2 MAY-JUNE 2008 PJR REPORTS EDITOR’S NOTE

PUBLISHED BY THE CENTER FOR MEDIA FREEDOM & RESPONSIBILITY Out of context Melinda Quintos de Jesus Publisher

Luis V. Teodoro Editor NE OF the long-established principles of The so-called rice crisis, the debate over the Philippine Hector Bryant L. Macale journalism is that of providing context. It’s a baselines bills, and the battle for control of the Manila Assistant Editor O companion principle of accuracy, which in Electric Company vied with each other for prominence on Don Gil K. Carreon addition to requiring that journalists get the names, dates the front pages of the newspapers and in the early evening JB Santos and places right in news reporting, demands that they also television news. Melanie Y. Pinlac tell their audience—whether readers, viewers, or listeners— As the PJR Reports monitors on the coverage of these three Kathryn Roja G. Raymundo the larger story of which what’s being reported is a part. matters of public concern (“The Price of Rice and the Rise of Kristine Joyce G. Magadia Apple Jean C. Martin It’s more commonly known as backgrounding, or that Prices,” pp.14-17; “The Meralco Controversy: More Heat than Reporters practice of reminding the media audience of what had gone Light,” pp. 18-19; “Reporting UNCLOS: Foundering in the before. It’s easily done either through a few sentences Shallows,”pp.20-21) revealed, however, while the print and Arnel Rival following the lead, or through a separate article, or a sidebar broadcast media dutifully reported the debate over these Art Director as it’s known in print, that can consist of a few paragraphs issues, there was little they provided by way of either a Lito Ocampo or several dozen. history or an explanation of the complexities that the public Photographer A hold-up in a slum community, for example, is better needed to understand so it could arrive at intelligent understood if the public is reminded that it’s the third in the conclusions on, for example, whether a shift from the policy Carol M. Paragele same vicinity in the last four months. Without context, a of importing rice to a policy of self-sufficiency was needed, Editorial Secretary report on an encounter between guerillas and government what’s driving the high cost of electricity and whether Jose Abueva troops in which there were huge casualties on both sides government control of Meralco would lead to lower costs, Joaquin Bernas, SJ would be no more than just another violent incident, or whether the bills that have been introduced in Congress Melinda Quintos de Jesus whereas it can be better appreciated if a brief history of to define the baselines of Philippine territory would Fulgencio Factoran rebellions and their root causes were provided. undermine the country’s claim to the Spratlys. Maribel Ongpin Backgrounding or contextualization has not been among The reportage on these three issues in fact underlines Tina Monzon Palma Paulynn Paredes Sicam the strong suits of the Philippine press, whether in print or the need for the media to reexamine the practice of Luis V. Teodoro broadcasting. This is specially true when it comes to those reporting only what those speaking in behalf of each Vergel O. Santos complex stories of public interest the citizenry needs to side in a major public issue said, towards a proactive Board of Advisers understand so it can arrive at the informed opinion needed effort to enhance public understanding of the issues that for decision- making. Providing context is a professional confront this country and its people through the obligation of journalists in a democracy, in which making contextualization that in the first place has always been decisions on issues of governance and policy is the sovereign a press responsibility. prerogative of free men and women. In April and May this year, three issues of compelling public interest were duly reported by the Philippine press. Luis V. Teodoro

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PJR Reports welcomes feedback and contributions on press and media issues. 5PJR REPORTS MAY-JUNE 2008 3 IN THIS SPEAKING OF ISSUE MEDIA PJR REPORTS MAY-JUNE 2008 Arroyo vs. Lopezes Media threats continue World Press Freedom Day “That’s not true. The government is doing “Fewer journalists were murdered or at- Journalists Visit Plaridel Shrine this for the people. In fact, the noninterfer- tacked in the country last year, raising the Phil- JB SANTOS and MELANIE Y. PINLAC ...... 7 ence of the government in ABS-CBN—(which) ippines’ ranking by three points on the world continues its media attacks against (Arroyo)— press freedom index. But rising to 97th place Test Case For Philippine Libel Laws is a good sign of democracy. If she is retaliat- from 100th in a field of 195 countries in the Germelina Lacorte ...... 10 ing, she could use her government to directly index prepared by the US-based Freedom So You Want To Work in the Media hit at ABS-CBN, not Meralco. But House is still nothing to crow about. The Phil- PJR Reports staff ...... 12 Malacañang is not doing it.” ippine press was classified as ‘partly free’ and tied for 97th place with Bosnia. What Rice Crisis? President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s chief legal counsel Sergio Apostol, reacting to “A similar message was sent by the New The Price of Rice and the Rise of Prices alleged government retaliation against the York-based Committee to Protect Journalists HECTOR BRYANT L. MACALE, DON GIL K. CARREON, Lopez family. The Lopez family, which has a (CPJ), which included the Philippines in a and KATHRYN ROJA G. RAYMUNDO ...... 14 controlling stake on dominant energy and ‘shame list’ of 13 countries in 2007. The re- The Meralco Controversy power distribution company Manila Electric port cited the unprecedented number of libel Company (Meralco), owns major television cases filed against journalists by President More Heat Than Light network ABS-CBN 2, May 7 Arroyo’s husband, First Gentleman Jose HECTOR BRYANT L. MACALE, KRISTINE JOYCE G. MAGADIA, Miguel Arroyo, though he withdrew all the 46 and APPLE JEAN C. MARTIN ...... 18 “Why has government suddenly gone af- cases (sic) on World Press Freedom Day last Reporting UNCLOS ter Meralco? year after surviving a heart attack. “The opposition is right: Because, like “As World Press Freedom Day is marked Foundering in the Shallows Ferdinand Marcos, Arroyo means to cow the DON GIL K. CARREON and KATHRYN ROJA G. RAYMUNDO ...... today, the Philippines can boast some progress: 20 Lopezes into submission, or at least tame their it is no longer described as the second most In Burma, criticisms of government in ABS-CBN Broad- dangerous country for journalists after Iraq or No News Is Bad News casting Corp. and ABS-CBN News Channel.” the most “murderous” for the working press. ROBY ALAMPAY ...... 22 Conrado de Quiros, Philippine Daily Inquirer, Since the start of the year there has been no Plagiarists May 7 raid by state forces on a newspaper office or libel suits filed by powerful individuals who The Vampire Chroniclers Blaming the media can influence the prosecution service and judi- HECTOR BRYANT L. MACALE ...... 23 ciary. Business News: “All of these lead to a shortage, which has “But most of the murders committed in been further exacerbated all over the world by the recent past remain unsolved — the reason Everyone’s Business panic situations and hysteria created by the for the country’s inclusion in the shame list of FELIPE SALVOSA II ...... 28 media and political opponents in various coun- the Committee to Protect Journalists. From tries.” 1998 to 2007, 24 murders of journalists in the REGULAR SECTIONS Philippines have not been solved, the CPJ re- President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, partly ported as it launched a so-called Impunity In- ...... blaming the media for fanning hysteria and Editor’s Note 2 worsening the global food shortage, Inquirer, dex. The failure to solve the murders has rein- Speaking of Media...... 3 May 9 forced the culture of impunity that prevails in countries where press freedom faces the great- Monitor...... 4 Killing the Fourth Estate est threat. Crisis...... 25 “Those threats can take more subtle forms. A recent study undertaken by the Philippine Chronicle...... 27 “Observing her closely during the past seven years, I have begun to form the conclu- Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ) Obit...... 27 sion that President Arroyo’s style of gover- showed that it has become increasingly harder nance is seeing her picture in media everyday. for mass media to obtain information about gov- “Publicity is the sole purpose of her being ernment projects. The PCIJ reported that the footloose. She attends and cuts ribbons of all curbs on access to documents that are supposed THECOVER inaugurals. It does not occur to her that a presi- to be of public record started shortly after the dent operates behind a desk, barks orders and ZTE corruption scandal erupted. As the nation marks World Press Freedom Day, the Philip- The political crisis has is hands-on on everything, particularly food production. pine press must confront these new challenges.” highlighted the basic press “The signs appeared early enough. Before The Philippine Star editorial on World Press responsibility of providing she could finish the first year of her grabbed Freedom Day, May 3 information and analysis. term, she allowed the hiring and employment of media persons in her government. The right of reply bill “A few of us succumbed to the tempta- tion. A few continue to stand their ground be- “It is our humble view that the right of lieving that media and the state are classical reply is not an infringement at all on the free- adversaries. dom of the press. On the contrary, it is an “She has practically succeeded in killing expression of that right so that the people in the Fourth Estate. And why not? That is easier general will enjoy the right of free speech which than putting the House of Representatives and should be respected by the media.” earning or whatever one calls it the respect of Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Q. Pimentel the Supreme Court.” Jr., explaining his bill on the right of reply, Amado Macasaet, Malaya, May 8 Manila Bulletin, May 8 4 MAY-JUNE 2008 PJR REPORTS

