magaling sa palusot. Iyan ang isa sa mga advisers ni GMA sa pagsisinungaling at palusot.

  96. DJBRIZALIST DJBRIZALIST

    SULBATZ,
    The dishonesty of government officials is well known. Intellectual dishonesty is rarer, precisely in media. So
    believe it or not this is my offhand way of PRAISING the media for their previous works of honesty and dedication. but in this case they were obstructing justice. Mischievously and with malice aforethought.

    I challenge Ellen and all those arrested to take lie detector tests about WHY they really decided to to stick around. Would they have been just as “professional” and obstructive of police if the guy who’d walked out during his trial was Cpl Daniel Smith? I think not. They would have helped to arrest him, as they tried to when he was first pronounced guilty and hussled out.

    So they were not being reporters at the Manila Pen. They were being partisans. Would they have been human shields for Smith or Jalosjos. I doubt it. So they were not being impartial and objective and just doing their job. They wanted a scoop on trillanes coz they believe in trillanes. Just like all those aging leftists and ex girlfriends of leftists that showed up there as the civilian component, media and urban rebels believe in sonny trillanes.

    So much so that they actually forgot they were professional journalists who work for private commercial enterprises that are primarily engaged in the sale of telecomm load and movie gossip, obits and sports and everything else.

    The Public’s Right to Know is far, far broader than what Trillanes was up to on fine morning in a Makati Luxury hotel.

    But Press Freedom is the right to know are LOWER than the right to life of a policeman, or a waiter, or a reporter, even if they all willingly are present. But of these, guess whose job it is first and foremost to protect the lives of everyone else? Yup, the dumb, illiterate, inexpressive cop. Who gets rings run around him by all these smart people like vergel santos and luis teodoro. Rings of fancy words with fancy bombast but empty of values and honor, full of hubris and crapololo.

  97. rose rose

    ..lumalala na ang pagka umang umang…at malala ang sakit na KSP..kawawang nilang itong rizalista..I know very little about Jose Rizal…ito pa ang mga isinulat niya of what he thought then? And now taught by this dean?.. Seguro gusto lang niya mag pa cute…Oh Boy! it takes all kinds..BTW come to think of initials..Dana Batnag…DB hindi ba DB din itong si dean..De na buko booo! na buco boo at walang razon si avelino..ganoon din si siraulo… birds of a feather indeed!

  98. Re: Dean’s “So they were not being reporters at the Manila Pen.”

    This is the height of intellectual dishonesty!

    Whatever you say Dean, those people there were being reporters — their reports came out in newspapers, on TV, on radio, etc. What the heck are you going to say next? That Ellen and the other reporters are NPA warriors or that Ka Rosal sent them there to bomb Manila Pen?

    Talk of intellectual dishonesty…

  99. Why not formally officially or formally become a paid mouth piece for Razon, Puno, Gonzalez and Gloria… at least you will get paid for doing it. (Or are you already one?)

  100. Don’t allow your hatred for the Philippine Daily Inquirer where you once figured as a columnist to blind you, Dean.

  101. azcarraga_times azcarraga_times

    my earlier info was wrong. ESPERON was just extended for at least 6 months. ang lakas ng tuta kay gma.

  102. Brownberry Brownberry

    Ascarraga, di bale…kaya six months na extend si Esperon kasi six months na lang sa Malacanang ang amo niya.

  103. azcarraga times,

    Re “he might replace ernie deleon as ambassador to australia siguro.”

    Doubt it. De Leon is doing a good job for Gloria there. But now that you’ve mentioned it, I wonder if envoy post in EU capital is gonna be the reward… but Ortega, current envoy has an ace, the Triple R ace so wait and see na lang.

  104. SULBATZ SULBATZ

    “…but in this case they were obstructing justice. Mischievously and with malice aforethought”…DJBRIZALIST

    I would concede to your right to interpret events as you see it based from your own perspective. But I would also say that the Media at the Pen were “NOT THERE TO OBSTRUCT JUSTICE” but rather “TO PREVENT INJUSTICE”. And I would side with malice anytime if its in the name of preventing Gloria Esperon Razon from raping the rights of others.

  105. parasabayan parasabayan

    JBRizalist, any which way you look at the role of the media in the Manila Pen, they were a blessing in disguise for Trillianes and Lim et al. Had the mediamen vacated the premises sooner, these two men and the other Magdalo soldiers would have been peppered with bullets!

  106. parasabayan parasabayan

    DJBRizalist…

  107. DJB,
    So, the next time this thing happens, are you suggesting the PNP should shoot the reporters?

    Anna,
    Or should they shoot the Inquirer reporters ONLY?

