Noong Biyernes, nagpiyansa si Che-Che Lazaro, ang kilalang host ng Probe Team, ang TV news-magazine sa ABS-CBN kaugnay sa kasong wiretapping na isinampa ng isang opisyal ng GSIS laban sa kanya.
Si Rez Cortez, actor na masugid na taga-suporta ng namatay na si Fernando Poe, Jr, ang dinaya ni Gloria Arroyo, ay nag-apela ngayon sa Court of Appeals dahil sa arrest warrant na na-isyu laban sa kanya at kina Samuel Ong, ang dating director ng National Bureau of Investigation na naglabas ng “Hello Garci” tapes, ang kanyang driver na si Angelito Santiago at negosyanteng si Wilson Fenix.
Ito ay nangyayari habang patuloy ang paguusig kay Jun Lozada, ang star witness ng NBN/ZTE, ni Mike Defensor, dating presidential chief of staff ni Gloria Arroyo na ngayon ay pinuno ng Philippine National Railways.
Ito ang nangyayari sa mga naninindigan para sa katotohanan sa ilalim ng administrasyon ng isang sinungaling na presidente.
Ang nagsampa ng kaso kay Che-Che ay si Ella Valencerina, vice president for Public Relations and Communications ng Government Service Insurance System kaugnay sa ginawa ng Probe na istorya tungkol sa problema ng mga teachers sa GSIS, ang insurance company para sa mga empleyado ng pamahalaan. Sabi ni Valencerina, ni-record daw ng Probe ang kanilang pag-uusap sa telepono na hindi niya alam.
Sabi ni Che-Che ng nagpiyensa siya, “Maliit na presyo lang ito para mailabas ang isyu na pakinabangan ng publiko.”
Mas nakakabahala ang kaso nina Rez at Ong dahil non-bailable. Hindi sila pwedeng magpiyansa dahil ang kaso ay “serious illegal detention”.
Ang kaso ay kaugnay sa pagsilong sina Ong at Vidal Doble sa San Carlos seminary noong Hunyo 2005 nang nilabas nila ang orihinal ng “Hello Garci” kung saan nabulgar ang operasyon daya na pinamumunuan ni Arroyo at ni Comelec Commissioner Virgilio Garcillano sa Autonomous region for Muslim Mindanao, kasama ang military, para lang manalo si Arroyo.
Itong kaso ay dinismis na ni Judge Benjamin Pozon ng Makati Regional Court dahil talaga naman klarong walang kidnapping. Si Doble mismo ang nagsabi sa Senado na hindi siya kinidnap at kusang loob siyang sumilong doon. Merong bang kidnapping na ang kinidnap ang may baril at ang nagkidnap kuno sa kanya ay walang armas?
Binaligtad ng Court of Appeals ang desisyon ni Pozon at ibinalik sa kanya ang kaso. Kaya may warrant of arrest sina Rez, Ong, Santiago at Fenix.
Ang pinakamasakit sa kasong ito dahil ang lahat na sangkot sa pandaraya noong 2004 elections na narinig natin sa “Hello Garci” tapes at siyang namamayagpag sa pamumuno ni Gloria Arroyo
Statement of Ella Valencerina:
When the Pasay City Court issued a warrant of arrest against Ms. Cheche Lazaro, I initially opted not to issue a statement. I thought there was nothing more to say except, perhaps, to let the wheels of justice take its usual turn. My silence was a gesture of respect for the system.
However, after hearing and reading the statements made by the camp of Ms. Lazaro in the news, I feel compelled to say something, without delving further in the case – for this is the sole responsibility of the officers of the court – but to clarify the false impressions that were peddled in the media.
First, I want to make it clear that the Government Service Insurance System is in no way involved in the case of Violation of the Anti-Wiretapping Act which I have filed against Ms. Lazaro. I filed the case before the Pasay City Regional Trial Court on my own volition, without any instruction or direction from my superiors in the GSIS.
It is a case arising from my feeling that my right to privacy, guaranteed by the Bill of Rights, has been violated. I am, after all, entitled to my rights, in this case, Section 3 of the Bill of Rights, which states: ‘The privacy of communications and correspondence shall be inviolable except upon lawful order of the court, or when public safety or order requires otherwise as prescribed by law.’
Contrary to what the camp of Ms. Lazaro has been quoted as saying, this is not media harassment. I have dealt with countless media persons and those I have met and those who know me can attest that I am the last person capable of harassing members of the press.
The case, above all, raises the timely question: Are the media allowed to violate the individual rights of a person? I was asking the court if the media could simply call you up, record your conversation, and broadcast it for the entire world to hear; all these, without your knowledge, much less, your permission.