CHEERS JEERS JEER OF THE MONTH Parochial

JEERS TO the Philippine press for again displaying its parochialism despite the tragedy in Burma, which has been in the news since cyclone ‘Nargis’ hit the low-lying river delta around Yangon, the country’s biggest city, last May 2. The cyclone wiped out many communities, killing over 100,000 people. Despite the ruling junta’s restrictions against media coverage of the disas- ter, international media still managed to report on it. A look at the Philippine media’s coverage from May 7 to May 20, however, reveals that while the Phil- ippine press did use the reports generated by the wire agencies, it failed to provide the analyses needed that would have helped Filipinos understand why the junta has been blocking foreign relief efforts, which in turn could have led to a second look at Burma’s membership in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the Philippines’ own policies towards that country. LITO OCAMPO Most of the reports that were published in the Philippine Daily Inquirer, the Sources of corruption pared it with those of other countries Philippine Star, and the Manila Bulletin were sourced from wire agencies (“Frequent pay hikes making RP labor Agence France-Presse, Reuters, and the Associated Press. The pieces Filipino among the most costly”). journalists wrote were mostly columns and editorials, and only PCIJ (“Still CHEERS TO the Philippine Daily In- reeling from military junta, Burma a mess after cycle,” May 6) had a first hand quirer for a two-part special report The second part of the series focused on the inability of the minimum wage account of what is happening in Burma in the aftermath of the cyclone. that discussed issues of governance and Both Burma and the Philippines are members of the ASEAN. Burma’s Asean the budget system as well as the prob- law in the Philippines to protect workers from low pay. The report said the mini- membership was in fact brokered by the Philippines during the term of Presi- lems of the procurement law. dent Fidel V. Ramos. The junta’s behavior in the aftermath of the calamity—its The first article explained the sources mum wage—which should be regarded as the floor wage—has instead become blocking foreign relief efforts for example—should have been the occasion for of corruption in the country. It also de- the Philippine press to look into the wisdom of ASEAN’s engagement policy, tailed several large-scale corruption cases, the wage standard. This is because of the abundance of workers willing to work for which hopes to encourage the junta to democratize that country. No such effort which included the national broadband took place. network-ZTE deal, and the Ninoy Aquino pay below the minimum wage. International Airport project, among oth- BusinessWorld also noted the weakening ers. The first part also discussed how cer- of the country’s unions, which could have tain practices related to the budget and secured better working conditions for Spirit promising to cover their shuttle fees inces—to make the rebels, who tout them- other resources—for instance the setting workers. to Boracay. selves as providers of social justice, “re- aside of special purpose funds—encour- The front-page story was accompanied dundant.” age corruption (April 1, “World Bank lists No chopper for her by a photo of waiting passengers with a It also included Supreme Court Chief sources of corruption in RP”, p. B1). misleading caption. It said: “LULI WAS Justice Reynato Puno’s views on the role The second article focused on the loop- JEERS TO the Philippine Daily Inquirer HERE” and ended with “…Luli was of the writ of amparo in the prosecution holes in the procurement law and how for a biased report which drew the whisked off in a presidential chopper.” and prevention of repression against gov- the budget system can be further im- ire of the Presidential daughter. The report did not give Arroyo’s side ernment critics. proved. It discussed the need for the par- The Inquirer reported that Evangeline of the story. In a letter dated May 5, she (“Political killings not official but an ticipation of Congress and civil society in Lourdes “Luli” Arroyo was one of at least denied taking a government vehicle and unintended policy,” May 9; “Rights work- pushing for reforms and strengthening 416 passengers inconvenienced after took the Inquirer to task for insinuating ers’ lament: We’re treated like enemies of implementing rules and regulations Asian Spirit’s May 1 flights to Boracay, she had used her privilege to escape a pre- state,” May 10; “The ‘missing piece’ in (“April 2, Sealing the loopholes in pro- Aklan were delayed for several hours dicament others had to endure (“A letter gov’t anti-insurgency drive,” May 11; curement law,” p. B4). (“Asian Spirit flights to Bora delayed 8 from Luli,” May 10). “Chief Justice: No magic bullet against The two-part special was based on re- hrs,” May 2). Only two out of five planes assassins;” May 12). ports presented at the March 2008 Philip- usually bound for Caticlan and then to Highlighting the policy pine Development Forum, “Accelerating Boracay were then operational. Further- Inclusive Growth and Deepening Fiscal more, passengers were dropped off at CHEERS TO the Philippine Daily In- Stability.” Kalibo after it was deemed unsafe to land quirer for its series on the at Caticlan airport at night, with Asian government’s campaign against the com- Why they oppose wage munist insurgency. policies The reports featured accusations of military oppression from members of CHEERS TO BusinessWorld for a human rights and party-list groups. It dis- two-part special on April 30 and tinguished itself from other stories on the May 1 explaining the complicated nature same issue by using the statements of of minimum-wage setting. anonymous military sources who con- The first part discussed how the almost firmed what critics of the government yearly wage hikes are driving up the mini- have been saying—that the Arroyo re- Villar LITO OCAMPO mum wage in the Philippines, thus driv- gime has a policy of condoning the extra- ing down the country’s competitiveness judicial killings of “enemies of the state”. Why Arroyo? in attracting foreign investments. The re- The reports achieved balance by fo- port also detailed how both employers cusing on the efforts of particular soldiers JEERS TO Malaya for a confusing re- and employees oppose government’s to combat insurgency through peaceful port. Last April 28, it reported that wage-setting policies, which the article methods—for example by helping im- House Speaker Prospero Nograles was also tracked from 1951 to 1989 and com- Luli Arroyo LITO OCAMPO prove the livelihood of people in the prov- bent on deferring House approval of the PJR REPORTS MAY-JUNE 2008 5 cheaper medicines bill unless President The report said that the site could be human interest or “slice of life” stories Gloria Macapagal Arroyo “gives an as- hazardous or toxic as the activities of the which were meant to be interesting, but surance that prices of medicines will go past occupants, the United States Navy, these pieces all served to promote the In- down.” (“House seeks assurance on could have resulted in widespread chemi- quirer. Besides advertising the results of cheaper medicines bill,” p. 1). cal contamination of the soil, groundwa- their own contest, two pieces (April 6 and The report did not say why the House ter, or sediment. The report provided com- 13) also praised the paper. The winners needed Arroyo’s assurance of lower medi- prehensive data, citing several studies and and/or their families were quoted as say- cine prices. Similar reports from other interviews from concerned parties which ing that the Inquirer was “food for the papers quoted Nograles differently. said that the place is polluted. soul;” “has lived up to its name of deliv- Nograles will defer approval of the final The report, however, just raised the ering balanced news and fearless views;” version until he is satisfied that the pro- possibility of contamination and did not has columns/columnists that are “enter- posed bill could really reduce drug prices, directly say if the site indeed is hazard- taining, witty, educational, informative, according to The Philippine Star (“House ous. It could have helped if an indepen- inspiring, and worth reading;” “completes to defer approval of Cheap Medicine dent study had been done or cited to actu- their day; a necessity, not a luxury;” Bill”). Nograles announced the suspension ally prove or disprove the claim. among others. “after proponents of the measure in the Since the winners were ardent custom- House said the bill had been ‘drastically Ad as news ers of the paper, that level of praise was weakened’ with the removal in the bicam- not unexpected. But too much is too much. HTTP://WWW.ETHISCORE.ORG eral conference committee of the provi- JEERS TO The Philippine Star for pass- ence high single-digit unemployment sion creating a drug price regulation ing off an advertisement as an or- agency,” the Philippine Daily Inquirer re- rates due to talent mismatch. The report dinary news item. Last May 7, it published also noted how job generation in the coun- ported (“Cheaper meds bill hits new on page 3 what looked like a report on a snag”). try is still geared towards the agricultural celebrity endorser of a mobile telecom- sector-accounting for 41 percent of the 14.7 The reports used an April 27 press re- munications company. A closer look lease from Nograles. What Nograles ac- million jobs produced from 1980 to 2003. showed that it was all about the celebrity’s It added that while the manufacturing sec- tually said, according to the release, was endorsement of the company. The item’s that the House of Representatives may tor in other Southeast Asian countries is text and headline had the same font as the the source of quality jobs, in the Philip- defer the ratification until he “is person- Star’s other reports. Neither did the pa- ally satisfied that the law will guarantee pines this sector has generated only a per bother to put any special marks or million jobs in the last 22 years. cheaper cost of medicines” and that he will design on the item to distinguish it from discuss the issue with Arroyo and Senate its news stories (“Aga for Sun Cellular”). President Manuel Villar. “(W)e have to get the full assurance that if this is passed into law, it will really bring down the Self-promoting price of medicine. If we do not get this Baraquel LITO OCAMPO assurance, I think that it will be best to defer its ratification because I don’t see JEERS TO the Philippine Daily Inquirer Where’s the other side? the point of passing a law that will not for using its pages for self-promo- really serve its purpose” (“Nograles may tion, this time through its continuing JEERS TO Malaya for forgetting fair- endorse deferment of Cheap Med ratifi- front-page coverage of the winners of a ness and balance. Malaya reported nd cation,” April 27). contest marking its 22 anniversary. last May 7 that the Catholic Bishops’ Con- The contest, sponsored by retail giant ference of the Philippines (CBCP) had SM and Cebu Pacific airlines among oth- asked the Department of Agrarian Re- ers, involved readers’ sending in their form (DAR) to put lands owned by the wishes to the newspaper. The Inquirer se- Arroyos under the Comprehensive Agrar- lected 22 readers and their wishes for spe- ian Reform Program (CARP). The report Arroyo LITO OCAMPO cial attention in January for their loyalty got the CBCP’s side, as well as the sup- to the paper. porting views of farmers’ advocate Task Unraveling a lie Five pieces were published between Force Mapalad and Akbayan Rep. Ana March 16-April 15: “Teen helps ‘beauti- Theresita Hontiveros Baraquel. ful’ old man” (March 16); “Wish come true: But the report did not get the side of CHEERS TO the Philippines Free 38th birthday for faith-full son” (March the Arroyo family. Instead, Malaya got the Press for belying government 23); followed by “Mang Ramon dies days side of DAR undersecretary Gerundio claims that the Philippines is a preferred after getting wish” (March 25, follow-up Madueño who argued there is a process choice of foreign investors in Asia. In its to March 16); “Wish come true: He’d rather regarding the inclusion. Madueno’s one- March 29 story “Investors’ Last Choice,” read Inquirer than eat” (April 6); and sentence quote was at the end of the nine- the Free Press noted the United Nations “Wish come true for a wish come true” paragraph report, or eight paragraphs af- Conference on Trade and Development HTTP://WWW.PAGESBYARLYNDELACRUZ.I.PH (April 13). ter the other side had been presented report showed that the Philippines scored These winners were all covered in (“CBCP asks DAR to place Arroyo lands the lowest amount of direct foreign The view from this side under CARP: Agrarian reform summit bats investments (a total of $2.5 billion) and a for CARP extension”). growth of only 4.3 percent, or three CHEERS TO the Philippine Daily In- percent smaller than official claims. The quirer for providing another angle Explaining the talent report noted that the central bank expects on the controversy over the Hanjin Subic foreign investments to rise this year, but Free Port condominiums. “Are Hanjin mismatch that they may be greatly affected by the condos sitting on toxic site?” raised the US financial crisis. issue of health safety for future tenants of CHEERS TO BusinessWorld for its But what is turning investors away the two high-rise buildings (April 30, p. May 8 report explaining how more more, according to the report, is official A17). graduates may end up unemployed or un- corruption. Citing what Philippine South Korean company Hanjin Heavy deremployed because of talent mis- Business Forum Chairman and CEO Industries & Construction Ltd. built the match—the disconnect between training Michael Clancy said, the report noted condos to house their employees in the and jobs. that 50 percent of investors’ cost of Subic Bay rainforest. Media reports had Citing studies by the Employers’ Con- operations goes to bribes. The Free Press focused for weeks on environmental con- federation of the Philippines and Univer- report also said the preference for cerns, on the condos’ being built in a pro- sity of the Philippines School of Labor and Chinese loans by the Arroyo tected forest, and the number of trees cut Industrial Relations, the report discussed government over western investments in the process. HTTP://WWW.SAMCHUIPHOTOS.COM how the Philippines may again experi- is also hurting the economy. n 6 MAY-JUNE 2008 PJR REPORTS

CHEERS JEERS

One sided, as usual However, Faeldon’s lawyer Trixie Conspiracy theory Manic over Manny Angeles denied that it was her client who JEERS TO Teledyaryo for a biased re- had called ABS-CBN 2. Without disclos- JEERS TO 24 Oras for serving as a JEERS TO 24 Oras for devoting so port in favor of the Hanjin project ing the manner by which Faeldon reached propaganda platform for GMA-7’s much airtime not only to the fight last April 10. The report said that the Subic her, Angeles told PJR Reports in a phone newest fantasy series, Dyesebel and for between Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao interview that Faeldon had asked her to Bay Metropolitan Authority officials suggesting that the Manila Electric and Mexican boxer Juan Manual Marquez, deny that he was the man Drilon had in- maintained that Hanjin Heavy Industries Company deliberately triggered a power but also to nearly everything connected terviewed. Angeles said that the station & Construction Ltd. had not violated any interruption last April 29, during the with it. neither contacted her nor Faeldon’s fam- laws and added that the controversy might premiere episode of the soap opera. Not content with an 11-minute ily prior to the airing of the interview. discourage possible investors in the In the report, 24 Oras interviewed some report that gave its viewers a blow-by- ABS-CBN 2 talked to her only after she project. The report did not provide the Manila residents who expressed their blow account of the 12-round fight last had issued a statement on the interview. views of other parties, particularly those frustration over the blackout that March 17, 24 Oras also had reports on against the project. supposedly lasted for 10 to 15 minutes. Some the Filipino singers who sang before the Is this a story? of them were quoted as requesting GMA-7 fight started, the Filipino personalities Was it or wasn’t it Faeldon? for a replay of the pilot episode. The who watched the fight, the reactions of JEERS TO Teledyaryo for promoting newscast also claimed that other parts of Pacquiao fans across the country, JEERS TO TV Patrol World and Bandila resorts in “reports” that were dis- Manila had also suffered from blackouts. President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s for not verifying the identity of a guised ads. 24 Oras also interviewed Elpi Cuna, greetings to Pacquiao, and the welcome man claiming to be Marine Capt. Nicanor The program featured Jed’s Island re- vice president of the Corporate ceremonies Pacquiao received on his Faeldon before airing an interview with sort last April 17 in one of its news seg- Communication Department of Manila return to the Philippines. someone who claimed to be him. ments. Running for about a minute-and- Electric Co. (Meralco), who explained that There were also interviews with Last May 15, TV Patrol and Bandila aired a-half, the segment featured the resort’s a power plant failure in Pangasinan had Pacquiao’s family members and friends. a phone interview by ABS-CBN 2 reporter amenities, activities, and range of fees. caused the blackout. A number of reports on the Ces Drilon with Faeldon, who has been in It described the resort as a “cool” place, But the lowest point of the 24 Oras controversial decision that favored hiding since his escape from the Nov. 29 adding that people continuously flock to report was when the reporter mentioned Pacquaio were also aired, as well as Manila Peninsula siege. it. Video footage focused on the resort’s that the pilot episodes of GMA-7’s reports on what boxing analysts and fans In the interview, the man claiming to attractions, as viewers were invited by the previous soap operas were also thought of the fight. be Faeldon detailed how he escaped dur- management and resort guests to come disrupted by blackouts, as if implying In its November 2007 issue, the PJR ing the siege and declared that no mem- over. The report also added that the resort that it was intentionally done to Reports had already noted the ber of the media had helped him. He also provides summer jobs to underprivileged sabotage the shows. GMA-7’s rival station’s penchant for putting so criticized Senator Gringo Honasan for sid- youth. network is ABS-CBN 2 which is owned much attention on Pacquaio, a GMA- ing with the government and those The April 17 report was just the latest by the Lopez family. The Lopez family 7 talent, when he fought Marco Magdalo soldiers who had asked for a in a series of Teledyaryo “reports” promot- also controls Meralco, the country’s Antonio Barrera (“Money on presidential pardon. ing resorts. dominant electric distribution company. Manny?”).

The ineligibles particular government projects,” accord- on the role of local government units in of the governors, the report noted that a ing to PCIJ’s March 31 report (“Gov’t curbs the reclassification of agricultural lands majority of them (70. 68%) have bachelor’s CHEERS TO the Philippine Center access to information amid senate scru- into commercial and industrial use. degree, while those who have master’s and for Investigative Journalism for tiny of projects,” http://www.pcij.org/ doctorate degrees accounted for 17.24 % unraveling the extent and repercussions stories/2008/access-to-info.html). The Profiling governors and 8.62 % respectively (http:// of the appointment of ineligible political report’s findings were based on a recent www.newsbreak.com.ph/ appointees under the Arroyo administra- PCIJ story on official development assis- CHEERS TO Newsbreak for its sur- democracyandgovernance/ tion. The two-part report (“New CSC chief tance projects. vey that looked into the political Profile_Of_Governors.htm). faces pack of ineligible bureaucrats” and profile, educational background, and pro- “Malacañang is no. 1 agency with excess Sabotaging CARP fessional training of provincial governors Remembering the past exec hires—CSC”) detailed the rampant in the country. “invasion” of career service positions by CHEERS TO Newsbreak for its two- While a majority of the governors (37 CHEERS TO MindaNews for a de- Arroyo political allies and its effect on the part report which exposed how the out of 58 respondents, or 63.79%) still be- tailed article on the meaning of the bureaucracy and governance. The report awarding of lands to farmer-beneficiaries long to political clans, the report “Most March 18, 1968 Jabidah Massacre (“40 years was published April 24 ((http:// through the Comprehensive Agrarian governors still from political clans, but after Jabidah, Moro struggle continues”). www.pcij.org/stories/2008/ineligible- Reform Program (CARP) is sabotaged. with varied trainings” (http://newsbreak. The report, published on the 40th anniver- bureaucrats.html) and 25 (http:// The report said that cattle- raising is com.ph/index.php? option=com_content sary of the massacre, featured several pub- www.pcij.org/stories/2008/ineligible- not just a status symbol for land owners in &task= view&id=4394&Itemid=88889066, lic figures from Mindanao who related the bureaucrats4.html). Masbate. “Landowners develop ranches to April 22) revealed that many local offi- incident to the national government’s poli- evade agrarian reform” (http:// cials had practiced their professions first cies and treatment of the Mindanao people The policy of concealment newsbreak.com.ph/ before entering politics—a digression through the years (http://www.minda index.php?option=com_content&task= “from the college-to-politics path that news.com/index.php?option CHEERS TO the Philippine Center view&id=4327&Itemid=88889066) stressed many members of political dynasties had =com_content&task= for Investigative Journalism for de- that it has also been used to exempt their been traditionally known to take.” view&id=4032&Itemid=75). tailing how the Arroyo government has lands from CARP. According to the report, 45 out of The Jabidah massacre, in which gov- increasingly limited access to public in- The second part of the report (“LGU’s the 58 respondents had practiced as ernment forces supposedly killed at least formation. “Access to data held by state help keep agri lands out of farmers’ reach”, businessmen, doctors, engineers, pro- 26 Muslim youth recruited for a mission agencies not only remains limited, it has http://newsbreak.com.ph/ fessors, and lawyers before pursuing to “liberate” Sabah, helped inspire the become nil in some cases, apparently be- index.php?option=com_content&task= a political career. Bangsamoro “struggle for self-determina- cause of the current Senate scrutiny of view&id=4344&Itemid=88889066) focused Looking at the educational attainment tion,” the report explained. n PJR REPORTS MAY-JUNE 2008 7

n By JB Santos and Melanie Y. Pinlac

OURNALISTS COMMEMORATED World Press Freedom Day by honoring the father of press free- dom in the Philippines. In an event organized by the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) last May J3, journalists from the National Capital Region and provinces of Central Luzon offered “press freedom wreaths” at the National Shrine of Marcelo H. del Pilar in Bulacan and called for an end to the culture of impu- nity and violence. Roses were also offered to slain jour- nalists.