  108. psb,
    But that’s probably what DJB was hoping for.

  109. As reported in the Daily Tribune today
    52,000 police and jail officers were presented with meritorious awards and commendations for their dedicated service and exemplary performance of their duties, while over 200 uniformed personnel were given special promotions in 2007, I think for doing nothing other than their job more like it!
    Whilst PNP chief, Avelino Razon Jr., joined Raul Gonzalez in gossip, that a plan for escape move was caught on camera, through the Manila Peninsula closed circuit cameras, so far nobody believes their gossip saying its just that, woman’s gossip (sorry ladies, just an expression), and we are told that 52,000 PNP were given commendations and medals during 2007. How did this Avelino Razon Jr get his position of rank when he cannot even command good english during television interviews without humming and bumbling his way through it, he was going on and on about this journalist aiding Faeldon when he never had any evidence at all? how can we expect rank & file of the PNP to take a lead from this man.
    Now we are told that Over 52,000 police and jail officers were presented with meritorious awards and commendations for their dedicated service and exemplary performance of their duties, while over 200 uniformed personnel were given special promotions in 2007,
    Ha Ha Ha… Micky Mouse badges! Your boss is a disgrace where’s your friggin results lads.

  110. “Micky Mouse badges! ” or soda bottle caps! Heh!

  111. Anna Hi,
    52,000 per 2007 results in 142 commendations PER EVERY DAY this Razon thinks we are stupid to believe their Lies the rampant street crime is what the public witnesses with their own eyes – he’s a fool as well as a disgrace.

  112. But as we know from experience there will be a blogger somewhere ready to defend Razon and Co.

  113. “…but in this case they were obstructing justice. Mischievously and with malice aforethought”…DJBRIZALIST
    *****

    Sourgraping lang iyan kasi wala siya doon. Inggit lang iyan for all the attention, admiration and respect from the public that these brave journalists are now getting. May bumabasa pa ba diyan? I wonder.

  114. WWNL: But as we know from experience there will be a blogger somewhere ready to defend Razon and Co.
    *****

    “For how much?,” sabi nga!

  115. “For how much?,”
    maybe too much to carry in a paper bag!

  116. WWNL,

    You sure not 520 or 5,200???? FIFTY TWO THOUSAND in a span of what, say, 330 days max???

    52,000 presented with meritorious awards and commendations for their dedicated service and exemplary performance of their duties, or virtually half of the police force (??) — so why are criminals still out doing lakwacha and in Davos to boot!

    What fairy tale or blarney yarn is Razon up to? Geez, I know he’s fond of weaving yarns but 52,000 awards and commendations distributed?

    Ano yan, wala ng ginawa ang mga pulis except to line up for awards DAILY!!! Ano namang kagaguhan yan?

    Imagine there are only 365 days a year so imagine how many awards and commendations are distributed daily to reach 52,000!!!! Kaya pala lawlessness rules! Hakot ni Razon ang mga pulis out of the streets and into his office para present niya ang 52,000 awards and commendations…

    Ano naman kagaguhan yan???? Razon is BOLERO NUMERO UNO!

  117. Ellen

    One day, upon my request, FVR’s lady love requested Sonny Razon to drop in at a Makati condo unit (won’t tell which bldg).

    We all met late one night — I told him that I was sick and tired of waiting for the paper (mine) sitting in a pile in Malacanang to be “actioned upon”…I said, it’s either go or no go, no use shitting with me. That’s all I want to know.

    He promised he’d put the said paper ON TOP of the pile and because I wanted clear and precise date of “action upon”, I asked him when he would do it (just being curious) – I shouldn’t have because Razon went into a long litany of how he could do it, and how he was going to put it on top so that when Guingona (then exec secretary of FVR) gets on the pile, he could act on it and then he went on and on and on about how difficult it is but you know, it can be done and besides, he knows how to do it and blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah blah, blah, blah, blah blah, blah, blah, blah …

    In the end, after a long monologue, I said, “Fine, Sonny, I believe you, let’s get moving…” but he was about to go on monologuing again; luckily, FVR’s lady love seeing I was getting impatient said to me, “OK, OK, I will take care of this…” and took me to an adjoining room to wait.

    (Later on, she whispered to me that “It’s been arranged…” I didn’t want to be in on their “secret”, not my business, but I have a suspicion I know what the arrangement was.)

    In other words, itong putragis na Sonny na yan ay bolero — can’t go straight to the point and the more he talks, the more you have to be suspicious — he wants an exchange deal!

