............................... ................................ JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2009 ............................................................................ WHAT’SiNSIDE Drug war Clash of Each side fought a None the values heated battle for wiser Blogging was not credibility and The press failed invented for public sympathy, to connect the journalists and with the press dots in reporting may not be an basically taking a the major political ideal medium for bystander stance. crises of 2008. them. n By Debbie A. Uy AVE THE Philippine media become more open to criticism of their coverage and re- porting? A recent complaint against top broadcasting company ABS-CBN 2 is an in- structive study on the media’s lapses, im- Hprovements in their response to criticism, and what more can be done. The remark Last Jan. 8, a coalition of The report groups held a rally in front of That night on ABS-CBN 2’s the Israeli embassy in Makati to primetime newscast TV Patrol protest Israel’s attacks in Gaza. World, a headline said, “Pasasa- The program featured different bugin ang embahada (Israeli em- speakers on various topics re- bassy, threatened with bomb- lated to the conflict. The protest- ing)!”while showing the protest- ers appealed to the Philippine ors marching. government to take action, and In its lead-in, the report said, for the US and Israeli govern- “Samantala, sumugod sa ments to stop the violence. They embahada ng Israel sa Makati also threw shoes at the Israeli Turn to page14 flag. One of the speakers, preacher Ahmad Barcelon, during his talk said, “Marami ang tumawag sa akin na gustuhin nilang bombahin ang embahadang ito. Ngunit, hindi ko sila pinapa- hintulutan (Many have told me that they want to bomb this em- bassy. But I didn’t allow them).” WHEN THE MEDIA STEREOTYPE Photos by PJR REPORTS 2 ................................................................. • JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2009 .................................................................... editor’sNOTE PUBLISHED BY THE CENTER FOR MEDIA FREEDOM & RESPONSIBILITY Melinda Quintos de Jesus Publisher Luis V. Teodoro Editor Hector Bryant L. Macale Assistant Editor Melanie Y. Pinlac Watch your back Kathryn Roja G. Raymundo Edsel Van DT. Dura AVAO BROADCASTER Alexander Adonis was the condition that Adonis attend a press conference with Jamaica Jane J. Pascual finally released after two years in prison on a Nograles, during which he would embrace the Speaker Reporters Dconviction for libel. But the circumstances in and thank him for his liberty. Adonis, who himself pro- which he was released are as disturbing as his incarcera- vided this information to colleagues, wisely refused to be Arnel Rival tion and the events that immediately followed it. part of that spectacle. Art Director Adonis was convicted of libel for a report which alleged It would be interesting to know exactly what kind of that House Speaker Prospero Nograles had been caught in relationship obtains between the NPC and Speaker Lito Ocampo an embarrassing situation in a Manila hotel during a tryst Nograles which led it to take advantage of Adonis’ under- Photographer with an alleged mistress, and was sentenced to a prison standable desire to be released, even if it be at the expense term of five months to four years. Adonis was paroled after of defending the press freedom to which the NPC has had a Carol M. Paragele serving nine months of his sentence, but was not told less than consistent commitment. As Adonis’ former Editorial Secretary about it until five months after the order was issued. This counsel Harry Roque has pointed out, the apology Adonis anomaly was followed by another: the prison warden made—apparently on the basis of the NPC information Jose Abueva refused to release him on the argument that another libel that that was what Nograles expected—was totally unnec- Joaquin Bernas, SJ complaint had been filed against him—based on the same essary, since he had been paroled and what’s more, had Melinda Quintos de Jesus report, but this time by the alleged Nograles mistress. filed bail for the second libel suit, which was itself an Fulgencio Factoran The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines and anomaly since it was based on the same report on the same Maribel Ongpin the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility filed a incident. Tina Monzon Palma habeas corpus petition before the Supreme Court. Before Apparently it’s not just the politicians, or big business, Paulynn Paredes Sicam the Court could act, however, the National Press Club the military and the police journalists have to worry Luis V. Teodoro (NPC) apparently brokered an agreement between Adonis about as far as defending press freedom is concerned. Vergel O. Santos and Nograles’ friend in which Adonis would apologize in Journalists also have to watch their own ranks, and Board of Advisers exchange for his release. The NPC has denied brokering watch them carefully. the release. Its president claimed, rather disingenuously, ................................................................................ that he had merely informed Adonis that Nograles wanted * * * * * * an apology, which under the circumstances was inter- preted by Adonis as a suggestion. Adonis in fact complied, This is the first issue of a reformatted PJR Reports. The PJR Reports and was subsequently released. reformat is the third for PJR Reports, and is intended to (Philippine Journalism Review What disturbs is the jail warden’s cavalier indifference complete its departure from the magazine format that Reports) is published by the to Philippine law as well as the demonstration of the power gave it birth. Center for Media Freedom and politicians have within their turfs. But equally disturbing Responsibility. All mail should be is the NPC’s involvement, which seems to have included Luis V. Teodoro addressed to: PJR Reports Center for Media Freedom PRESSED FREEDOM Manix Abrera and Responsibility 2/F Ateneo Professional Schools, 130 H.V. dela Costa St., Salcedo Village, Makati City 1227 Phones: (632) 840-0889/(632) 840-0903 (632) 894-1314/(632) 894-1326 E-mail: [email protected] Website: http://www.cmfr-phil.org PJR Reports welcomes feedback and contributions on press and media issues. ..................................................................... • JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2009 ................................................................. 3 frontPAGE speaking of A demonstration on the Gaza crisis leads to a heated exchange MEDIA between TV giant ABS-CBN 2 and a rally participant. Spate of killings away the editorial prerogatives of jour- “This is a problem that refuses to go nalists to print what they deem fit. away. Last Monday morning, radio Worse, this proposed law will intimidate commentator Ariceo (sic) Padrigao was journalists and prevent them from per- shot dead moments after he had dropped forming their watchdog functions be- off his daughter at the Bukidnon State cause the potential cost of doing their University in Gingoog City, Misamis job is rather high—fine, imprisonment Oriental. The two gunmen fled on a or closure. motorcycle as Padrigao lay dying from “It will, in other words, control what two gunshots to the jaw. the public reads, hears or sees in the in this “Padrigao, a so-called block-timer in media. Gingoog local station dxRS Radyo Natin, “No recent legislative proposal has was the seventh journalist murdered so brazenly attempted to violate the Bill this year. The figure is double the num- of Rights—‘No law shall be passed ISSUE ber of journalists killed in 2007, though abridging the freedom of speech, of ex- investigators say not all the murders pression, or of the press…’—than this JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2009 were work-related. In 2006, at the one. height of impunity in murdering jour- “For its own good, the Philippine nalists, 12 were killed, earning for the press should do better, and we certainly country the unwanted distinction of don’t need a repressive law for us to do When the Media Stereotype being the most “murderous” country better. The best way to counter this pro- DEBBIE A. UY ....................................................................................................................... 1 in the world for media members, and posed law is to prove that its premise is The “Alabang Boys” Controversy the second most dangerous after Iraq. wrong, that regardless of our shortcom- Who Bribed Whom? “Amid the outcry over the murders ings, we have the capacity to be accu- EDSEL VAN DT. DURA .......................................................................................................... 6 and forced disappearances of journal- rate and fair. Never mind balance, ists and left-wing militants, most of never mind objectivity. Just mind ac- Ping Pong Coverage of a Golfers’ Brawl which went unsolved, the United Na- curacy and fairness.” KATHRYN ROJA G. RAYMUNDO ............................................................................................. tions sent a special rapporteur to Ma- 7 Carlos H. Conde, explaining the Crisis and Scandals nila. After meeting with various sec- reasons why the right of reply bill tors and government officials, Philip should not be passed, Philippine Human A Public that’s None the Wiser Alston concluded that the military, ac- PJR REPORTS STAFF ............................................................................................................. Rights Reporting Project, Nov. 28 10 cused of extrajudicial killings, was in a Commentary The Gaza Crisis state of “almost complete denial”