December 2007 – Page 4 – ellen tordesillas

Maria Ressa’s position paper on media at the Pen

Published by Ellen on December 13, 2007

by Maria A. Ressa
Head, ABS-CBN News & Current Affairs Division

On November 29, 2007, more than 30 journalists were arrested, handcuffed and transported to Camp Bagong Diwa in Bicutan. 12 of the journalists were from ABS-CBN, detained as “witnesses and suspects,” according to the police. Others were told they would be released as soon as their identities were verified.

Head of Newsgathering, Charie Villa, went immediately to the Peninsula Hotel to identify our people; yet, she was told they would still have to be arrested and brought to Bicutan. We believe this move sets a dangerous precedence and erodes our nation’s democracy.

NHK’s Chairmaine Deogracias on Manila Pen incident

Published by Ellen on December 13, 2007

Good morning. I am Charmaine Deogracias a reporter for Nippon Hoso Kyokai (NHK)/Japan Broadcasting Corp. NHK is Japan’s sole public broadcaster, thus it is independent from any private or governmental organization and doesn’t run its five television and three radio services for the Japanese audience on commercial basis. NHK Manila is just one of its 26 news bureaus around the world, while it maintains 54 stations across Japan. NHK also broadcasts news and general programs for overseas viewers and listeners on both television and radio. Its programs are distributed round-the-clock to foreign cable TV stations, satellite broadcasters, while some can be accessed on the internet. The company prides itself to have pioneered broadcasting in the digital High Definition format, the first in the world, through its recent satellite channel, the Digital Hi-Vision.

Our news broadcast is mainly in Japanese but I do English reports for various news programs for NHK World, the international broadcasting service of NHK. Our news bureau in Manila also covers outside the Philippines whenever and wherever we will be needed when news breaks anywhere in Asia.

Media concerns in Nov. 29 incident

Published by Ellen on December 13, 2007

There are good pictures of the Nov. 29 incident in this site. Please click here.

(This is the statement I read at the hearing of the Senate Committees on Justice and Human Rights and Public Order and Illegal Drugs on the warrantless arrest of members of media after the Manila Peninsula standoff.)

In the November 29 incident at the Manila Peninsula, I see two media -related concerns: The first pertains to the duty of a journalist to inform the public of the unfolding crisis as truthfully as he or she can. The second pertains to the constitutional right of a person—journalist or not—to liberty and due process.

When I decided to stay at the Manila Peninsula despite the evacuation order from authorities (Malaya was never officially informed about the warning from the PNP, but learned about it from TV news), it was in performance of my duty as a journalist, which is to inform the public as truthfully as I can of the unfolding events that I considered—and still consider—of national interest.

Toadies crawling out of the woodwork

Published by Ellen on December 13, 2007

Malaya editorial:

A Marine colonel who headed the military component of the PNP-AFP contingent which assaulted the Manila Peninsula has started looking for “padrinos” at the Commission on Appointments to help swing his nomination to brigadier general.

His confirmation originally was seen as a cinch. There were some derogatory marks on his service record and he was also perceived as a “bata-bata” of AFP chief Gen. Hermogenes Esperon. Points against him, but not fatal to his career.

Post-Manila Pen, Col. Jonathan Martir is the proverbial camel seeking to pass through the needle’s eye. The opposition is determined to block his confirmation. He is likely to stay a colonel until the AFP rule on attrition catches up with him.

Esperon would be honored to be extended

Published by Ellen on December 13, 2007

by Victor Reyes

Armed Forces chief Gen. Hermogenes Esperon Jr. said he does not see it in the horizon but he would be honored if President Arroyo would extend his tour of duty as head of the 120,000-strong military beyond Feb. 9, 2008 when he reaches the mandatory retirement age of 56.

Esperon, the only one still active of so-called Hello Garci generals who supposedly helped rig the 2004 presidential elections in Mindanao to ensure President Arroyo’s victory, said the AFP chief’s tour of duty can be extended for a maximum of three years under the Constitution but the retirement age remains at 56.

Media arrests preview of ‘more dangerous times ahead’

Published by Ellen on December 13, 2007

Cabinet secretaries snub Senate’s media arrest hearing

Click here for Inquirer’s account: Media asserts rights, role in democracy

From ABS-CBN Online:

Journalists present at a Senate hearing on Thursday expressed fears because of the police’s arrest of media people who decided to stay inside a luxury hotel in Makati City last month while a group of rebel soldiers led by Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV and Army Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim were calling on the public to withdraw support to President Arroyo.

In her opening statement during the hearing, Malaya newspaper columnist Ellen Tordesillas, said scenes of movies about The Holocaust came into her mind while she and other journalists were being lined up and brought into a waiting police bus after the six-hour standoff.

Makati court junks rebellion case vs civilians

Published by Ellen on December 13, 2007

by Ashzel Hachero and Victor Reyes

A Makati court yesterday dismissed for lack of probable cause the rebellion charge filed by the justice department against former Vice President Teofisto Guingona and 17 others in connection with the standoff at the Peninsula Hotel in Makati City late last month.

Judge Elmo Alameda also ordered the release of 14 individuals from detention at the PNP Custodial Center in Camp Crame.

Ramdam na ramdam

Published by Ellen on December 12, 2007

Ramdam na ramdam ko and pahirap na pahirap na buhay.

Ang pan de sal na nagkakahala ng dalawampiso ay halos hangin ang laman. Sa susunod na mga araw ay magiging P2.50 na ang bawat piraso.

Ang Shellane cooking gas ay P627 na. Noong isang buwan P500 lang yun.. Mga tatlong linggo lang yan sa amin.

Trillanes: “Tuloy ang laban!”

Published by Ellen on December 12, 2007

This is to clarify recent news reports and headlines pertaining to my PDAF Allocation and yesterday’s court apology.

It had been my campaign promise to waive my PDAF allocation and I remain committed to that. However, I was informed by my Senate staff that since I am entering in the middle of the Fiscal year of 2007, half of the P200M PDAF allocation per senator is already part of the budget and, therefore, cannot be waived anymore. Otherwise, if the said amount would not be programmed, it would be like giving GMA a P100M blank check. Hence, I decided to have my PDAF funds programmed to various public hospitals all over the country as well as for the construction of school buildings. This is not a crime!

However, what had been conveniently excluded in the reports is my letter to the Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile dated 28 Nov 2007, where I requested that my PDAF allocation for infrastructure projects be removed from next year’s budget which is exactly my campaign commitment.

GMA found most corrupt president

Published by Ellen on December 11, 2007

Palace says media is to blame for survey results

by Regina Bengco

Almost one of two Filipinos believe that President is the “most corrupt (president) in the history of the Philippines,” a survey conducted from Oct. 20 to 31 by Pulse Asia showed.

The survey was done at the height of reports of cash payoffs to congressmen and local officials in Malacañang, the renewed calls for Arroyo’s resignation and the planned revival of impeachment moves against her, the Glorietta explosion, the continuing investigations on the broadband deal, the rift between Arroyo and Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr., the grant of pardon to former President Joseph Estrada, the holding of barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections, and the rising prices of oil products.

Month: December 2007