There is no grand conspiracy. There are no devious schemes. Definitely, there is no concerted effort to stifle press freedom. I pursued my rights, taking the route of due process, without the need to engage in a publicity stunt.
There is, however, a silver lining to the already tense predicament I am in for going after an influential broadcast journalist. Somehow, I received and continue to receive numerous encouragements from, surprisingly, members from the media.
“Apparently, there are many media persons who are as interested as I am to understand the parameters of honest and fair methods of gathering news. Unlike Ms. Lazaro, they are not A-list TV journalists. Most of them are reporters who go to their beats daily, send out summaries to desks, and file stories before deadlines. These are hard-working journalists who want to know: does the fame and status give Ms. Lazaro the immunity to break journalism ethics and break the law? Does the stature of being a ‘veteran broadcast journalist’ and journalism profession let one off the hook?
“Among journalists, this case will enable the profession to define, in tangible terms, the Philippine Journalist’s Code of Ethics, which among others, require journalists to ‘not violate confidential information or material given her in the exercise of her calling” and “resort only to fair and honest methods in her effort to obtain news, photographs and/or documents and properly identify herself as a representative of the press when obtaining any personal interview intended for publication or airing.”
“I am a believer of the significant role journalists play in a democratic system. They are the watchmen, protecting us from wrongdoings taking place both in government and private sectors. But even journalists are not infallible. They can have their share of wrongdoings. And when journalists do wrong, how can we – especially private individuals – protect ourselves from them?”
C’mon, Ms. Ella Valencerina. No one believes you did it on your own volition. Your boss has lost face against the Lopezes in the Meralco board intramurals and this is his way to settle the score. Why take revenge on Cheche?
Cheche Lazaro never did you wrong, she was even getting your side before she aired the teachers’ complaint didn’t she? You were given a chance to explain your side and that’s what matters most.
You are a public servant, being a GOCC employee. Whatever you need to explain in terms of policies and official actions of the GSIS, the public needs to (and must) know.
Maayos lahat ang mga pag-aalinlangan pag nawala na yang pesteng Glorya. Wala na talagang tiwala ng taongbayan sa Gobyernong iyong pinaglilingkuran kung sino ka man na nagdemanda kay Che na taga GSIS. Iyan talaga ang katotohanan. So habang si surot na Glorya ang nagre-reynahan …. magsama muna kayo nila Defensor, Garcia na amo mo at huwag kang mag-alala marami pa kayo. Asahan mo sako-sakong pera ang matatanggap mo pagkatapos niyan.
Ms. Valencerina, who asked you to bring Che-che to court and how much? No one in his/her right mind would believe what you’re saying. Tumigil ka na nga!
Sa kaso ni Doble…bakit nga ba hindi magsalita ng truth si Soc Vilegas kung ano talaga ang nangyari?! Ang laki ng pananagutan niya sa kasong ito a. Lumalaban na raw siya sa katiwalian ni Gloria Arroyo, patunayan n’ya. Tularan niya si Jun Lozada.
Another pandak and Garcia puppet! Very obvious naman!
Chi, I feel bad for Doble. Na-technical lang siya sa “dobleng” asawa. I think this is the reason why he just gave up seeking for the truth.
I watch Che che Lazaro and I like her style.
Sana sa sala ni Judge Lorredo mapunta ang kasong isinampa kay Che-Che Lazaro.
Considering that Ella Valencerina is a government official and Che-Che Lazaro was doing her job as a journalist, it will be an interesting one how the court will decide the case. I gathered that there’s no specific law on privacy in our country, I am not sure if this is true. but in Canada there is a law and please allow me to quote in part:
Canada Privacy Act. The Act incorporates the basic tenet underlying most data protection laws, which is that an individual’s personal information is his or hers to control. The law stipulates that only personal information related directly to an operating program or activity of government may be collected. It also requires that, wherever possible, the information be collected directly from the individual concerned, that the individual be informed of the purpose of the collection, and that the information be used or disclosed only for the purpose for which it was collected unless the individual consents or the legislation provides otherwise.
Anong klaseng justice system ba talaga meron ang Pilipinas? Taragis, iyng witness na nagsasabi ng totoo, inaresto, pero iyong rapist na kanuto na nasentensyahan na, pinakawalan pa at nag-audience pa doon sa kriminal na nakaupo sa palasyong katabi ng mabahong ilog! Yuck! ‘Kakasuka!!!
You should watch that movie, “Nothing But the Truth.” Same corruption and death of freedom of the press. Mahirap talaga ang bumoboto ng mga unggoy. Signs of the times—napuno na ang mundo ng mga kurakot na liderato. Kahit saan walang tulak-kabigin! At least, dito sa bansa namin, malakas pa rin ang media at di nadidiktahan at saka ang mga mamamayan nag-iisip. Lahat kasi nakapag-aral di tulad sa Pilipinas, maraming mangmang na ginugunggong ng mga puede silang suhulan!!!