WORLD PRESS PPI’s Jose Pavia FREEDOM DAY JOURNALISTS The need for solidarity and unity among media practitioners was also stressed during the cel- ebration. VISIT “Kailangan nating magkaisa, kailangan nating magsama-sama, at pakinggan ang kalayaan ng pamamahayag na sinimulan ng ating mga bayani tulad nila Marcelo H. PLARIDEL del Pilar (We need to unite and listen to the freedom of the press started by our heroes like Marcelo H. del Pilar),” said NUJP chair Jose Torres Jr. SHRINE Inquirer publisher Isagani NUJP chose to honor Del Pi- The NUJP, the Center for Me- Yambot compared our situation lar, editor of the reformist, anti- dia Freedom and Responsibility to the Spanish period when the colonial paper La Solidaridad, “to (CMFR), the Philippine Press In- Propaganda Movement started, emphasize the need for journal- stitute (PPI), the College Editors stressing the need for the media ists not to forget the past, particu- Guild of the Philippines, the Phil- to be more vigilant today. larly periods of history during ippine Daily Inquirer, ABS-CBN 2, “Ngayon ang kalaban natin ay which the media played a very ABC-5, and Bulacan-based news- hindi na mapang-abusong prayle important role to defend freedom papers such as Punla and NewsCore kung ‘di ang mga mapang-abusong and democracy.” participated in the event. opisyales ng pamahalaan. Ngayon

Journalists offer roses to slain colleagues. Photos by LITO OCAMPO 8 MAY-JUNE 2008 PJR REPORTS kailangan pa rin nating ipagtanggol “To make freedom of expres- ang ating karapatang-pantao at ang sion a reality, there are certain ating mga kalayaan kasama na ang ingredients required, some of kalayaan ng pamamahayag (Our en- which are the existence of a legal emies now are not the abusive and regulatory environment friars but the abusive govern- which allows for an open media ment officials. Today, we still sector to exist, political will to need to defend human rights and support the sector and the rule of civil liberties including freedom law to protect it, a law ensuring of the press),” Yambot said. access to information, and media Davao-based journalists literacy skills to analyze informa- meanwhile marched on the eve tion,” the Bulletin’s editorial said. of World Press Freedom Day to TV Patrol Sabado and GMA the local Hall of Justice to protest Weekend Report also did spot re- the imprisonment of radio com- ports about the celebration in mentator Alexander “Alex” Ado- Bulacan. Sentro meanwhile did a nis over a libel case filed by roundup last May 5 in its “Side- House Speaker Prospero De Quiros CHARLES RAMOTO tracked” segment by reporter Jove Nograles. In a statement, the Francisco of relevant news and Davao journalists called on the for Adonis. blog sites reporting and comment- courts to “look into the facts of Few news reports provided ing on World Press Freedom Day. the case that has already caused background on the current situa- The press can argue that press tion of media practitioners in so much undue suffering to our The Inquirer’s Yambot: defend press freedom freedom is not a reality in the colleague.” light of the celebrations. No sto- Philippines, as shown in the high Nograles filed libel charges ries were published regarding lighting other forms of attacks on fects of global trends on the number of unsolved journalist after Adonis claimed over his ra- what has happened to the many press freedom, the report also country’s press. killings and threats and attacks. dio program in Bombo Radyo that cases of the suspects in the kill- interviewed a journalist in Pam- There were also no reports on But the press ironically did not Nograles and a married female ing of journalists now pending panga on the status of libel cases the activities and celebrations go the extra mile in promoting broadcaster had been caught by in court. filed in the province. held by other countries. Only an event dedicated to its own free- police operatives and the The Inquirer, however, pub- The Philippine Star meanwhile Florangel Rosario Braid’s column dom and practice. Moving be- woman’s relatives in an uncom- lished a report on May 5 “ARMM ran a front-page report on May 3 in the Manila Bulletin mentioned yond spot reports regarding the promising situation during a raid more journalist-friendly, says about observations by the Euro- the UNESCO panel on “Access to celebrations and country reports at a hotel in Metro Manila. Ado- press group,” which cited updates pean Commission regarding Information and Empowerment by international press freedom nis said he supported his report on the cases of slain journalists press freedom in the Philippines, of the People”—the 2008 World organizations, the press could with interviews with one of the Gene Boyd Lumawag, Hernani “EC: Press freedom still under Press Freedom day theme. have done feature stories on the operatives involved in the raid. Pastolero, and Vicente Sumal- threat.” The article cited the Free- The importance of freedom of killings, or a status report on the Adonis was jailed after he pong. The report also cited in- dom House report on the Philip- expression and of the press was cases of the killing of journalists missed several hearings, there- stances of attacks against journal- pines as background. mostly discussed in the opinion pending in court. An article fea- fore forfeiting his right to present ists which had occurred in the Some newspapers reported pages. The Bulletin, the Star, and turing probable reasons and ex- evidence and to plead not guilty. Autonomous Region in Muslim the findings of international the Times ran editorials on May 3 planations for the decline in the Adonis was unable to attend the Mindanao during the 1990s. press freedom watchdogs the about press freedom. The Times number of journalists killed hearings due to financial con- On the other hand, The Manila Committee to Protect Journalists and the Star editorial discussed could have further increased pub- straints, he said. Adonis is cur- Times May 4 report, “Journalists (CPJ) and Freedom House. the reports by Freedom House lic awareness of the continuing rently serving his sentence at the mark World Press Freedom Day Though newspapers published and the CPJ about the Philip- threats to press freedom. Davao Penal Colony. by honoring Del Pilar,” provided articles from the wires on the glo- pines. The Bulletin’s editorial Adonis now faces another li- a listing of the number of kill- bal state of press freedom and the meanwhile talked about certain Impunity index bel case on the basis of the same ings of journalists and the num- culture of impunity, the reports “ingredients” needed for free- A few days before the celebra- report, but now filed by the fe- ber of cases filed in court. High- fell short of underlining the ef- dom of the press to survive. tion of World Press Freedom Day male broadcaster. Last April, last May 3, several international Adonis, with the help of lawyer organizations meanwhile re- Harry Roque filed a complaint, leased reports mapping out with CMFR as co-signatory, be- trends in the global state of press fore the UN Commission on Hu- freedom. man Rights regarding Adonis’s The New York-based CPJ re- plight and calling attention to the leased its Impunity Index, plac- country’s archaic criminal libel ing the Philippines in sixth place law. worldwide with a rating of 0.289 NUJP also held a poetry/sing- unsolved murders of journalists ing night for journalists “Pa- per one million inhabitants. imPRESS ka JAM” at the Freedom CPJ’s Impunity Index calcu- Bar in Quezon City. Conrado de lated the number of unsolved jour- Quiros, Pete Lacaba, and Inday nalist murders as a percentage of Espina Varona were among those the population in each country, who read poetry and sang. from the years 1998 to 2007. CPJ arrived at the 0.289 rating by di- Spotty coverage viding 24, its tallied number of Judging from the spotty cov- unsolved cases since 1997, by 83.1, erage of the occasion, Philippine the population of the Philippines news organizations themselves in millions as per CPJ’s research were not very excited over World data. Afghanistan, Nepal, Russia, Press Freedom Day. Mexico, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Most of the articles about India, in that order, registered World Press Freedom Day activi- lower impunity rates than the Phil- ties were mainly spot reports ippines. about the celebration in Bulacan, “Most countries on the Impu- while no national daily reported nity Index are democratic, are not the march of Davao journalists Lacaba sings during “Pa-imPress Ka Jam.” CHARLES RAMOTO at war, and have functioning law PJR REPORTS MAY-JUNE 2008 9

In front of a press freedom icon, journalists vow to defend press freedom and call for the need for solidarity and unity among media practitioners. enforcement institutions, yet ter for Community Journalism threats of violence,” with orga- The Supreme Court mean- journalists are regularly targeted and Development, Philippine nized crime also posing as a po- Judging from while granted last March 11 the for murder and no one is held Center for Investigative Journal- tent threat to media practice. petition of Mindoro-based jour- accountable,” CPJ’s Impunity In- ism, Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaser “Press freedom in 2007 con- the spotty nalist Nilo Baculo Sr. for a writ dex noted. ng Pilipinas, PPI, US-based news- tinued to face limits due to the of amparo after he discovered a “While the country has a free paper the Philippine News, and the ongoing threat posed by journal- coverage of the plot to kill him by persons men- and vibrant press, journalists cov- CMFR which serves as secretariat. ist-targeted violence and the use tioned in one of his exposés. It ering corruption, crime, and poli- The campaign involves a of defamation suits to silence criti- occasion, was the first writ of amparo tics have repeatedly been tar- public awareness drive, generat- cism of public officials, while the Philippine news granted by the high court to a geted with violence. Broadcast ing more research data and re- arrests of 30 media workers cov- media practitioner. commentators and reporters in ports into the killing of journal- ering a coup attempt in Novem- organizations A week after, on March 18, the provincial regions are especially ists, and mobilizing quick-re- ber and subsequent warnings in- Supreme Court also approved the vulnerable. Politicians and police sponse teams that will act when fringed upon news coverage of a themselves transfer of the cases of the sus- have been implicated in a num- journalists are killed. significant national event,” Free- pects in the killing of Rolando ber of slayings, but corruption in dom House’s country report on were not very Ureta and Herson Hinolan from the local court system has sty- Freedom House report the Philippines said. Kalibo, Aklan to Cebu City. The mied efforts to prosecute,” the Freedom House issued a re- CMFR counted two journal- excited over petition for change of venue was CPJ Impunity Index country re- port on April 29, “Freedom House: ists/media practitioners killed in filed by the FFFJ and the NUJP, port on the Philippines stated. Press Freedom Losses Outnumber the line of duty in 2007, while six World Press citing the influence of the accused Joel Simon, executive director Gains Two to One in 2007,” stat- were killed in 2006. Despite the in Kalibo as likely to affect the of CPJ, said that the failure to pun- ing that “(g)lobal press freedom decline in the number of journal- Freedom Day trial and compromise the safety ish perpetrators “sends a terrible underwent a clear decline in 2007, ists killed, CMFR has recorded ...... of witnesses. signal to the press and to others with journalists struggling to instances of journalists attacked In a statement by the NUJP, who would harm journalists.” work in increasingly hostile en- and harassed as well as other cant advances in press freedom Torres said these positive devel- In response to the numerous vironments in almost every re- forms of incursions, like legal protection in the early half of opments are but the fruits of unsolved cases of killing of jour- gion in the world.” harassments into the Constitu- 2008. On January 28, media orga- media’s unrelenting drive to pro- nalists, an anti-impunity cam- In Freedom House’s recently tionally-guaranteed right to free- nizations filed a civil suit before tect press freedom. paign for the Philippines was released Freedom of the Press 2008: dom of the press and expression. the Makati Regional Trial Court “As we celebrate (World launched by the Freedom Fund A Global Survey of Media Indepen- President Gloria Macapagal Ar- (RTC) against government agen- Press Freedom Day), however, let for Filipino Journalists (FFFJ), dence, the Philippines registered royo has also issued Executive cies involved in the arrest of more us be reminded that the tenuous CPJ, Open Society Institute, and a slight improvement as it Order 608 which further restricts than 30 media practitioners on gains attained are not gifts from the Southeast Asian Press Alli- climbed three places higher from media and public access to gov- Nov. 29, 2007 at the Manila Pen- government,” Torres said. ance at the culmination of a three- being ranked 100th in 2006 to 97th ernment documents while the insula. Hours after the filing of “Indeed, that things are not day conference on impunity and in 2007, but remained under the country’s version of the anti-ter- the suit, Makati RTC, Executive worse than they are today is press freedom last Feb. 27. classification “partly free.” ror law, the Human Security Act, Judge Winlove Dumayas granted mainly a tribute to the local me- The FFFJ is a coalition of six The Philippines shares the 97th was signed into law last year. a 72-hour temporary restraining dia community’s tenacity in de- media organizations formed in spot in the 2008 Freedom House order prohibiting the involved fending press freedom.” n —with 2003 in response to the increas- survey with Bosnia Herzegovina, “Tenuous gains” agencies from issuing “threats of reports from Ergrace G. Reyes and ing number of slain journalists. where journalists have been “sub- But the unity among media arrests or from implementing Jennilyn Ruth A. Tamayo and re- The FFFJ members are the Cen- ject to political pressure and practitioners provided signifi- such threats” against the media. search by Kristine Joy V. Ramos 10 MAY-JUNE 2008 PJR REPORTS TEST CASE FOR PHILIPPINE LIBEL lease on hold. Leuterio’s case, which sprang from the same libel case filed by Nograles, was revived six years after it was filed at the precise LAWS moment when Adonis could have availed himself of parole, having spent six months in jail. Wary over where his case was heading and languishing for over a year in jail, Adonis brought his case to the United Nations Com- mission on Human Rights (UNCHR) last month, question- ing the country’s criminal libel law as a violation of its responsi- bility to uphold free expression. Adonis’s lawyer Harry Roque, chair of the international lawyers’ advocacy group Center for Inter- national Law (CenterLaw), said jailing a journalist for libel is in- consistent with the country’s treaty House Speaker Nograles LITO OCAMPO obligations to uphold press free- dom under the International Cov- enant on Civil and Political Rights n By Germelina Lacorte (ICCPR). The filing of the complaint be- N THE eve of May 3, World Press Freedom Day, fore the UN, invoking the free- Davao journalists trooped to the Regional Trial dom of expression clause of the Court (RTC) for the hearing of the motion to ICCPR to challenge Philippine O libel laws, is the first in Asia, and reopen the case of Davao broadcaster Alexander “Alex” should test how well Philippine Adonis, jailed on a libel suit filed by House Speaker libel laws can stand the scrutiny Prospero Nograles. of the international human “No journalist should be When they told her it was rights body. It was filed when li- jailed for doing his job,” read the Adonis, Macagcalat immediately bel, a crime in the Philippines, bright stickers the journalists recognized the name among the has been increasingly used by wore, prompting Helen Macag- list of inmates granted parole ear- powerful politicians to harass calat, chief of the probation and lier this year. journalists and to silence critical parole office, to ask who was the “We already have an order media, according to the National journalist in jail. for his discharge,” she said, Union of Journalists of the Phil- ippines (NUJP). The filing of the Represented by his brother Colly, Adonis filed the motion complaint before before the UNCHR by email at 11:35 a.m. of April 18, only hours the UN is the first Adonis Photos by BARRY OHAYLAN after he had attended a pre-trial in Asia and hearing of the libel suit filed showing reporters a copy of the against him by Leuterio. should test how order issued by the justice Aside from Adonis, the sig- department’s Board of Pardons natories to the complaint include well Philippine and Parole. It was approved on the press freedom group Center libel laws can Dec. 11 last year but Macagcalat’s for Media Freedom and Respon- office only received a copy in Feb- sibility and the NUJP. stand the scrutiny ruary this year. “We’re filing the case, not only Adonis, however, was not in the name of Adonis but also in of the aware of the order. Macagcalat the name of all media people in international said it was the Davao del Norte the Philippines and in the name provincial parole office that was of press freedom in the whole human rights tasked to inform him of the case. world,” Roque said. He also said But the revival of another case that the jailing of Adonis for libel body filed against him by Jeanette not only violated freedom of ex- ...... Davao journalists troop to the Davao Penal Colony to show support for Adonis. Lomanta-Leuterio had put his re- pression but also the freedom of PJR REPORTS MAY-JUNE 2008 11