  118. Anna:
    Commendations – I was working on 52,000 @ 52 weeks per year
    but but ever result you give it this man Razon is out of his tiny mind if he thinks the public will swollow that.

    …”you have to be suspicious — he wants an exchange deal!”
    no doubt this explains my question “How did this Avelino Razon Jr get his position of rank when he cannot even command good english during television interviews” he certainly didn’t get there on his merit but bt wheeling and dealing.

  119. Last night there was a TV Patrol news item where PNP were very proud to be shooting at paper targets on a shooting range. Put your guns away lads, just capture the bloody criminals thats the way to stop street crime or are you practicing for the next Pen Hotel copy cat affair.

  120. balweg balweg

    RE: 52,000 police and jail officers were presented with meritorious awards and commendations for their dedicated service and exemplary performance of their duties, while over 200 uniformed personnel were given special promotions in 2007?

    WWNL: Talaga nga naman, tingnan mo sila-sila eh nagbobolahan? How come na mabigyan sila ng MA&C para saan, sumaryosep di naman boba ang mga Pinoyzki. Dapat kalabasa ni mang Teban ang ibigay sa nga iyan. Di ba nitong nakaraang araw eh nagkaroon ng bank robbery sa Manila at isa mang pulis-patola eh wala sa crimescene, ngayon bibigyan ng mga award dahil dedicated service at exemplary performance daw. Hoy magsigising kayo, yan ang napapala ng mahilig sa tsismis at laging nakababad sa kapapanood ng Boy & Kris eh.

    Kambio muna tayo, kaya pala binigyan ng parangal ng MA&C ang mga deserving kapulisan eh papogi points kasi ang kaya lang nilang hulihin eh mga tambay sa kalye.

  121. balweg balweg

    Ka WWNL: Ang sabi ni Gen. Barias eh kundi daw matutong bumaril ang mga pulis-patola nýa eh mas makakabuti daw na batuta na lang daw ang ipapagamit sa kanila, baka daw maging sanhi pa ito ng makadisgrasya sila ng Pinoyzki o kaya yong kanilang sarili.

    Ang galing ni Gen. Barias pang showbiz ang dating at smiling face pa, di ba! Ang di niya alam eh ang suspetsa sa bank robbery noong nagdaang araw eh, around 15 person ang bumanat sa banko at ang duda ng mga malilikot ang isip, ang iba sa mga kawatan eh sundalo o kaya pulis ang involved, yaks.

    At saka pag dirty works magaling pumusil ang mga kapulisan niya. YES or NO? That’s the question? Sa mga salvaging sa Metro Manila, eh sino ba ang may gawa nito? Di ba mayroon tayong korte na dapat limitis kung maykasalanan o nagkasala ang isang Pinoyzki.

    Sa Pinas, iba ang kalakaran ng hustisya….patatakbuhin ka at saka ka itutumba, legitimate daw ang inkwentro kasi nanglabang daw ang biktima at hayon may baril nga naman ang pobre.

    Ang hulidap naman, paano natin ito ipapaliwanag? Isama na rin natin yong kotongkap?

  122. Brownberry Brownberry

    Why not ask Barias if he knows how to shoot? All he knows is to shoot into the toilet bowl. Etong si Barias mataas ang ambition kaya puro papel. Kung tuloy-tuloy ang sipsip niya, baka maging PNP Chief balang araw tapos AFP Chief. So if I were him, I would prepare for the next President. Sayang lang ang sipsip niya ngayon kay GMA dahil bilang na ang araw niyan. If Barias is smart, he would be very friendly to the opposition especially to the presidentiables. And one way of getting support from the opposition is for Barias to be nice to the poor people and media.

  123. FOCAP Statement of Support for Dana Batnag

    “The Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines views with grave concern the allegation against Ms. Dana Batnag, a correspondent of Jiji Press of Japan.

    Police officers have been quoted anonymously in reports that Ms. Batnag allegedly helped Marine Capt. Nicanor Faeldon escape during the siege of the Manila Peninsula Hotel on Nov. 29, 2007.

    As journalists, we are appalled that the authorities have allowed and even encouraged this claim to float around unsubstantiated for weeks and in the process putting a cloud of doubt on the professionalism not only of Ms. Batnag but also of media people in general.

    FOCAP and its members have adhered to the highest standards of accuracy, objectivity and independence in their reportage since the martial law regime.

    We call on the authorities to observe basic due process and fair play, stop the insidious rumor mill, and respect and protect the rights of journalists, particularly their access to information.

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