O boto mo, magkano?
Tanong lang, Ellen, bakit ba pinagtitiyagaan ng mga pilipino iyong kriminal na punggok? Dapat sa animal na iyan sinisipa na, matagal na. Golly, iyong hukom walang magawa na pinapakialam pati desisyon niya. Ginagago din. Pambihira din na pati hukuman dinidiktahan ng isang bobang nagdudunung-dunungan! Ngeeeeeeek! Kakakulo ng dugo!
Kawawang bansa! Di mo tuloy maipagmalaki. Puro awa na lang!
Ano kayang privacy niya ang na violate kung ang topic ay tungkol sa GSIS?
In the case of Ramirez v Court of Appeals, the Supreme Court quoted the following exchange to reveal the intent of the law:
Senator Diokno: Do you understand, Mr. Senator, that under Section 1 of the bill as now worded, if a party secretly records a public speech, he would be penalized under Section 1? Because the speech is public, but the recording is done secretly.
Senator Tañada: Well, that particular aspect is not contemplated by the bill. It is the communication between one person and another person not between a speaker and the public.
Che Che Lazaro called as a journalist, for an interview. An interview is for public consumption. Nobody interviews just for personal kicks. So when Valencerina was answering the questions in the interview, she can be presumed to be addressing the public.
So kulang ang isang element of the offense, because the interview was not a “private communication”.
The Supreme Court also resorted to the Explanatory Note (Introductory statement of the author of a bill) of Senator Tañada as follows:
It has been said that innocent people have nothing to fear from their conversations being overheard. But this statement ignores the usual nature of conversations as well the undeniable fact that most, if not all, civilized people have some aspects of their lives they do not wish to expose. Free conversations are often characterized by exaggerations, obscenity, agreeable falsehoods, and the expression of anti-social desires or views not intended to be taken seriously. The right to the privacy of communication, among others, has expressly been assured by our Constitution. Needless to state here, the framers of our Constitution must have recognized the nature of conversations between individuals and the significance of man’s spiritual nature, of his feelings and of his intellect. They must have known that part of the pleasures and satisfactions of life are to be found in the unaudited, and free exchange of communication between individuals free from every unjustifiable intrusion by whatever means.
It is clear from the above, that an interview by a journalist does not come within the definition of “private communication”.
There’s one thing that’s very obvious today…Malacanang is harassing and arresting the Bitch’s critics and enemies. This might be a prelude to an emergency rule.
Ginagalit talaga nila ang mga tao. We have to be very careful not to fall prey into their trap.
Ang klase ng sistema meron ang Pilipinas ay karaniwang mga
kriminal ang nakikinabang ng malaki.
Ginagalit nila talaga ang mga tao. We should not fall into their trap.
Sorry for the double posting. I thought it did not go in the first time.
May araw ding and luha mo’y masasaid, matutuyo,
may araw ding di na luha sa mata mong namumugto
ang dadaloy, kundi apoy, at apoy na kulay dugo,
samantalang ang dugo mo ay aserong kumukulo;
sisigaw kang buong giting sa liyab ng libong sulo
at ang lumang tanikala’y lalagutin mo ng punglo!
—sinipi sa “Kung Tuyo Na Ang Luha Ng Aking Bayan” ni
Amado V. Hernandez
mabuting ngang magsiklab na sa galit and mga tao!
Tongue-T, dead center bullseye! The bureaucratic attempt to hoodwink the public (with the wiretap charge) about an anomaly in the GSIS, a GOCC, is an obvious institutional attempt to cast a red herring. Unfortunately for the accuser, she does not hold cabinet rank like Neri to exercise executive privilege. The titillating question: what is she trying to hide?
Go Ahead Che Che, fight it out in court…set a Precedent..and establish a common law that will protect journalist from being harassed by Miscreants in Governments.
As for JoeSeg comments about Canada Privacy Law, that is true that every time before any person from any business, agency talk to any individual that person must informed that the call if recorded and most it will be, for the purpose only as intended and for the protection of both. And it is also true that Privacy of Records, be it of personal conversation is between the Parties, but the Courts had already established a Precedent that for PUBLIC INTEREST, media, subject to libel and slander, laws can publish such Data and records. Hence, there is also a Law that Protect whistle blowers from Repercussion (as promised to the Caregivers by the Ministers during the Forum, the reason why they were able to bring out their allegations against the sitting Member of the Federal Parliament, and may end her political career). And perhaps the country’s leading daily, the Toronto Star is very successful in most of its exposee, be it a business irregularities or Government Officials misdeeds.