Lawyer Harry Roque LITO OCAMPO thought provision (Article 18) of the ICCPR and the right to equal protection of the law and the pro- hibition against discrimination (Article 26). “Criminal libel in the Philip- Journalists listen as the regional director of the Bureau of Corrections explains why Adonis was not released. pines is contrary to freedom of expression and is inconsistent trooped to the RTC for the hear- with Philippine treaty obliga- ing, however, they learned that tions in the ICCPR,” he said. He the hearing for the case had been couraging the lower courts from argued that Nograles, as a public postponed, as the RTC Judge had imposing jail terms for libel. He figure, had ceased to be a private ordered the prosecution to com- argued that there is no reason for person the moment he accepted ment on the motion filed by the state to continue prosecuting public office. Adonis’s lawyers. Adonis because he has already Roque also said that the UN Lawyer Romel Bagares, Cen- been serving time in jail. complaint was filed only as a last ter Law executive director, chal- resort, after Congress failed to lenged Nograles, who recently enact a law decriminalizing libel. Adonis is not the said he was supporting the de- “Considering that the present only journalist to criminalization of libel, to take Speaker of the House is the same concrete steps to set Adonis free. man that filed the case that con- be harassed for Roque also dared Nograles to victed Adonis, we need to explore persuade Leuterio to drop her other options and tap all available libel in the complaint to allow Adonis to international remedies,” Roque country, although Romel Bagares, one of the lawyers handling Adonis’s case, helps file the mo- avail of his parole. said, referring to Nograles. tion for its reopening. Adonis is not the only jour- Nograles wrested control of he is one of the But state prosecutor Vic- Invoking the same Supreme nalist to be harassed for libel in the Speakership of the House of toriano M. Bello Jr. inhibited him- Court ruling that prevents jour- the country, although he is one Representatives early this year, very few who has self, effectively moving the case nalists from being jailed for li- of the very few who had been ousting former House Speaker to another pre-trial hearing on bel, Roque also sought to reopen convicted. Jose Miguel “Mike” been convicted Arroyo, the husband of President Jose de Venecia Jr. a few months ...... May 26. Adonis’s case. When journalists after De Venecia’s son exposed Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, had the controversial NBN-ZTE deal filed 11 libel suits against 46 jour- late last year. nalists which he later dropped in Roque said that hopes for Con- the face of a journalists’ class suit gress to pass a law to decriminal- alleging that he was abusing his ize libel have dimmed with right to sue. Nograles as Speaker of the House. Adonis’s conviction for libel Adonis was sentenced to four has highlighted the urgent need and a half years for libel early to pass the bills currently pend- last year for a series of commen- ing in Congress that would de- taries titled the “Burlesque King.” criminalize libel. According to Adonis, who was hospitalized NUJP- Davao, the victory of Ado- early this year for an ailment con- nis will mean a victory for jour- tracted while in prison, showed nalists in the fight to decriminal- up at the Regional Trial Court ize libel. “We would like the in- Branch 14 to face charges on the ternational courts to heed our call second libel complaint filed by in decriminalizing libel in the Leuterio. country,” an NUJP statement Handcuffed and wearing a said. “We would like the govern- blue prison uniform, a gaunt ment to be held accountable for Adonis sat side by side with cell Adonis’s case before the phone-snatching and murder sus- UNCHR.” n pects...... Roque sought the dismissal of Germelina Lacorte is a correspondent Leuterio’s complaint on the basis of the Philippine Daily Inquirer and of the Supreme Court ruling dis- Davao journalists call for the release of their colleague. associate editor of Davao Today. 12 MAY-JUNE 2008 PJR REPORTS SOSO YOUYOU WANTWANT TOTO WORKWORK ININ THETHE MEDIAMEDIA

Photos by LITO OCAMPO Contractualization is com- lowed if employees were regu- allowance and meal allowance as mon among broadcast net- lar. For example, Jocarlos Mo- his benefits. Even worse, talents works because contractual em- rales, cameraman, audio man, are not allowed to consume their ployees allow it, Samson Cor- and lights man for GMA-7’s docu- meal allowances unless they have dova, president of the National mentary program I-Witness, has already worked for 10 hours, he n By the PJR Reports staff Alliance of Broadcast Unions chosen not to apply for regular- said. (NABU) explained. NABU is an ization because the management Media workers in ABC-5, on EDIA PRACTITIONERS have yet to see alliance formed in 2001 by 10 will prohibit him from accepting the other hand, are better off com- better wages and benefits, despite company-based unions in six extra jobs. It is considered a “mor- pared with their counterparts in television stations and one ra- tal sin” for a regular employee other networks. Ed Lingao, head years of campaigning for an improve- dio station. in GMA-7 to work for other pro- of ABC-5’s News Operation De- ment of working conditions. Issues of Some talents work for one grams, he said. partment, said ABC-5 newsroom wages, tenure, and job security have program or more while accept- employees get higher wages com- also haunted media workers for decades. ing projects from other networks. Prepaid cell cards pared to those in other, bigger M They call this “naglalagari” Morales receives a net pay of stations. ABC cameramen could “Talents ” not employees ing to Felisberto Verano, presi- which means more earnings for P7,000 per month with only a earn from P15,000-P20,000, de- Contractualization is com- dent of ABS-CBN’s Rank and File employees. This would not be al- monthly P300 prepaid cell card pending on seniority. Reporters’ mon in the Philippine media. Employees Union, reporters un- salaries range from P13,000 to Most TV networks hire reporters der the IJM receive only a quar- P30,000. Senior reporters or corre- and other media workers as “tal- ter of the usual rice subsidy, their spondents who are already in the ents” or program-based employ- health plans do not include de- supervisory level earn more. ees. Talents have no job security pendents, and their bonuses de- as they are not officially em- pend on performance. More stable ployed by the media companies. On the other hand, Union Manila-based broadsheets, on Positions considered as talents members—who are regular em- the other hand, generally offer a include reporters, producers, re- ployees under Republic Act (RA) more stable working environ- searchers, and production assis- No. 6715—receive full rice subsi- ment. Most Manila-based jour- tants. dies, insurance and bereavement nalists working for major na- Most ABS-CBN Broadcasting pay, and bonuses including up to tional broadsheets are regular Corp. reporters, for example, are 15th month pay especially when employees and receive benefits hired by Internal Job Manage- company profits are up. RA 6715, like transportation and food al- ment (IJM), an in-house agency or the Herrera Law, prohibits lowances. overseeing the influx of talents contractual workers from joining The Philippine Daily Inquirer and their assignments. Accord- rank-and-file workers’ unions. pays the highest salaries among PJR REPORTS MAY-JUNE 2008 13 the Manila broadsheets. Employ- dents, for their part, are treated competition in the media indus- ees’ benefits include 13th month as talents and are paid on a per try has prompted media work- pay, parental and other kinds of article basis. ers to organize. leaves, rice subsidies, and insur- Some correspondents receive He said “(n)ewspapers con- ance, mostly because of the ef- certain benefits only after meet- tinue to flood the market despite forts of the workers’ union. ing certain criteria, while others the uncertainty of profit. So According to Inquirer re- do not receive anything at all. many media owners expand op- porter Jeannette Andrade, who Inquirer correspondents who erations at the expense of the has been with the Inquirer since reach the 50-column inch mini- workers’ economic benefits.” March 2007, she receives a mum each month “could avail of This led, he said, to the organiza- monthly salary of between transportation, Internet, and cell tion of unions as workers were P15,000 to P20,000. She gets the card allowances totaling P2,150,” exploited by their respective usual benefits such as bereave- according to Inquirer correspon- newspaper companies. ment and hazard pay, rice subsi- dent Nestor Burgos Jr. Some The Bulletin Progressive dies, 13th month pay, and health newspaper correspondents also Union (BPU) is one of the five es- insurance among others. The qualify for a monthly retainer’s tablished unions in the print me- company, she said, also has a fee s low as P1,000 in addition to dium. Other print organizations regularization policy through what they’re paid for published which have unions are: The In- which a reporter is regularized stories. quirer, Malaya, Manila Standard after six months. Today, and the Journal Group of Similarly, The Philippine Star All work and no pay Publications. reporter Iris Gonzales described There are also correspon- June Usuan, president of BPU, her working relationship with dents—either based in Manila or said a regular employee is now Star as “healthy.” “I have a in the provinces—who are not given benefits and allowances healthy professional relationship paid at all. Eight months after such as sick and vacation leaves, with my superiors. The paper is leaving The Daily Tribune, midyear and Christmas bonuses, run by a competent team. The Rommel Lontayao has yet to re- health insurance, and retirement compensation is also very com- ceive his complete paycheck necessary equipment and sup- line up at politicians’ offices to ask pay among others. Usuan, how- petitive,” Gonzales said in an e- from the paper. At the end of his port. for transportation money, which ever, noted that correspondents, mail interview. three-month stint as a Tribune can be as little as P20. together with the employees un- correspondent covering the Ma- ‘A long and trying campaign’ Pavia said journalists should der probation, are not covered by Measly rates nila City Hall and nearby gov- The poor economic conditions be properly compensated to stop the CBA and thus are not entitled The same salary and benefits ernment agencies, he received of media workers undermine the the mediocrity—abundant as it is to benefits. cannot be said to apply to corre- only P5,000. That was a month’s quality of journalism in the coun- at present—in the news coverage. Contractual workers like cor- spondents. Unlike Manila-based pay, he told PJR Reports. He does try. “How can a journalist write “If you give peanuts, what do respondents and talents, as stated reporters, most correspondents not know how the Tribune came critically if his pay is low, if he you get?” he asked. “Monkeys.” in the Herrera Law, do not have are not considered regular em- up with that figure considering can be fired anytime by his news- Redmond Batario, executive bargaining rights like regular ployees, so they do not receive that the paper had regularly pub- paper, or if his newspaper does director of the Center for Com- employees. “So dahil wala kang standard salaries and benefits. lished two or three of his articles not have an advertisement be- munity Journalism and Develop- status, kung ano iyong nadatnan Most correspondents also do not each day for three months. The cause the journalist criticized a ment, agreed. mong systema, iyon ang susundin have any contract with the news Tribune, he said, promised to pay multinational corporation?,” “One cannot expect a media mo (Because you do not have an organizations, meaning they him P100 for every published ar- asked National Union of Journal- worker to turn in high quality employment status, you just fol- have no employer-employee re- ticle. Lontayao is now a full-time ists of the Philippines (NUJP) output when she is paid a pit- low whatever system they have lationship with the news organi- reporter for The Manila Times. chair Jose Torres Jr. “That com- tance, is not given benefits, when you arrive),” Tonette zations they work for. Since provincial correspon- pany would not advertise in the forced to work long hours, not Orejas, a correspondent for the Each month’s take home pay dents generally get lower sala- newspaper and because of that, provided with the necessary Inquirer, said. She said Inquirer varies for each correspondent. ries compared with those based the (journalist’s economic) situa- training and equipment, and correspondents are lucky to have There are months when some in Manila, some work elsewhere tion will not improve.” generally considered simply as bureau chiefs who help them in correspondents would only take for extra income without, they The poor economic conditions part of the fixture(s).” The cam- dealing with management. home a measly P3,000 while oth- say, succumbing to corruption. of journalists thus affect the exer- paign to improve the economic In 2003, the Inquirer granted ers receive about P10,000 to P25, Correspondents, for example, can cise of press freedom. Torres said conditions of journalists will be their correspondents’ plea for 000. This is because everything send articles to local or regional that in reality, the Philippine a long and trying effort, former higher rates. NUJP has also depends on how many of their newspapers. media are not as free as many National Press Club president been successful in helping cor- stories got printed. “There are also NGOs which think, since journalists are depen- Roy Mabasa said. “This is the respondents get free copies of Most news organizations pay commission writing assign- dent on the economic interests of toughest problem that we (jour- newspapers from their respec- correspondents only for pub- ments, and Internet-based news media organizations. nalists) face,” Mabasa said, add- tive companies. lished stories. Inquirer correspon- outfits that pay hefty sums for These conditions are among ing “(w)hat we need to have is a On NABU’s part, Cordova dents, for example, are paid based contributed articles,” Bong the factors responsible for media sustainable (solution), not a one said the alliance is trying to ad- on the length and placement of Sarmiento, BusinessWorld corre- corruption. Torres said that while shot (deal).” dress the contractualization issue their printed articles. One In- spondent in Mindanao, said. some reporters can be challenged Pavia said news organizations among TV and radio workers by quirer correspondent said the Photographers share a simi- and inspired by poor working should ensure that they pay jour- working for an Industry Tripar- company pays P0.30 per charac- lar fate with correspondents. conditions to fight harder for nalists well and on time. Other- tite Council (Government-Em- ter or P35 per column inch. Thus, Dennis Sabangan, chair of the press freedom and better work- wise, the credibility and integrity ployers-Employees) that would correspondents could get as low Philippine Center for Photo- ing conditions, some succumb to of the profession will continue to agree on defining the structure as P150 and as high as P2,000 per journalism, said that while unethical practices such as accept- be affected. of the broadcast media. He ex- story. If their story is merged photographers for wire agen- ing bribes. Some reporters also plained that the council would with that of other reporters, the cies are paid P1,500-P3,000 per double as public relations offic- Advancing workers’ rights serve as a venue for concerned payment would be divided picture, the biggest newspapers ers of local government officials, Media unions have been ve- parties to talk about labor issues: among the number of reporters in the country pay only P150- while others solicit and/or accept hicles in advancing workers’ allowing all employees to join (one could get as low as P20 for a P250 per picture, P500 if it is money in exchange for favorable rights, looking for long-term unions, stating which jobs are merged story). Other newspapers used on the front-page. He said coverage. solutions to worsening labor suitable for contractual and/or pay their correspondents for tabloids pay a meager P50 per It is not surprising, according problems. Joel Paredes, chair regular employees, the standard- published stories regardless of picture. Aside from having to Philippine Press Institute execu- of the defunct Kapisanan ng ization of the wages of entry level length. Tabloids have lower rates more freedom with their work, tive director Jose Pavia, to find mga Manggagawa sa Media sa employees, and a CBA, among compared to broadsheets, going wire-based photojournalists are journalists who are unethical be- Pilipinas, discussed in the book others. n —with reports from as low as P5 per column inch. given more time to create pic- cause they have to make ends Labor and Mass Media in the Phil- Andres Paolo V. Tanchuling and Manila Bulletin correspon- tures and are provided with all meet. Some, he told PJR Reports, ippines (1988) that the tough Marrian P.R. Ching 14 MAY-JUNE 2008 PJR RE

n By Hector Bryant L. Macale, Don Gil K. Carreon, and Kathryn Roja G. Raymundo

O ITS credit, the Philippine press was already sounding the alarm over a possible rice short- age in early March as grain costs rose world wide. But the coverage intensified only after the agriculture chief’s call on fast food restau- Trants in late March to serve half-portions to prevent wast- age, while at the same time assuring the public of adequate supplies. The press, however, failed to high- light and explain to the public government’s contradictory signals on the rice situation. Both print and broadcasting offered conflicting and confusing news and views on whether the country had a food shortage or a rice price crisis. In- stead of analyzing data available such as the ratio between supply and consumption to conclusively report the situation, most reports relied on the conflicting views and reactions of political personalities on the issue. Media’s reliance on politi- cal statements and reactions instead of on the statistics and other in- formation available further con- fused Filipinos. The press should have looked into why the government THETHE was sending discordant PRIPRICC messages to the public on the issue. OFOF RIRICC