Habang binabasa ko ang statement ni Ella Valencerina ay nais ko sana siyang paniwalaan pero tila ba inaaway ako ng aking konsensya, dahil paano ko nga naman siya paniniwalaan kung wala na rin akong natirang paniniwala sa kredibilad ng kanyang amo?
kayo, naniniwala ba kayo sa kanya?
HAPPY MOTHER’s DAY TO ALL THEN MOMs!
Ang GSIS ay itinatag para sa kapakanan at kagalingan ng bawat kawani o empleyadong nasa pampublikong sektor sa pamamagitan ng paglalaan ng karampatang “social security benefits.” Dahil dito, ang pamumuno at pangangasiwa sa napakahalagang institusyong ito ay nangangailangan ng kahusayan, walang bahid-dungis na reputasyon, hindi matatawarang kredibilidad at may puso o malasakit sa mga ordinaryong manggagawa.
Subalit nakakalungkot isipin na HINDI ito nangyayari sa pamumuno ni Ginoong Winston F. Garcia – naturingang Presidente at General Manager ng GSIS.
Bulok na Pamamahala, Lantarang Pandarambong
Sa katunayan, sa simula pa lamang ng kanyang termino, nakitaan na kaagad ang kanyang pamumuno ng kawalan ng integridad, epektibong pamamahala at kahusayan. Noon pa lamang 2003, mismong ang Department of Finance (DoF) at ang Department of Budget and Management (DBM) na ang nagsabi na labis ang pagkukulang at kawalan ng maayos na pamamahala ng GSIS sa ilalim ni G. Garcia.
Isama pa dito ang kaliwa’t kanang anomalya, iregularidad at batikos ng pandarambong na kinasangkutan ni G. Garcia. Sa loob laman ng unang 10 buwan ng kanyang panunungkulan, mayroon siyang “unliquidated cash advances” na nagkakahalaga ng P5.25 milyon at hindi maipaliwanag na “miscellaneous expenses” na nagkakahalaga ng P6.9 milyon. Tunay nga, ang GSIS sa pamumuno ni G. Garcia, imbes na maging taga-pangalaga ng kagalingan ng ating mga kawani ay naging personal na “bangko” o gatasan ni G. Garcia gamit ang pera ng mga kawani.
Ang Walang Silbing Computerization Program
At sino ang hindi makakaalala sa kagyat at arbitraryong pagpapatigil ng pag-proseso ng mga loans at pensions noong Marso 2003 na nagdulot ng mahabang aberya at pasakit sa mayorya ng 1.4 milyong aktibong GSIS members? Diumano ito’y ginawa upang bigyan daan ang GSIS computerization program na nagkakahalaga ng P 700 million kahit na ito’y kayang isakatuparan sa mas maliit na halaga na P 40 million.
Sinabi noon ni G. Garcia na papabilisin nito ang mga transaksyon ng GSIS at aabot lamang ng 2 buwan ang pagsasaayos. Ngunit imbes na bumilis ang mga proseso, kabaligtaran ang nangyari. Ang 2 buwan na palugit ay umabot ng 6 na buwan bago pa man naipagpatuloy ng GSIS ang pag-proseso ng mga nabinbing loans at pensions.
Delayed Posting/Updating, Mali-maling Records at Unauthorized Loan Transactions
At hanggang ngayon, ang pinsala nito ay patuloy na nararamdaman. Patuloy at talamak ang insidente ng mali-maling encoding ng mga consolidated at updated records ng mga kawani, “unauthorized loan transactions” at ang tila usad pagong at di-maayos na “updating” at “posting” ng mga premiums at automatic deductions na lalong nagdagdag ng pasakit sa mga kawani na lubhang nangangailangan na ng kagyat na ayuda mula sa GSIS sa pinakamadaling panahon.
Talamak na rin ang mga reklamo kaugnay ng sobrang bagal na paglalabas ng ating mga karampatang benepisyo bilang myembro ng GSIS. Taliwas naman ito sa kalagayan ni G. Garcia na sa loob lamang ng dalawaang araw ay nakakuha agad ng P 11 milyon na housing loan noong Nobyembre 2003. Pondo natin ang nasa GSIS, bakit hindi natin makuha sa tamang panahon ang salaping bawat buwan ay awtomatikong ibinabawas sa ating sweldo?
Pinagkait na Retirement Benefits
Dagdag pa dito, ipinagkait din ni G. Garcia ang retirement benefits sa maraming mga casual at contractual employees kahit na may maliwanag na desisyon dito ang Civil Service Commission na pumapabor sa mga manggagawa. Tila walang magandang pagtingin si G. Garcia sa mga kawani, hindi tulad sa mga obra nila Juan Luna na kaya niyang labasan ng pera at bilhin sa halagang P 46 milyon gamit ang pera natin sa GSIS habang tayo ay halos pumuti na ang mga mata sa paghihintay sa ating mga loans, pension at retirement benefits.
Global Investment Program
At ngayon sa panahon ng krisis pampinansiya, imbes na magbigay ng maayos at “transparent” na pamamahala si G. Garcia ay kabaligtaran pa rin ang nangyari. Sa ilalim ng kanyang termino, hindi malinaw at walang pagpapaliwanag kung ano na ang nangyari sa P26.54 bilyon Global Investment Program (GIP) Portfolio ng GSIS! Sa gitna ng papatinding krisis, nais natin malaman kung saan ito naka-invest, anong uri ng investment at kung ano na ang katayuan ng mga pondo na ating pagmamay-ari. Nakakatakot isipin na ang pondong ating inaasahan sa panahon ng pangangailangan at pagreretiro ay malulusaw na lamang kasabay ng pagbagsak ng mga banko sa ibang bansa.
Ano naman kaya ang paki natin sa Canadian laws? or Japanese laws, Di nga natin maintindihan ang ating mga laws. Pati in-laws ko kala nila oobra ang laws ng kanilang tinakbohan na abroad. Yabang pa nila.
HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY TO ALL THE MOMS here especially to u, tita ellen.
Ingat tayo palagi.
Mag iingat din tayo sa mga buwayang naka korbata at lalo na sa mga kampon ng dyablong nakatira sa mga malapalasyong tahanan.
My greeting to Gloria Macapagal Arroyo: Happy Evil Bitch Day !
dapat kasi nilagay ang mga katraydoran ni Juan Macapagal at Lazaro Macapagal sa textbooks.
Arroyo’s son-in-law, 9 others elected to PSE board
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/
Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm????
grissy: Our country gives us courage to grow somewhere, without it we’re stock around the clock and get excited
every Friday morning.
Haay!
Wala ng magaling kundi ang Japan?!
Aba ‘yan?
Talaga bang kawawa na tayo?
Sana naman yung mga anti-GMA dito, mag-reasearch lang nang konti. Nagkalat sa Google yung affidavit ni Cheche. While she told Valencerina that the conversation is being recorded, Cheche Lazaro explicitly promised Valencerina na hindi nya ito ipapalabas.
Tapos, inilabas pa din.
Ikaw ma’am ellen, pag nakabukas ang recorder mo, tapos sinabi sa iyo ng source “uy, off the record to ha?” Ilalabas mo pa din ba?
Isangtabi sana muna natin ang biases natin kay GMA and GSIS. Konting objectivity lang.
Hi Luli! Bumalik ka na uli? Welcome back!
When I was still working in the government, I used to apply for loan at GSIS and sad to inform you all that SUHULAN were also prevalent during those years.
An employee processing applications for loan would gather us inside the rest room and asked for an amount if we wanted to have our loan released before the end of the day and those who were coming from far provinces agreed so as not to return next day.
Those were the years when a hundred peso purchase of provisions can last for several days.
Indeed, corruption knows no end!
Bakit biglang issue yung sinabi ni Ella. Granting Che-che aired what Ella said. Was there any derogatory statement made by Ella or any incriminating statement? Mukha nga yatang may underlying reason kung bakit umaaray si pandak at ang GSIS. Bakit, naubos na ba ninyo ang pera ng mga teachers? Pera ng tao yang nasa GSIS. Don’t the people deserve to know the truth? Kung yung papiso-piso lang eh may audit, yung pa kayang bilyones. Something is very fishy here.
Iba nga naman ang in-law. Kaagad nasa pwesto sa PSE board. I just hope he is qualified. I am just worried that given how the pandak and her husband position people, yung KAYA nilang diktahan ang nakapwesto. Joc-joc is a very good example and Ate Neri, of course!
Off topic. Kababasa ko lang na si Noli de Castro daw ang top candidate ng Malacanang. Heh,heh,heh. Iwas ng iwas si Noli na hindi ma-identify kay pandak, ngayon siya ang pinili. Gee, paano na si Teodoro? Naunang nagsabi na gusto niyang siya ang “annointed” ni pandak.
At si Bayani Fernando? At si Gordon? Sabagay, si Gordon eh pwedeng independent dahil talaga namang objective siya most of the time.