Photos by LITO OCAMPO RISERISE OO PORTS MAY-JUNE 2008 15

CCEE ANDAND CCEETHETHE OOFF PRICESPRICES 16 MAY-JUNE 2008 PJR REPORTS

market is disturbed by major supply problems and demand shocks that are pushing prices up.” The press mentioned the P728-million fertilizer fund scam in 2004 and the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program in re- lation to the current rice prob- lem, but did not sufficiently ex- plain how these issues affected prices and supply. When President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo announced that she would appoint a deputy ombudsman for agriculture to “We hear the government News ensure transparency in the bud- saying that we have adequate get allocation for food produc- supplies of rice. But on the other organizations tion last April 4, the press did not hand we also hear government look at the exact nature of this people saying they may come up failed to new office, given the possibility with an emergency plan,” said of duplication of functions with Ramon Clarete, an agricultural follow up other other departments, agencies, and economics professor at the Uni- officials. versity of the Philippines. “That’s leads and to Neither did the press check if an inconsistent message.” the government-issued family close gaps in access and barangay identifica- Gaps and claims tion cards could be tampered with The news organizations also the coverage or used for political purposes...... failed to follow up other leads When Sen. Aquilino and to close gaps in the cover- or aspire for self-sufficiency. Pimentel Jr. claimed that Agri- age. These included accusations Clarete said that going for self- culture Sec. Arthur Yap’s father- and claims that were not verified. sufficiency or continuing the im- in-law was involved in the rice The press should provide back- portation policy involves risks trade and therefore raised the ground and context on complex and the government has to assess issue of conflict of interest last issues such as the rice problem, which is more efficient. March 27, the reports did not Clarete said. The government’s “If we go for self-sufficiency ask Pimentel for his source. rice policy, for example, should at any cost, there is really noth- Neither did the press go to have been explained better in the ing much we can do if there is a other sources. When Yap de- news reports. drought or if super typhoons hit government programs are not But if the country decides to nied the accusation the follow- The press should have also us,” he told PJR Reports. Another protected from financial wastage continue its importation policy, ing day, the press accepted his studied whether the government concern with regard to self-suffi- due to corruption and bureau- he said, there are also risks that denial. should continue importing rice ciency, he said, is that current cratic inefficiency. are already evident. “The world In an interview with PJR Re- PJR REPORTS MAY-JUNE 2008 17 ports, former agriculture and trade and industry under-secre- tary Ernesto Ordoñez also won- dered why the press did not in- vestigate whether Yap had con- sulted with senior government officials, academics, bureaucrats, and farmers regarding the rice issue. The press also kept referring to a “rice crisis” but did not ex- plain what it meant. Ordoñez said that what the country was expe- riencing was a crisis in its “mild form” because of relatively high rice prices. He added that the cri- sis will reach an “extreme form” when the rice supply expected to come from imports does not ar- rive, since prices will go up even more. Ordoñez said the press should have known that, one, there is no rice supply shortage in the Phil- ippines at present; but that sec- ond, there will be one if imports do not come. Lastly, the country has had always experienced shortages in rice production.

Propaganda tool The government-owned NBN-4, through its news pro- gram Primetime Teledyaryo, consis- tently presented the statements and actions of the government in production. It also said that only a positive light without airing The press 46 percent or 1.4 million hectares opposing views. It also fre- of irrigable land in the country is quently aired interviews with kept referring actually irrigated while the rest ordinary people praising govern- has yet to be developed (“P6B for ment efforts and asking the op- to a “rice irrigation not enough to address position to stop politicking amid food security problem,” http:// the rice problem. crisis” but did www.gmanews.tv/story/91347/ P6B-for-irrigation-not-enough- Positive efforts not explain to-address-food-security-prob- To be fair, there were some lem). GMA-7’s 24 Oras also aired efforts to provide in-depth dis- what it meant a similar two-part special report cussion. For instance, the Philip- ...... on the problem of the country’s pine Daily Inquirer published a ent ways of increasing rice yield irrigation system from April 22 four-part in-depth report from particularly with the use of the to 23. The report said that the April 24 to 27 that analyzed is- system of rice intensification country can have an additional sues related to the rice situation. (SRI) rather than planting hybrid harvest of 4.6 million metric tons The first part (“Most Filipinos rice (“Science community divided of palay if all the irrigable lands ignored warnings of a ‘perfect over new way to increase rice available are actually irrigated. storm’”) tackled the global prob- yield,” April 11, http:// Other notable efforts which fell lem of food shortages. The sec- www.abs-cbnnews.com/ outside the monitoring period of ond looked at the National Food storyPage.aspx?storyId=114393). PJR Reports included BusinessWorld Authority’s (NFA) role and activi- say,” April 7). Bulatlat’s Benjie agency,” April 17; “NFA’s bleed- The Philippine Center for Inves- columnist Rene Azurin’s explain- ties (“Senator says NFA has be- Oliveros also analyzed the situa- ing cannot be sustained,” April tigative Journalism did a similar ing that an international rice car- come cash cow”), while the third tion, explaining that the country’s 18). The two-part report looked report last April 21, which traced tel will not work (“A silly idea,” discussed reforms in farming rice problem can only be com- into NFA’s operating losses that the SRI’s history and differences May 8). The Inquirer also provided mindsets and practices (“Mindset pletely solved with a reversal of could eventually be passed on to from traditional rice planting an analysis of the issue by econom- change needed for richer har- government economic programs taxpayers. BusinessMirror’s April practices (“Alternative planting ics professor Ernesto Pernia (“RP vests”). The last part discussed the and priorities (“Missing the Point 11-12 editorial also provided method key to rice self-suffi- food crisis not simply a supply activities of the Laguna-based in the Rice Crisis” April 6-12, background on the NFA and its ciency,” April 21, http:// problem,” May 5). International Rice Research Insti- http://www.bulatlat.com/2008/ history (“The NFA is not a busi- www.pcij.org/blog/?p=2297). The Inquirer should also be tute (“IRRI’s new miracles: Aero- 04/missing-point-rice-crisis). ness,” p. A10). The long lines at Times columnist Dan Mariano credited for publishing several bic, submarine rice”). Some reports and editorials NFA rolling stores had created also discussed SRI as a method of commentaries on the country’s The Manila Times provided a also reviewed the role and ca- the impression of “severe short- increasing rice yields several agricultural situation by former two-part special on the country’s pacity of the NFA, its problems age, consumer panic, and an ad- times in his column (“Big Deal”). agriculture and trade and indus- agricultural problem and the and history. On April 17 and 18, ministration that seems to be los- An April 24 GMANews.TV dis- try undersecretary Ordoñez. government’s wrong macroeco- BusinessWorld explained how the ing control of the situation,” cussed the problems of the Ordoñez wrote four analytical nomic policies on agriculture food agency is partly responsible BusinessMirror noted. country’s irrigation system, and pieces on the rice problem dur- (“Rice crisis ‘imminent’ a long for the slow development of the A special feature by abs- why the P6 billion pesos Arroyo ing the period PJR Reports moni- time ago,” April 6; ““Rice suffi- country’s agriculture sector (“The cbnNEWS.com/Newsbreak com- promised to improve the system tored. He wrote at least two more ciency not impossible, experts clock ticks for the state grains prehensively discussed the differ- may not be enough to boost rice pieces after. n 18 MAY-JUNE 2008 PJR REPORTS

n By Hector Bryant L. Macale, Kristine Joyce G. Magadia, and Apple Jean C. Martin

HE MANILA Electric Company (Meralco) has always been a controversial on again, off again Tnews subject, the high cost of electricity being a major target of consumer ire. This time—from late April up to this writing in May—it stayed in the news because of too obvious government moves to take the power com- Photos by LITO OCAMPO pany over. THE MERALCO CONTROVERSY: MORE HEAT THAN LIGHT While legitimate, however, the reasons behind the high cost the focus on the political side of of electricity. the Meralco controversy edged Meralco’s April 22 announce- all else out of the news, includ- ment of a rate increase was an- ing why the cost of power has other missed opportunity—for been so high it is regarded as a the press to provide informative major and steadily growing bur- reports on why the increase de- den by consumers. spite already high electricity Much of the necessary infor- rates. Much of the press chose to mation came only last May 12, report the accouncement of the during the first hearing on elec- increase as just one more item in tricity rates by the joint con- the business section. gressional power commis-sion From there, press coverage of the Senate and the House. The focused on the political side of hearing came almost three the rate increases when Winston weeks after Meralco announced Garcia, president and general another increase on power costs manager of Government Service April 22. Full-page ads either Insurance System (GSIS), com- favoring the Lopez-controlled plained that the company was not Meralco or the government also transparent with its documents provided facts and figures on and its transactions with inde- electricity costs. But the press pendent power producers (IPPs) did not bother to check which owned by the Lopez family. The of these claims were true or dis- Lopezes own 33.4 percent of torted or mis-interpreted to Meralco, while GSIS owns around serve the interests of either con- 25 percent. President Gloria tending party. The result was a Macapagal Arroyo followed failure to explain what is in ev- Garcia’s complaint with a call for ery Meralco consumer’s mind— lower electricity rates. PJR REPORTS MAY-JUNE 2008 19

The possibility of a govern- ment takeover of Meralco was widely viewed as Arroyo’s at- tempt to get back at the Lopezes for ABS-CBN’s supposedly biased and critical coverage of the ad- ministration. The television gi- ant is also a Lopez company. The press coverage focused on the personalities involved, and pro- duced the usual he-said, she-said reports. PJR Reports reviewed the cov- erage of the Meralco controversy by the three biggest newspapers and two major business dailies, as well as the primetime news- casts of the country’s two major networks and government- owned NBN-4, and the reports by the major news websites. The re- ports monitored were from April 23, a day after Meralco an- nounced another increase in elec- tricity rates, to May 13, a day af- ter the joint congressional hear- ings on the issue began. In an interview with PJR Re- ports, economist Cayetano Paderanga said that technical is- sues that directly affect electric- ity prices were not adequately discussed by the press. These is- sues include rising oil prices, the cost of inputs for both Meralco and the National Power Corpo- ration (NPC), and government taxes. Paderanga said that the Protests for and against press should have explained these technical issues so consumers form Act (EPIRA)—the first ma- tric charges either. could understand why electricity jor bill Arroyo signed into law Neither did the press look costs were rising. when she became president—and into allegations that Garcia per- three-part explanatory report on the real problem is rooted in Paderanga, who teaches at the why seven years after its imple- sonally stands to gain from a pos- the factors that contribute to high “structural, management, policy, University of the Philippines mentation, it has failed to lower sible government takeover of electricity rates last May 12-14. governance, and paradigmatic School of Economics and was di- electricity costs. There was also a Meralco because his family is in- The first part discussed how the causes.” rector general of the National dearth of reports explaining how volved in the Visayan Electric slow privatization of state-owned Economic and Development government taxes on electricity, Company, the country’s second power plants contribute to high Government interest Agency, said the press should among them taxes imposed on largest power utility. rates and Meralco’s “unex- If most reports in the pri- have also scrutinized the NPC’s local usage of natural gas, boost plained” rate increases (“Expen- vately owned press were gener- financing and stranded costs that those costs. Laudable efforts sive Meralco power justified?”). ally fair, Batingaw, the new news determine the price of the energy Despite its frequent mention Departing from the usual he- The second part tackled the diffi- program of government-owned they generate and which appears of the Wholesale Electricity Spot said-she-said accounts, some re- culty of lowering power costs NBN-4, was clearly used to pro- in electricity bills , as generation Market (WESM), the press did not ports and columns, however, because of the highly-regulated mote the government position charges. provide enough explanation on tried to close some of the gaps in electric industry and the heavy and even to mislead the public. Elpi Cuna, Meralco’s vice the nature of WESM and its pos- the coverage. government taxes and royalties Most of Batingaw’s reports on the president for corporate commu- sible contribution to high elec- BusinessWorld published a it collects (“Reducing Meralco’s controversy focused on govern- nication, told PJRReports in a power rates easier said than ment officials’ denial of a possible phone interview that while the done”). The last part looked at the government takeover. Others re- news reports have been “quite “give and take” relationship be- ported only the side of govern- fair,” they do not explain many tween the government and ment officials, and allowed their important points. Most reports Meralco, pointing out that the claims against Meralco to air stated that Meralco’s administra- Arroyo administration had used without verification. tive costs are being charged to Meralco to boost its public popu- As if to further show viewers consumers, said Cuna, but did not larity and image (“Power sector the extent of its bias, its reports point out that only one percent give and take”). also highlighted how high of the company’s costs can be so For its part, BusinessMirror Meralco’s electricity charges are charged under existing laws. published a primer from the Free- and the government’s alleged ef- Cuna pointedly suggested that dom from Debt Coalition (FDC) forts to bring these down. reporters improve their knowl- last May 13 listing and explaining Much heat and too little light edge of the electric industry so the reasons for the high cost of was generated in the reportage they can put the facts in context. electricity in the country. “The is- on the Meralco issue, as a result The coverage should have sue of high electricity prices is a of which the public has remained also looked into the capability result of a confluence of factors, uninformed as it was when the and competency of the Energy from bad governance to corrup- controversy started on an issue Regulatory Commission (ERC) tion, to mismanagement to rent- that is among those at the heart and if there is a need to review seeking to framework concerns,” of homeowners’ concerns. n — the Electric Power Industry Re- the FDC primer said, stating that with a report from Karen Nicolas 20 MAY-JUNE 2008 PJR REPORTS n By Don Gil K. Carreon and Kathryn Roja G. Raymundo

HALLOW IS a fitting description for most of the reports on the proposals to amend the country’s archipelagic baseline laws. A moni- tor of selected newspapers, news programs and news websites showed that most reports Son the issue focused on the political squabbles showing the press’s failure to fully appreciate the implications of the bill. The reports on the proposed amendments to the baseline law were treated as a side note to the more con- troversial Joint Marine Seismic Undertaking (JMSU) agreement of Spratly Islands the Arroyo administration signed with China and Vietnam. The press’s decision to zero in lution and would lose sover- on the more controversial JMSU, eignty over Sabah. In the next which critics said was unconsti- day’s report (“House to pursue tutional, limited the discussion baselines bill”), the paper did on the baselines bill which has not provide the reactions of the implications as far-reaching as bills’ proponents to these state- the JMSU agreement. ments. Neither did they try to Media coverage of the UNCLOS controversy focused on the political tussle between Sen. Santiago and Cebu Rep. To determine how the media seek expert opinion or past Cuenco, author of the House Bill 3216 or “The Archipelagic Baselines Law of the Philippines” covered the issue, PJR Reports studies to confirm whether Photos by LITO OCAMPO and MARK SANTOS (PISU-DFA) monitored from March 15 to May 15 The Philippine Star, The Philip- pine Daily Inquirer, TV Patrol World, 24 Oras, the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism, News- Reporting UNCLOS break, and VERA Files.