Gee, mukha yatang chow mein ang 2010 elections ah! Ang daming presidentiables. Talaga bang lahat ng mga ito tatakbo?
parasabayan, ewan ko ba kung bakit ayaw ng mga tao kay Bayani. Siya lang ang naka-paligid kay Arroyo na talaga namang nagta-trabaho. Nililinis niya ang kalye. Pero ano ang mga naririnig natin … puro kabaligtaran. Tinitira siya ni Golez e sino ba naman siya. Pinagtatawanan o di kaya nagagalit sila sa mga pinag-gagawa niya. Tanong ko lang po sa iba, ano po ba ang mga nagawa ng mga binabanggit nating mga Presidentiables ngayon? Puro ngawa-lang-ng-ngawa. Aksiyon po ang kailangan hindi yong puro ngakngak lang … para tayo ay umunlad. Hindi po ako nangangampanya kay Bayani … eto lang po ang aking saloobin.
Kung ayaw po natin kay Bayani Fernando kung sa ano mang rason sana po piliin lang natin yong may lakas na linisin ang mga banketa para naman ma-aliwalas ang daanan ng mga tao. Ang ibig ko pong sabihin ay yong taong nakakapag-pa-asenso ng buhay ng sambayanan. Yan lang po.
http://www.torontosun.com/news/canada/2009/05/10/9410406-sun.html
Ellen, the link above is the latest on the MP involved in the Filipino Caregivers Case…this is about her attempts to Block the Bollywood Movie starring herself from being released and it will be released as “pirated” by next week. Another good subject for the Media…
Chit, iyong sinabi mo na hindi natin alam kung ano at saan ininvest ng GSIS iyong bilyong pondo. Ang COA baka alam kung nasaan na iyang pondong iyan.
Dapat talaga sa Pinas may transparency ang govt. Ang publico ay dapat may karapatang humingi ng anumang report sa govt, katulad niyang sa GSIS. We should be allowed to know the truth and we should have the freedom and right of information. Sa Australia, iyon ngang listahan ng nagastos ng lahat ng govt officials, katulad ng travel or entertainment expense ay puwedeng hingin ng isang newspaper at ipublish. May nabasa nga ako na may tinawag silang cabinet member na Mr ‘Lunchalot’. Kasi siya ang may pinaka malaking gastos sa pagkain na naicharge sa gobyerno. Mayroon silang batas tungkol sa right of information. Maganda sanang magaya iyon diyan sa Pinas.
Vic, what’s the real score on that two Pinay caregivers accusing their influential employer? Do you think something good could come out of it? The MP denies the accusation and says it’s a politically motivated attempt to destroy her.
Ms. Ella,
Bilang vice president for Public Relations and Communications ng GSIS, di ba’t ikaw ang mouthpiece ng ahensiya? Pumayag kang magpa-interview at wala namang personal na mga bagay bagay tungkol sa iyong pagkatao ang pinag-usapan ninyo, di ba? Maliban na lamang kung sa iyong pagsagot sa mga tanong ay hinahaluan mo ng mga personal mong pananaw subalit hindi pa rin ‘yun sapat upang sabihin mong nalabag ang iyong karapatan.
Tumanggi ka man, there’s a dagger pointed at your forcing you to file that case against Ms Che Che Lazaro.
Ingat ka lang. Ikaw ang markado sa amo ng amo mo.
“……pointed at your SIDE forcing you to file….”
Sana kumandidato uli si Alfredo Lim as President…
Tanga din itong si Ms. Valencerina. Off the records pala ay bakit sinabi pa kay Che-che. That’s your prize for not guarding your mouth. Nagdemanda dahil totoo ang inilabas ni Che-che! Sige, managot ka sa amo mong bitch na inubos na ang pera ng GSIS members!
I fully agree with saxnviolins, there can be no claim of privacy of communications in the interview between Lazaro and Valencerina. As I stated in my blog “The Right to Speak,” Valencerina is a public official – and communications officer of GSIS, who is expected to provide information to the public about her agency’s programs – and was interviewed about her agency’s policy of entitlement which affects several government employees. The interview clearly concerns the policies of GSIS – which is a matter of public concern – and NOT about private or personal information concerning Valencerina. I think the anti-wire tapping charge is a devious, although not very well-thought, scheme.
Huwag nating iligaw ang issue. isa itong kaso ng isang journalist na inilabas pa din ang usapan kahit walang permiso sa kausap.
Eto, galing sa Tribune, na alam naman nating hindi pro-government…
http://www.tribune.net.ph/headlines/20090510hed3.html
The local media community appears to be divided on the issue on whether the Lazaro case is a case of press freedom or a case of a journalist having violated the rules of journalism, as even an instance of a journalist airing or publishing agreed off-the-record statements of his source is already a breach of journalistic ethics.
It will be recalled that veteran US broadcaster Connie Chung was booted out of the major network in the US a decade ago for having aired an off the record comment made by the mother of then Rep. Newt Gringgich that then First Lady Hilary Clinton was a bitch. This was not regarded as a case of press freedom, but a violation of the rules of journalism.
an instance of a journalist airing or publishing agreed off-the-record statements of his source is already a breach of journalistic ethics.
The issue is the criminal charge. A violation of journalistic ethics is not a crime. Huwag mong ihalo ang ethics at criminal law.
Ethics? Mag-usap silang magkakabaro; lawyers proceed against each other at the IBP. Doctors do the same in the board or guild, or whatever it is called.
The right to privacy under Gloria, the evil that launch a thousand Pidals!
As long as Ms. Valencerina, representing GSIS (a government agency), gave interview or offered info of public interests even if she requested Che-che that it be off the records, the airing of such does not constitute violation of her right to privacy because the info affects the interest of public employees. Tinawag pa silang PUBLIC employees kung bawal pala na talakayin ang kanilang sitwasyon.
If Che-che wiretapped her as an ordinary and private individual on private topics that ‘ruined’ her personally, that’s another matter. My take as an ordinary pinoy.
The bottom line here is, the contributors to the GSIS need to know where the money is. Hindi ba tayo nakakahalata na tuwing “accoutability” is brought up, linilihis ng EK and issue and COUNTER SUES. They will twist the facts to suit their positions. Grabe talaga.
Sabagay, look what happened to the wiretapped “Hello Garci” tapes? Walang nangyari.
Che-che, I hope that you will get through this. Get Harry Roque as your lawyer. Magaling siya.
Sadly, the prostrituted law in the Philippines is tailored to the “powerful”.
Che-che, can you bring your case to the sala of Judge Lorredo? He will make sure that justice is done. I know, you can not pick the judge in your case.
BE, Lots of good will come out of the Case…Right now, the Immigration Parliamentary Committee is having a hearing to review the immigration rules pertaining to Contract workers, particularly Nannies and Caregivers, regarding their eligibility for Immigrant Visa..
The two caregivers are invited to testify with the Committee Tuesday and the MP can Deny all She wants, but the Investigations will reveal the FACTS. Right now, she has caused a few Minister in Trouble, particularly the Provincial Minister of Labour for Failure to immediately brought the Matter to the attention of the Provincial Legislature and Its Federal Counterpart and the Party, the Liberal Party who parachuted Miss Dhalla to this particular District where there are many Sikh constituents as supporters to court for the Liberal Party overall, is now in the process of doing their own investigation of all the allegations towards Her…
Please note that she already gave her post with the Opposition (quit) as Youth and Multiculturalism Critique, but no one can force her to resign since she was elected by Her constituents…The Party may Expel Her, or if charge of breaking some Immigration Acts laws and Labour Laws, then she may not run or not get elected next election…
So far, there is no Criminal Code violation that can be cited in the Allegations, all specific statutory violations, like immigration, for not having an approved paper to hire caregivers…paying under the table, thereby avoiding tax, (taxation law) and labour code for paying less than minimum and not paying overtime, and also not paying for employers share of government pensions and employment insurance…lots of violations and kind of hard to shake up…denying means nothing…keep you updated…takes a while, for due process to resolve things…
One good thing with Canada and the US as well is that an illegal alien could still sue the employer if his rights are violated. After that, then the immigration would take action on the poor complainant.
Violating rules of journalism pales beside violating the very spirit of laws and statutes of the land, where laws are used to shield wrongdoing – executive privilege to coverup a stinking ZTE- broadband deal, or a wiretapping charge to divert public focus on a GOCC anomaly.
Camilo Sabio v. Richard Gordon G.R. No. 174340 October 17, 2006
Mga attorneys here,am I right in my stand that even if the source tells me “off the record”, if I don’t agree to it, there is no agreement and therefore is not binding?
I don’t like it when a source says something then tells me afterward “That’s off the record”. In the first place he should have asked me first if i would agree to an off the record arrangement before he gives me the info.
I don’t want to lose the trust of sources but I find “off the record” impositions unfair.
What’s your take on this?
Thanks for the link, Vic.
Atty Jun, welcome. I visited your site. Nice. Simple and straight to the point. Keep it up.
Ms. Ella Valencerina: Prove that you are acting on yur own capacity, resign from GSIS!
Even if I’m not an attorney Ellen, I think an agreement should have been reached before an information is shared. Any verbal contract is binding. When the source suggests that it be “off the record”, you have the right to disagree. An agreement or contract has to be mutually agreeable.
ang tanong: saang stage ng usapan ni cheche lazaro at nung gsis woman na off the record. kung sa umpisa pa lang, sana sinabi ni lazaro na hindi pwede at kailangan mailabas. pero kung wala siyang sinabi, baka naman inisip nga ng kausap niya na OK na off the record.
pero kung sinabi sa kanya pagkatapos na nilang mag-usap, ay para sa akin, hindi pwede yun. walang bawian! alam niya naman kung sino si chechec lazaro at kung ano ang gawain nito.