Where were the experts? Most of the reports on the baseline bills were in the usual he-said, she-said format and cen- tered on government official’s FOUNDERING bickering, which only served as a distraction from the real issues: Santiago’s claims are valid or whether it would bolster the Phil- not. Santiago cited Merlin ippine claim to the Spratlys or Magallona, a former foreign shrink Philippine territory. The affairs undersecretary and dean views of experts who could have of the University of the Philip- better explained these issues IN THE pines College of Law, as her were lacking. The public would source for her claims, but the have had a better understanding Inquirer did not get Magal- and appreciation of the baseline lona’s reactions. bills if the media had given it In another report, the Inquirer more attention. highlighted Santiago’s state- For instance, the Inquirer pub- SHALLOWS ments that the proponents of the lished several reports on the dis- baseline bills in the House of agreement between Sen. Miriam Representatives were tarantado Santiago and the proponents of (idiots) for not understanding the House Bill (HB) 3216, the Archi- impact of changing the country’s pelagic Baselines Law of the Phil- territorial limits (“Santiago calls ippines, authored by Cebu Rep. lawmakers idiots over baselines Antonio Cuenco, but failed to bill,” April 23). In the follow-up provide information on whether report (“Santiago draws solons’ citizens should support the bill ire,” April 24), the Inquirer sim- or not. ply focused on Cuenco’s re- Last March 26, the Inquirer re- sponse to Santiago’s tarantado ported Sen. Miriam Defensor statement. His refutation of the Santiago’s remarks that the new senator’s claim was relegated to baseline bill would shrink Phil- the last paragraph and did not say ippine territory if it became an why his bill would not be disad- archipelagic state following vantageous to the Philippines as UNCLOS guidelines (“Esperon Santiago claimed. admits RP lacks firepower to de- fend Kalayaan, pins hope on Unexplained terms UN”). Like the Inquirer, the Philippine Santiago was quoted in the Star also resorted to the he-said, report as saying that if the bill she-said format in reporting the is passed, the Philippines would proposed baseline laws. While have less jurisdiction over for- the Star was less prone to high- eign vessels in matters of na- lighting the squabbles, it failed tional security and marine pol- LITO OCAMPO to explain some of the technical PJR REPORTS MAY-JUNE 2008 21 provisions of the baseline bills. On more than one occasion, the paper mentioned such terms as “archipelagic baselines,” “exclu- sive economic zone,” “continen- tal shelf,” and “regime of is- lands” without explaining what these terms mean. The reports also frequently mentioned the amendments be- ing proposed for the Philip- pines’s baselines law to conform with the United Nations Conven- tion on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), a treaty on the legal order for the use of the oceans ratified in 1982. But there was little explanation of UNCLOS and how this related to the baselines bill. The Star was also remiss in following up leads that could have expanded the discussion on the subject. In an April 22 report, the paper quoted Cuenco, who said the House version is the cor- rect one as those who crafted the bill had the advantage of hear- ing the arguments of the experts for and against it. But the Star did not present the views of any of these experts. The reports mentioned that The press there are several versions of the Very few commendable reports archipelagic baselines bill in the resorted to the The Star, however, redeemed Senate and the House but did not itself by publishing on March 24 explain the differences and simi- he-said, she-said and 25 some of the few laudable larities among them. Aside from format in reports on the issue, a two-part Cuenco’s bill, already approved special by The VERA Files. for third reading in the House, reporting the The first part of this special Sens. Juan Ponce Enrile, and An- proposed detailed how neglect and infight- tonio Trillanes IV have their own ing within the Arroyo govern- In its reports, VERA Files explained the consequences of including the versions. Ilocos Sur Rep. baseline laws. ment have jeopardized efforts to Scarborough Shoal and Kalayaan Island Group as part of the main Philippine Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is set to in- ...... the define new baselines for the archipelago or as “regime of islands” in the baselines bills. It also provided the troduce another bill which would country. The second part reported three infographics above. classify the disputed Kalayaan Is- highly-technical baselines bills the government’s last minute ef- land Group (KIG) and the were largely ignored by the net- fort to meet the UN deadline for vided one of the crucial facts miss- But although much better than Scarborough Shoal under a “re- works, which did not devote a countries to identify their conti- ing from most reports: the size most stories on the issue, the gime of islands” (“New baselines single report to it. News on rice nental shelves—an effort to which of the area the Philippine stands VERA Files reports missed out bill to be filed Monday,” April shortage fears and the an archipelagic baseline law is to gain if the baseline bills were too in providing the perspective 26). government’s efforts to gain con- crucial—to gain exclusive rights implemented (“Arroyo neglect, of those experts opposed to The TV news programs re- trol of Meralco dominated the air- to exploit natural resources there. gov’t infighting jeopardize RP’s UNCLOS who are not necessar- viewed did not fare any better. The waves during the monitor period. The Vera Files report also pro- territorial claim,” March 24). ily politically motivated. n ......

THE PHILIPPINES SIGNED UNCLOS ON MAY 8, 1984. IT BINDS THE COUNTRY TO THE FOLLOWING:

1. The signing of the Conven- December 1898, and the Treaty of 4. Such signing shall not in any such laws, decrees or proclama- tution of the Philippines, and re- tion by the Government of the Washington between the United manner impair or prejudice the sov- tions pursuant to the provisions of moves straits connecting these Republic of the Philippines shall States of America and Great Brit- ereignty of the Republic of the Phil- the Philippines Constitution. waters with the economic zone not in any manner impair or preju- ain of 2 January 1930. ippines over any territory over which or high sea from the rights of for- dice the sovereign rights of the it exercises sovereign authority, 6. The provisions of the Conven- eign vessels to transit passage Republic of the Philippines un- 3. Such signing shall not dimin- such as the Kalayaan Islands, and tion on archipelagic passage for international navigation. der and arising from the Consti- ish or in any manner affect the the waters appurtenant thereto. through sea lanes do not nullify or tution of the Philippines. rights and obligations of the con- impair the sovereignty of the Philip- 8. The agreement of the Re- tracting parties under the Mutual 5. The Convention shall not be pines as an archipelagic State over public of the Philippines to the 2. Such signing shall not in Defence Treaty between the Philip- construed as amending in any the sea lanes and do not deprive it submission for peaceful resolu- any manner affect the sovereign pines and the United States of manner any pertinent laws and of authority to enact legislation to tion, under any of the procedures rights of the Republic of the Phil- America of 30 August 1951 and its Presidential Decrees or Proclama- protect its sovereignty, indepen- provided in the Convention, of ippines as successor of the related interpretative instruments; tion of the Republic of the Philip- dence and security. disputes under article 298 shall United States of America, under nor those under any other pertinent pines; the Government of the Re- not be considered as a deroga- and arising out of the Treaty of bilateral or multilateral treaty or public of the Philippines maintains 7. The concept of archipelagic tion of Philippines sovereignty. Paris between Spain and the agreement to which the Philippines and reserves the right and author- waters is similar to the concept of United States of America of 10 is a party. ity to make any amendments to internal waters under the Consti- Source: http://www.un.org 22 MAY-JUNE 2008 PJR REPORTS

IN BURMA, Photos from HTTP://WWW.MIZZIMAPHOTO.COM NO NEWS IS BAD NEWS n By Roby Alampay dependent information as more generals made the World Food and monitored and foreign jour- dangerous to them than Cyclone Program wait two weeks before nalists are routinely denied vi- XACTLY four years ago this month, a cy- Nargis, which may have killed its workers could even visit the sas into the country. clone, the strongest in 30 years, hit Burma 20,000 to 100,000 people and left affected areas. As a result, the rescue and re- (Myanmar). A journalist, writing one month up to a million people homeless. Four years later, Indian me- lief efforts in Myanmar will in- And for the Burmese people, a teorologists were warning of Cy- evitably continue to be tragic. By later in The Irrawaddy (a news magazine drought in information can be clone Nargis as early as April 26. now it is plain that the junta’s published by Burmese exiles), wondered how deadlier than the forces that des- As predicted, the cyclone made uncompromising policies re- the country’s state-controlled news media could fail to pots seek to deny. landfall in Myanmar on May 2— garding the press and access to E Catastrophes of this scale are the eve of World Press Freedom information are a source not only mention a typhoon that the United Nations said killed inconvenient to governments of Day. The irony is worth noting of political repression, but also at least 140 people, sunk vessels, and left an estimated this peculiar character because because the tragedy was not that of humanitarian emergency. Aid 18,000 people homeless. they give aid agencies compel- India’s advisories fell on deaf workers are not the only essen- The journalist, Dominic consequences of many calamities ling arguments to be allowed to ears. Rather, they were relayed tial element for relief and recov- Faulder, wrote that “a town of —be they earthquakes, floods, operate in even the most notori- to the gagged. ery that the country’s callous lead- 100,000 could burn to the ground droughts, hurricanes or storms— ously secretive of states. Once Myanmar has the worst con- ers are denying their people. here and nobody would ever are manageable and even pre- inside, relief workers can afford ditions for press freedom and ac- Until free and reliable news know about it.” Here, he con- ventable. Absent such freedom the world a glimpse of the pov- cess to information in Southeast and information becomes avail- cluded, is a country “where disas- in news and information, all erty within the world’s most re- Asia. All broadcasting systems able in Myanmar, the Burmese ters don’t happen, officially.” For “natural” disasters are ultimately stricted borders. are state-owned and the largest will continue to suffer horrors the people of Myanmar, this truth man-made. In Myanmar, caught between newspapers are controlled by the that are literally untold. n is more devastating—and its trag- When the military junta in the need to aid its people and the government. The junta’s censor- ...... edy more lingering—than any- Myanmar refused to accept relief reflex to hide any suggestion of ship of publications is so thor- This article was first published in The thing that nature may bring. workers into the country, its ac- vulnerability, the junta has been ough (and deliberately slow) that New York Times last May 10. Roby If information can flow as tions underscored a terrible real- consistent in its choice. After the daily papers do not exist. The Alampay is executive director of the South- freely as nature’s elements, the ity: the ruling generals view in- tsunami of Dec. 2004, Myanmar’s Internet, too, is heavily restricted east Asian Press Alliance (SEAPA). PJR REPORTS MAY-JUNE 2008 23 PLAGIARISTS THEVAMPIRE CHRONICLERS n By Hector Bryant L. Macale N THE age of Web 2.0, when computers and the JOURNALISTS Internet have become necessary research and writ- ing tools for reporters, any one can plagiarize by using online search and copy-and-paste technol- BEWARE ogy. But this convenience is a double edged sword: Ithe same tools can also be used to detect plagiarism. HERE ARE some quick facts about plagiarism from Plagiarism.org Investigative journalist Alecks Pabico found that out one The availability • Simply put, plagiarism is “the use of another’s original words Sunday. Since he had been writ- and ease of or ideas as though they were your own.” ing about the generics drug law for the Philippine Center for In- getting • All of the following are considered plagiarism: vestigative Journalism (PCIJ), Pabico kept himself updated on information ) turning in someone else’s work as your own the issue through Google Alerts. ) copying words or ideas from someone else without A useful tool that journalists can from the Web giving credit use to monitor issues, Google ) failing to put a quotation in quotation marks Alerts can send anyone informa- is one new ) giving incorrect information about the source of a tion on whatever topic s/he Pabico LITO OCAMPO quotation wants through e-mail. factor in the ) changing words but copying the sentence structure of One item from Google Alerts of the PCIJ letter on Feb. 6. a source without giving credit caught Pabico’s attention: a spe- proliferation of When PCIJ informed the copying so many words or ideas from a source that it cial report on the issue from The Times of what happened, it im- ) Manila Times posted online that plagiarism mediately conducted an internal makes up the majority of your work, whether you give same day, Feb. 3. He was surprised ...... investigation and confirmed that credit or not that the Times report contained sen- one of their staff had plagiarized tences and quotes that were eerily ter a day later. Although some the PCIJ report, Ang told PJR Re- • “Changing the words of an original source is not sufficient to familiar. Pabico found that the news organizations have used ports. prevent plagiarism. If you have retained the essential idea of Times report as well as an accom- PCIJ stories that did not give “It warranted a front-page an original source, and have not cited it, then no matter how panying story had lifted several proper credit to the organization, apology,” he said, explaining drastically you may have altered its context or presentation, portions of a story he did on the Pabico told PJR Reports, it was the that the Times regarded the issue you have still plagiarized.” generics law almost two years first time that PCIJ had formally very seriously. “We felt that it’s ago. The stories contained several complained, given the portions very important that to keep the • “Most cases of plagiarism can be avoided, however, by citing paragraphs nearly identical with copied. respect of the readers, we must sources. Simply acknowledging that certain material has been portions of Pabico’s Sept. 2006 re- “The similarities in quotes, we also be equally passionate about borrowed, and providing your audience with the information port. Even several of the quotes in getting the truth.” contend, are too glaring to be ig- necessary to find that source, is usually enough to prevent his story two years ago were in nored,” PCIJ said in its letter to The plagiarism case will cer- plagiarism.” the Times stories. Times executive editor Dante Ang tainly have a negative effect on How could the Times story II. We hope that “you will the Times, Ang said. “But I hope have carried the same quotes two promptly take appropriate action our readers would also appreci- From University of the Philippines journalism professor Danilo years later when the quotes in his on the writer and the editors who ate the fact that we acted as Arao: earlier story were based on one- may have been remiss in their quickly as we could, that we on-one interviews? “Malinaw na duties and (who) thus wittingly alerted them to this issue, apolo- • “There’s no difference between somebody who copied and nag-lift talaga,” said Pabico, who or unwittingly caused this un- gized on page one, and we also pasted an entire work from that of somebody who just copied is PCIJ’s multimedia program happy situation,” PCIJ deputy printed the full letter of PCIJ one sentence.” director. Curiously, the Times director Jaileen Jimeno wrote in which detailed all of the mate- used a quote in Pabico’s report the Feb. 4 letter. rial that was printed on our re- • Journalists can also be guilty of committing auto-plagiarism. but instead attributed it to an The Times responded by port without proper attribution.” Auto-plagiarism happens “when the author passes off as unnamed source. More curiously, publishing a front-page apol- Ang did not want to explain original something he or she has written in the past.” the Times credited the same PCIJ ogy. “The editors apologize to in detail the results of the inves- report in one portion but did not Mr. Pabico, PCIJ, and our read- tigation and the kind of disciplin- • Submitting a press release in its entirety and passing it off as do the same for the rest of the ers for publishing the articles ary action meted on senior re- one’s own story is considered plagiarism. A press release copied portions. which without our knowledge, porter Sherryl Anne Quito. should be viewed as a mere secondary source. If publishing a PCIJ immediately com- had made plagiaristic use of the “I don’t want to talk about full version of a press release, it should be attributed to the plained to the Times: first, by call- PCIJ-Pabico material,” the somebody’s reputation but suf- source of the release—not to a reporter. ing the paper’s editor that same Times apology said. The Times fice it to say that she feels terrible day, and by writing a formal let- also published the full version about it, she doesn’t deny any- 24 MAY-JUNE 2008 PJR REPORTS thing. In fact, she offered to re- sign,” Ang said. He added that Quito’s byline will not be seen IT’S PLAGIARISM “for a while.” According to Ang, he has known Quito for around JR REPORTS consulted three journalism educators on whether 10 years. “This is the first time the Times and Tribune reporters were guilty of plagiarism. that I’ve encountered anything They were shown copies of all the involved stories with the negative about the work of P reporters’ bylines removed. Sheryl,” he said. All three said Quito and Olaes had indeed plagiarized. A Compliment? In the Times case, there was even an attempt to hide the plagiarism, said Danilo Arao, an assistant journalism professor at If Pabico stumbled upon the the University of the Philippines in Diliman. The Times cited another plagiarism of his report using person instead of the PCIJ source, but used the same quote. There Google Alerts, former Malaya re- should have been an effort to credit PCIJ every time the report used porter Anthony Ian Cruz discov- information in its story, and not just in one portion, he said. As a ered that someone had plagia- result, the impression readers got was that the information in the rized him through the traditional Times report had been gathered by the reporter. way: by checking newspaper “There was a conscious effort to deceive,” Arao said. Or at the websites. And if Pabico’s article very least, to get away with plagiarism. was plagiarized two years later, Meanwhile, Olaes had clearly lifted paragraphs from Malaya. Cruz’s report was plagiarized the “It’s a clear case of plagiarism,” Arao said. day after it was published. Both Lito Zulueta and John Paul Galang agreed that both Quito As part of his daily work as a and Olaes plagiarized. The Times report clearly contained “passages, journalist, Cruz surfs news ideas, quotations, and paraphrases that came from an article put websites every day to check if online two years ago,” said Zulueta, who teaches journalism and Malaya used his stories and to literature at the University of Santo Tomas (UST). He is also lifestyle monitor rival papers and other Journalists can use the online medium to detect plagiarism. LITO OCAMPO sub-editor for the Inquirer and is the adviser of The Varsitarian, the institutions. When he saw the UST student paper. item from the other reporter, he managing editor of the CMFR Online tools in Journalists are not prevented from using information, ideas, thought he was” just developing academic journal Philippine Jour- and quotes under fair use, Zulueta said, but they should not be a story based on mine.” detecting nalism Review. He also writes a excused from citing sources. “That’s no problem for me,” column for Pinoy Weekly and is a Galang, a former Manila Bulletin reporter who currently teaches Cruz told PJR Reports. “The prob- plagiarism can be member of the board of editors journalism ethics at Far Eastern University, explained why he believes lem was that the entire article, of the online publication Bulatlat. combined with the Tribune had clearly copied Malaya’s report. “It’s highly unlikely except for the first four para- As search engines sometimes that two persons had come up with similar words,” Galang said, graphs, was copied in toto.” more traditional do not give useful query results, journalists can also go to human- unless the report is a wire report, or the two rival papers had agreed PJR Reports reviewed Cruz’s to do a collaborative report. Jan. 28 report (“Influential US ways of checking edited directories such as the journal says GMA sank RP into —Arao Open Directory Project (www.dmoz.org) to check, Arao morass of corruption”) and com- ...... pared it with the other report also said. Entries and bibliogra- formation or evidence, or data incineration and medical-waste published the next day (“Palace you could look at it as a com- phies posted on Wikipedia may updates. disposal published from Oct. 28 downplays US journal’s charges pliment.” also be a good way to start. There to 30 of last year, Quito also cop- vs GMA”) bylined by Sherwin are also sites available that were Identical ied some paragraphs from ar- Olaes of The Daily Tribune. Detecting plagiarism specifically made to detect pla- PJR Reports conducted an ticles posted online—one article Except for four paragraphs of The availability and ease of giarism such as Copyscape online check of three random was even dated Oct. 1994. No the government’s reaction to the getting information from the (www.copyscape.com). Google special reports Quito wrote for credit was given to the online issue as the story lead, the rest of Web is one new factor in the pro- Alerts (www.google.com/alerts) the Times. The check also showed articles. the Tribune report was the same liferation of plagiarism. Because or even a simple online roundup, portions copied from other news An online check showed as the Malaya account published reports are easily accessible as in the cases of Pabico and Cruz, reports, documents, and accounts Olaes had two articles that cop- the previous day. Not one word online nowadays, anybody can may also prove helpful. that were not properly credited. ied paragraphs from other re- or sentence structure had been copy and pass them off as origi- For more information about Two of Quito’s three-part se- ports without proper attribu- changed. nal stories. Journalists, however, plagiarism and journalism, Arao ries on barangay and Sang- tion. An April 15 report on the His article was not based on a can also use the online medium also recommended visiting guniang Kabataan elections pub- Japan Philippines Economic press release so there was no way to check whether their reports websites such as Plagiarism.org lished from Nov. 25 to 27 last year Partnership Agreement Olaes could have used the same have been plagiarized. (http://www.plagiarism.org) contained almost identical para- bylined by Olaes was entirely words and sentences, Cruz said. One way is to put a phrase or and the Poynter Institute (http:/ graphs from three different sourced from a Malacañang “I took over an hour reading sentence in online search strings, /www.poynter.org). online sources, all posted earlier press release. His Jan. 21 report the 15-page academic paper and journalism professor Danilo Arao Online tools in detecting pla- than the Times series. on the World Economic Forum made use of the interesting po- said. If the phrase or sentence giarism can be combined with Quito’s Dec. 2007 series on in Davos, Switzerland exten- tions of it,” he explained. “I found appears in other websites, then more traditional ways of check- bombs and other explosive de- sively used material from an (the deed) very insulting for my- there is a high possibility that it ing, such as contextual analysis, vices did not cite some of the Agence France-Presse report, self and journalists in general,” was plagiarized. according to Arao. online sources she used. She used but did not cite it. said Cruz, who is now a reporter “There’s no difference be- “You try to trace the sources a quote from a BBC report but However, it takes more than for the Manila bureau of the Japa- tween somebody who copied and that were used and from there neither did she identify the just online tools to curb plagia- nese newspaper Asahi Shimbun. pasted an entire work from that you can more or less detect if source. Quito apparently relied rism. Plagiarism continues to be “The other person did not even of somebody who just copied one number one, the writer was hon- as well on—but did not credit— a rampant problem in journal- make any effort to adapt my story sentence,” he added. “It’s plagia- est in terms of citing the data that an article from online technology ism. Likening the plagiarist to a to his own story.” rism, plain and simple.” A former was gathered there.” Other ways news website Wired News about vampire, American journalist Cruz told PJR Reports he no- chair of the University of the Phil- include detecting changes in the bomb detection. She also copied and slate deputy editor David tified his then editor and col- ippines journalism department, writing style, tone, and/or or- several paragraphs about bombs, Plotz wrote in 2002: “The plagia- leagues at the Malaya of the in- Arao has also served as chair of thography (spelling) of the ar- including their definition, from rist is, in a minor way, the cop cident. He did not know if his the anti-plagiarism committee of ticles. Another way of identify- Wikipedia—a popular user-edited who frames innocents, the doc- editor informed the other pa- the College of Mass Communi- ing plagiarism, Arao added, is if online encyclopedia which has its tor who kills his patients. The per about what happened, but cation (CMC). Currently the di- the article in question does not share of inaccurate and plagia- plagiarist violates the essential Cruz remembered what one rector of the CMC Office of Re- offer “value-added knowledge” rized information. rule of his trade. He steals the life- desk person told him: “Well, search and Publication, Arao is such as additional sources of in- For her three-part series on blood of a colleague.” n PJR REPORTS CRiSiS MAY-JUNE 2008 25 NATIONAL / INTERNATIONAL

NATIONAL 82237…had already become final been killed in the line of duty One is the May 13, 2002 killing of Media Freedom and Responsibil- and can no longer be disturbed since 1986. Not one mastermind print, radio, and television jour- ity (CMFR) that Polig also Case against Esperat by the courts. The filing therefore has been successfully prosecuted, nalist Edgar Damalerio, which shouted expletives at her and masterminds stalled of the Information against peti- while only two out of the 34 cases yielded a life sentence for gun- Cawis when they tried to explain tioners cannot be said to be a con- since 2001 have convictions. The man and former police officer that the town’s mayor had invited tinuation of Criminal Case No. Damalerio case, with one convic- Guillermo Wapile on Nov. 29 them to cover the event. Polig and THE CEBU Court of Appeals is- 2568,” the OSG explains. tion for the gunman, and the 2005, while the other is the March his three companions were sued last May 14 a writ of pre- Criminal Case No. 2568 per- Esperat case, with three convic- 24, 2005 killing of print and ra- armed, Catajan said. liminary injunction prohibiting tains to the case against Randy tions for the gunmen, are the dio journalist Marlene Esperat, in “At that point, they were the Cebu City Regional Trial Grecia, Gerry Cabayag, and only cases since 2001 in which the which accused Estanislao alarmed to notice him (Polig) and Court (RTC) from proceeding Estanislao Bismanos. The three killers have been convicted. Bismanos, Gerry Cabayag and his three companions bringing with the case against the sus- were convicted and sentenced to Randy Grecia—the gunman, out their guns. They offered to pected masterminds in the 2005 reclusion perpetua by Cebu City lookout, and co-conspirator— leave the municipality but were murder of journalist Marlene Hearing on murder of RTC Judge Eric Menchavez on were all sentenced to life impris- stopped by Polig’s companions Esperat. journalist begins Oct. 6, 2006 through the help of onment on Oct. 6, 2006. and an unidentified man wear- In a five-page resolution the testimony of suspect-turned- The prosecution team be- ing a (ski mask) and heavy penned by Associate Justice The trial of the suspect in the kill- state witness Rowie Barua. lieves that the case’s age, which sweater appeared,” the blotter Francisco Acosta and co-signed ing of a radio journalist in 2001 Criminal Case No. CBU-82237 is already seven years, will have entry said. by Associate Justices Amy began last May 9 in Cebu City, meanwhile refers to the ongoing no effect in the outcome of the Catajan said she and Cawis Lazaro-Javier and Florito Cebu with the journalist’s widow case against Sabay and Montañer. case. rushed out of the vice mayor’s Macalino, the Cebu Court of stating under direct examination When the Supreme Court is- “Witnesses don’t forget what house and boarded their van, but Appeals granted the May 7, 2008 by the prosecution that her hus- sued the resolution granting the they have seen and if given the that the unidentified man in the petition for a writ of preliminary band had received death threats transfer of venue, Tacurong City chance, they will reveal every- ski mask took a motorcycle and injunction filed by Osmeña in relation to his job as a journal- RTC Judge Francis Palmones had thing in court,” Senior State Pros- trailed their vehicle for some Montañer and Estrella Sabay, ist before he was killed. already dismissed the case ecutor Theodore Villanueva said. time. both accused of ordering the kill- “He told me prior to his death against Montañer and Sabay. There have been 71 journal- Catajan and Cawis reported ing of Esperat, preventing Cebu that he was nervous because of Palmones dismissed the case ists/media practitioners killed in the incident to the police in the City RTC Branch 7 Judge Simeon the death threats he had received even before the prosecution’s the line of duty since 1986. Of the capital town of Lagawe on May Dumdum Jr. from hearing the (in relation to his media work),” presentation of evidence. 34 cases since 2001, there have 11. case for an indefinite period. It said Emely Ureta, wife of Rolando The OSG suggested that it Catajan told CMFR that she also stopped the Feb. 4, 2008 war- Ureta who was slain on Jan. 3, been only two convictions. would only be possible to hear and Cawis now fear for their se- rants of arrest against Montañer 2001 in Kalibo, Aklan. The trial the case in Cebu if the prosecu- curity and are considering fil- and Sabay from being served. of suspect Amador Raz is ongo- Official threatens tion withdraws the charges filed ing a complaint. - with reports from Esperat, known as “Madame ing at the sala of Cebu Regional correspondents before the Cebu RTC, files it be- Inquirer Northern Luzon Bureau Witness,” was killed on March Trial Court Judge Sylvia fore the Tacurong RTC, and asks 24, 2005 in full view of her chil- TWO PROVINCIAL correspon- the Supreme Court to again trans- Paderanga. Senior State Prosecu- Provincial publisher killed dren. She had exposed numerous dents of a national broadsheet fer the venue of the case from tor Peter Medalle conducted the cases of graft and corruption in said they were indirectly threat- Tacurong to Cebu. direct examination, during which the Department of Agriculture Emely stated that her husband ened with harm by a local gov- AN INDIVIDUAL onboard a mo- The Freedom Fund for Fili- torcycle gunned down a newspa- Region 12 office, where was an outspoken critic of law- ernment official in Alfonso Lista, pino Journalists (FFFJ) filed on per publisher at around 10:15 Montañer and Sabay serve as fi- less violence in their town. Raz Ifugao last May 10. July 4, 2005 the petition to trans- p.m. last April 7 in Pasig City. nance officer and regional ac- was present during the hearing. Reporter Maria Elena Catajan fer the case to Cebu in response Benefredo Acabal, 34, the pub- countant, respectively. Co-accused Jessie Ticar died in a and photographer Redjie Cawis, to security concerns of the wit- lisher and a columnist of the Based on the arguments dur- provincial hospital in Aklan on both correspondents of the na- nesses and considering the clout Cavite-based paper Pilipino News- ing the March 24, 2008 hearing May 2, 2008. The prosecution has tional broadsheet Malaya said vice of the accused which could un- men, was shot by a gunman on the petition for certiorari and already moved for the removal mayor Clarence Polig, did not duly influence the case if heard onboard a motorcycle along the April 3, 2008 manifestation of of Ticar in the case. utter any explicit threat. But they in Tacurong. FFFJ is a coalition Amang Rodriguez Avenue cor- the Office of the Solicitor General The case was transferred, felt threatened because, while he of six media organizations work- ner Greenpark Village, Mangga- (OSG), which sided with the ac- along with the case of slain radio kept saying while they were in- ing to promote and protect press han, Pasig City. cused, the Court of Appeals was journalist Herson Hinolan who terviewing him that what they freedom. The Center for Media A certain Army Staff Sergeant “convinced that justice would be was killed on Nov. 15, 2004 also were doing was illegal and they Freedom and Responsibility is a Antonio Ramos Raynilo report- better served if the status quo is in Aklan, to Cebu by the Supreme were trespassing, his armed com- founding member of FFFJ and edly brought Acabal to the Rizal preserved until the final determi- Court upon the petition of the panions were cocking their guns. serves as its secretariat. Medical Center for treatment. nation of the merits of the case.” Catajan and Cawis had gone The prosecution has 20 days Freedom Fund for Filipino Jour- Acabal however was dead on ar- to Alfonso Lista, Ifugao upon the The OSG serves as the law of- to reply. Montañer and Sabay, nalists (FFFJ), of which the Cen- rival due to multiple gunshot fice of the Philippine government. on the other hand, were asked ter for Media Freedom and Re- recommendation of the Depart- wounds. The Cebu Court of Appeals to pay P50,000 each as injunc- sponsibility is the secretariat, and ment of Tourism and local offi- Raynilo did not give any state- granted last March 25 the prayer tion bond. the National Union of Journalists cials to cover a local fiesta. ment. for a 60-day temporary restrain- Nena Santos, private counsel of the Philippines (NUJP). A police blotter report said “Reluctant magsalita iyong staff ing order (TRO) by Montañer and for the prosecution, said she only Both the FFFJ and the NUJP that Polig, who was described as sergeant. Basta hinatid niya lang Sabay. received the copy of Montañer asked for the transfer of the cases “intoxicated,” started the “heated iyong biktima at ayaw magbigay ng The Appellate Court said the and Sabay’s May 7 petition for a to Cebu, citing the influence of argument” with Catajan and address (The staff sergeant was Cebu RTC has no jurisdiction writ of preliminary injunction the the accused in Aklan. The Su- Cawis at his house in Alfonso reluctant to speak and refused to over the murder case filed against same day that the Court of Ap- preme Court granted the peti- Lista between 6 and 9 p.m. last give his address. He just rushed the two accused since it happened peals granted the petition. tion, filed on Feb. 8 2008, on May 10. the victim to the hospital),” Po- in Tacurong City, Sultan Kudarat. “There has not even been a March 18, 2008. “Polig deemed their coverage lice Officer Lardy Ignacio told the It cited the OSG’s comment filed hearing yet a decision has already During the direct examina- was illegal and accused them of online news site GMANews.TV. last April 3 that the Supreme been reached,” Santos said. tion, Emely’s voice trembled and trespassing. [Polig said the] me- Police later recovered five Court Nov. 23, 2005 order trans- State prosecutor Llena Ipong- tears rolled down her cheeks as dia group has no ‘work or- empty 9mm shells from the ferring the venue of Criminal Avila said that the prosecution Medalle asked her if Rolando’s der’…,” the blotter report said. crime scene. Case No. 2568 from Tacurong will file a motion to overturn the death still affects her even if Polig, according to the blot- The marketing supervisor of RTC to Cebu City RTC does not Court of Appeals injunction seven years have already passed. ter entry, told Catajan and her Pilipino Newsmen, who refused apply to the present case against within the 20-day deadline, and “It hurts. It hurts me so much companions that “all dealings identification, said the publica- Montañer and Sabay. would bring the case to the Su- remembering him,” Emely said. with the [Alfonso Lista] munici- tion started only this year, and “Criminal Case No. 2568 preme Court if the Cebu Court Two celebrated cases of me- pality had to pass through his has had only four issues. He said against petitioners as accused in of Appeals dismisses it. dia killings have resulted in con- approval.” prior to Acabal’s work for Pilipino [Criminal] Case No. CBU- Seventy-one journalists have victions after being tried in Cebu. Catajan told the Center for Newsmen, the latter worked as a 26 MAY-JUNE 2008 CRiSiS PJR REPORTS NATIONAL / INTERNATIONAL columnist for the national tabloid Anda quoted the Palawan Other journalists have been The protests raised tensions in tigation and facilitated the killer’s Bomba (Bomb) where he wrote NGO Network (PNNI) as saying detained by the police, had their a country mired in a 17-month- efforts to avoid arrest. political commentaries. that MacroAsia was “manipulat- equipment broken, or their old political crisis between the “As a whole, we are satisfied Police have not established ing” some tribal leaders, who are homes ransacked. On May 12, Hezbollah-led opposition sup- with the investigation of the the motive behind Acabal’s kill- members of and Brooke’s Point two cameramen working for Al ported by Iran and Syria and the triggerman and the organizers of ing, said Major Henry Libay, a Federation of Tribal Councils, to Jazeera were slightly injured government of Prime Minister the crime,” Muratov told CPJ. member of the secretariat of the stop the declaration of the moun- when gunmen fired on their ve- Fouad Siniora, who is backed by “But it is unclear what (authori- Philippine National Police’s Task tain as a protected area. hicle, said the London-based free the West and Saudi Arabia. The ties) are doing to find and pros- Force Usig. Libay also said that Anda said the threat affected expression monitor Article 19. standoff has left the country with- ecute the masterminds.” the police are reluctant to clas- him in “a big way.” “Hindi muna Meanwhile, Hezbollah sup- out a president since Nov. 2007. Markin told journalists today sify Acabal as a journalist since ako susulat ng istorya sa mining (I porters also forced the closure of Fighting has moved outside that seven of the nine people the latter’s wife did not identify won’t be writing stories on min- pro-government satellite TV the Lebanese capital, fuelling charged with involvement in the slain publisher as a journal- ing for the meantime),” he said. channels Future TV and Future fears that the violence could spi- Politkovskaya’s Oct. 7, 2006 as- ist. Task Force Usig is tasked to After receiving the message, News, the daily newspaper Al- ral into an outright civil war. sassination remain in custody. investigate cases of extrajudicial Anda immediately reported it to Mustaqbal and Radio Orient on According to news reports, at Two have been released but are and journalists’ killings. the local police as well as to the May 9, said the Paris-based press least 81 people have been killed banned from leaving the coun- The police, however, have not management of the Inquirer. The freedom watchdog Reporters and more than 250 have been try, Markin said. ruled out the possibility that the Inquirer, he said, has decided that Without Borders (RSF). The four wounded since May 7 in what Makhmudov’s brothers—eth- killing was related to Acabal’s he should “lie low for the mean- media companies are all owned observers are calling the worst nic Chechens Ibragim, Dzhabrail, work as a journalist. time” on mining stories. by the family of Saad Hariri, the political crisis since the Lebanese and Tamerlan Makhmudov—re- The Center for Media Free- Anda also approached the head of the Future movement, the civil war of the 1980s. – IFEX main as suspects in prison. dom and Responsibility has MacroAsia management regard- anti-Syrian majority party in the Also in custody are Shamil listed 71 journalists and media ing the threat he received. But Lebanese parliament. Politkovskaya’s killer Burayev, the former head of the practitioners killed in the line of MacroAsia denied any involve- Rockets were fired early on identified, charged, sought Achkhoi-Martan administrative duty since 1986. Thirty-four of ment, according to him. May 9 at the headquarters of Al- on an international warrant district of Chechnya, who alleg- these 71 were killed during the Mustaqbal, starting a fire on one edly organized the murder; Pavel of its floors, RSF said. Soon after- Ryaguzov, a former Federal Se- present administration of Gloria THE INVESTIGATIVE Commit- Macapagal Arroyo. INTERNATIONAL wards, gunmen surrounded the curity Service (FSB) lieutenant offices of the radio and television tee of Russia’s Prosecutor- colonel, and Sergei Khadzhi- stations, and threatened to fire if General’s Office announced on kurbanov, a former police officer Journalist gets death Journalists injured, media May 12 that it has charged 34- threat over mining story outlets shut down as they did not stop broadcasting. with the Moscow Directorate for Future employees and other year-old ethnic Chechen Rustam Combating Organized Crime, political conflict in Beirut journalists have been holding a Makhmudov in absentia with the who were allegedly responsible A PALAWAN-based journalist continues daily sit-in in front of the Future murder of Novaya Gazeta journal- for the surveillance of the jour- was threatened with death last News building in Qantari to pro- ist Anna Politkovskaya, local nalist and for “technical support” April 3 after he wrote that a min- AT LEAST five journalists have test the closure. news reports said. The Investiga- in the crime, local press reported. ing company was blocking plans been injured in Beirut while cov- The daily newspaper Liwaa tive Committee has also issued Suspects Magomed Demel- to declare a forest in Brooke’s ering the fierce clashes between has been unable to publish—its an international warrant for khanov and Dmitry Grachyov Point, Palawan as a protected area. pro- and anti-government fac- printing house is located in the Makhmudov’s arrest. have been released after signing Redempto Anda, a Philippine tions there, while several media midst of the conflict zone, The Investigative Committee an agreement not to leave the Daily Inquirer correspondent and outlets have been forced to shut Maharat Foundation, a press free- spokesman Vladimir Markin country, according to local news an editor for the local newspa- down, say international press dom advocacy group in Lebanon, told journalists that seven sus- reports. The official investiga- per Palawan Star, received the freedom organizations. reports. And on May 10, the head- pects allegedly involved in tion said the two played only a threat through his mobile phone. According to the Interna- quarters of the Armenian-speak- Politkovskaya’s murder remain secondary role in Politkovs- The text message said that the tional Federation of Journalists ing Radio Sevan was burned in custody as of today. kaya’s killing. person after him was protecting (IFJ), four reporters and photog- down in west Beirut, reported Makhmudov is the alleged The announcement by the In- the interest of a certain raphers for the daily opposition Article 19. triggerman. vestigative Committee broke a “Kapitan” (Captain). newspaper Sada al Balad were in- Maharat and others say the To this day, authorities have months-long official silence in “Watch your back you have jured while covering the conflict real problem is the politicization released no information as to the the official Politkovskaya mur- been tempting the gods! Don’t last week. of the Lebanese media, which status of the investigation into der probe. In late August 2007, even think they will take it kindly One of the photographers, have become the mouthpieces of who the mastermind is in Russian authorities announced that you are on a personal cru- Wadi Shlink, was taking pictures various political groups. The Politkovskaya’s killing. Journal- the arrest of 11 suspects in the sade against the KAPITAN,” the of young men setting tires on fire threats faced by reporters now ists at Novaya Gazeta, who are con- journalist’s contract-style killing. text message he received read. in the Beshara al-Khoury area last are not the result of working in a ducting their own investigation (Three were subsequently re- Anda later received another May 7. “Suddenly, 20 of them at- war zone, but due to the “divi- into their colleague’s murder, say leased from custody.) Prosecutor- message saying, “Be kind to an tacked me. I ran looking for the sion of the Lebanese media be- they believe the mastermind is General Yuri Chaika said at the animal? Yes we will, through security forces to protect me. tween pro-government, opposi- in Russia, not overseas. time that Politkovskaya was mercy killing! Good luck.” Some soldiers tried to save me— tion and independent media” said Russia is the third deadliest killed on the order of overseas The messages were sent in vain, because they were out- Maharat. It is calling on the me- country in the world for journal- enemies aiming to destabilize through the mobile number numbered by the rioters. They dia to “remain objective and not ists, according to research by the Russia. 09267869353, which is now didn’t calm down until they had to enter the circle of violence.” New York-based Committee to Politkovskaya, a special cor- turned off. taken my camera,” Shlink told the Clashes between the Protect Journalists (CPJ). Since respondent for the independent Anda said in a phone inter- free expression website Mena- Hezbollah-led opposition and 2000 alone, 14 journalists have Moscow newspaper Novaya view that the threat came after ssat.com. government supporters started been murdered for their work Gazeta, was well known for her his story on the plans of the min- Menassat said army troopers on May 7 in several west Beirut and in only one of these kill- investigative reports on corrup- ing company MacroAsia was did not intervene in the street neighborhoods on the back of a ings—that of Novaya Gazeta’s Igor tion, torture, and human rights published in the April 1, 2008 is- fighting in the Beirut area of general strike demanding wage Domnikov—have the killers abuses committed by local and sue of the Inquirer. Corniche Mazraa, a traditional hikes amid rising prices. In one been convicted; the masterminds federal officials in Chechnya and Anda’s story said that flashpoint of confrontation be- of the decisions that triggered the are at large. the volatile North Caucasus. In MacroAsia, the flagship com- tween Sunni and Shiite rioters, violence, government officials The May 12 announcement seven years of covering the sec- pany of business tycoon Lucio and instead went after journal- closed down a private telephone was the first to officially identify ond Chechen war, Tan, was planning to launch a ists, forbidding them from tak- network operated by Hezbollah Politkovskaya’s alleged killer Politkovskaya’s reporting re- large-scale nickel mining project ing pictures. Said Beyrouti, a re- in south Lebanon and the south- after his name was first leaked to peatedly drew the wrath of Rus- at Mt. Mantalingahan in porter for Hezbollah’s Al-Manar ern parts of Beirut. Hezbollah the press in late March. Accord- sian authorities. She was threat- Brooke’s Point, Palawan despite television, was beaten in the head says the communications system ing to Novaya Gazeta Editor-in- ened, jailed, forced into exile, and government plans of declaring and had to be hospitalized, was critical to its success in its 34- Chief Dmitry Muratov, the leak poisoned during her career, CPJ it a protected area. Menassat reported. day war against Israel in 2006. significantly hampered the inves- research shows. n – IFEX PJR REPORTS CHRONiCLE MAY-JUNE 2008 27 OBiT