Alam ninyo ba na ang may pinakamalaking sweldo at allowances at iba pang perks sa lahat ng GOCC ay ang mga executives at empleyado ng GSIS? Si Ella ay baka katulad ni Glueria, naka glue iyan sa pwesto, hindi iyan magreresign.
advocate,
Naniwala ka naman kay Valencerina na hindi niya alam na naka-tape siya?. Akala ko comment mo yung kasunod ng link, kinopya mo lang pala.
Masama yang ginawa mo, plagiarism. Ipinost mo rito ng walang pahintulot ng Tribune, hindi mo rin ini-specify na quoted iyon.
Mas masahol yung kasalanan mo kesa sa ipinupukol mo kay Cheche.
Just recently, ipinagmamalaki ni Gov. Gwen Garcia ng Cebu that the Cebuanos are fond of GMA. They should be held responsible for putting the most evil, most corrupt, most insensitive Malacanang occupant in GMA. Sila pala ang may kasalanan eh!
advocate,
Halata naman na alipores ka ni Evil Bitch! Anong pang hinihiling mo na pagiging objective? Objective ang mga tao dito, ang problema, ang amo na si GMA at pamilya niya ay sobra na ang garapal!
Bilib din ako sa tiyaga at tigas ng mukha niyong mga alipores ni Evil Bitch!
Si Luli ba itong si advocate?
Tongue, hindi kumukupas ang iyong ‘third eye’. hahaha! Bilib ako sa ‘yo, nabisto mo naman ang isang nagkukunwari.
Re: ““That’s off the record”. In the first place he should have asked me first if i would agree to an off the record arrangement before he gives me the info.”
Ellen,
What you say is common sense.
I think it’s only common sense for an interviewee, especially a government employee or a civil servant, to alert a journalist or a reporter that what he/she is about to say is off the record and to ask if the journalist agrees that it is off the record before volunteering the info.
In my view, an interviewee who volunteers or rants off what’s supposed to be privileged info to a journalist then says it’s off the record is playing a deadly cat and mouse game. That interviewee is either thick or wishes to show off. Either way, the interviewee, when he/she gets slapped on the wrist for not keeping his/her mouth shut, cannot claim that his/her privacy is breached when the “privileged” info finally sees print.
Thanks VM.
Page 6 of the the memo sent by Lazaro’s own lawyers contains this portion of the conversation between Lazaro and Valencerina:
http://aboutmyrecovery.com/2009/05/08/cheche-lazaro-and-the-wire-tapping-case-filed-by-gsis/
xxx
Valencerina: THis is not an interview po
Lazaro: No, this is not an interview, but I’m telling you that we are recording this because we want this on record that we are calling you. That’s the only purpose.
Valencerina: Pero hindi po lalabas? Kasi hindi ako yung spokesperson for this, Ma’am.
Lazaro: No, no. I know you are not addressing the issue, no.
xxx
Sa tingin nyo, Ma’am Ellen, off the record ba ito o hindi. Pumayag ba si Cheche, o hindi?
What was aired was Valencerina’s refusal to be interviewed. Private communication? Talagang kulang sa element ang offense.
She reiterated the reason for GSIS’ refusal, which was contained in the letter to PROBE. Private? This is a stretch. I did not know that the law has acquired elastic logic.
So kapag nag-interview ako ng pulitiko, at nagsabi siya nang “No comment” and I air it, wiretapping na pala – a violation of privacy.
Form over substance; the essence of this government.
Ay may kaso na pala ang magsabi ng totoo ngaun ganun ba yun???
Nagagalit sila kc nalalaman ng mga tao ang mga kapalpakan nila…di ko sure kong alam na ng mga tao na wala ng share ang GSIS sa Meralco last year pa ata nila binenta ung share the big question is “SAN ANG PERA?”
Tinanong si Valencerina kung gustong ma-interview, and she declined. Yon na ba ang interview? Yun ang private communication?
Reminds me of the following joke:
Babalu: Puwede ho bang magtanong?
Dolphy: Oo
Babalu: Salamat
advocate,
Clearly, there was no illegal wiretapping involved since there was implicit permission by the complainant.
Breach of agreement is a different thing though.
Kawawa talaga ang mga nagsasabi ng totoo dahil ikaw pa ang sasampahan ng kaso.
Katulad nitong “Balikatan Fund.” Yung whistleblower pa ang inakusa imbis yong magnanakaw na Gen. Cedo.
http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=467485&publicationSubCategoryId=63
Sana may makatulong dito kay Lt. Senior Grade Nancy Gadian na whistleblower ng Balikatan Fund. Nanganganib ang buhay nitong si Lt. Gadian.