GREENE, 78

ROBERT GREENE, an award-winning investigative journalist who worked for the daily New York-based newspaper Newsday for 37 years, died last April 10. He was 78. Greene started working for Newsday in 1955, first as a reporter, then as an editor. Throughout his journalism career, Greene showed keen interest in covering corruption and organized crime cases. He co-founded in 1975 the Investigative Reporters and Editors (IRE), a national journalism teaching organization that focuses on investigative journalism. Greene also initiated the Arizona Project instigated by the murder of fellow IRE founder Dan Bolles. Arizona Project came up with a 23-part series report that compiled Bolles’s LITO OCAMPO works. Greene won his first Pulitzer Prize award in 1970 when he exposed been done in the past 24 months. The Washington Post re- Newsbreak land scandals in Long Island town in New York. His second Pulitzer The four core categories in- ceived a total of six Pulitzer Prize was in 1974 when he, along with other reporters, wrote a series launches latest clude: Editorial strategy, which Prizes, the most among all US of reports that traced heroin growing from Turkey to Long Island. book on pol ads honors a break-through news- newspapers, this year. Its other Greene taught Journalism in Hofstra University where he was paper content strategy with awards were for public service, voted Teacher of the Year in 2000 and in Stony Brook University, both AS A sequel to its book on and/or for young people; national reporting, interna- in Long Island. political ads, Newsbreak launched Newspapers in Education, tional reporting, feature writ- Selling Candidates: Political Ads in which recognizes activities that ing, and commentary. the 2007 Senatorial Elections last use the newspaper as a teach- PRAN, 65 May 13, 2008 at the Hyatt Casino ing tool; Public service, for ef- Mexican reporter and Hotel in Manila. fective public service projects receives UNESCO PHOTOJOURNALIST DITH Pran, who for four years became a captive A follow-up to Spin and Tell , that promote press freedom and and slave of the Khmer Rouge forces in Cambodia, succumbed to which discussed the political ads youth civic involvement award pancreatic cancer at the age of 65. He died last March 30 in New and the 2004 elections, Selling among others; and Brand build- Jersey. ing, for other projects that im- Pran worked as an interpreter for New York Times reporter Sydney Candidates takes a look at the 2007 MEXICAN INVESTIGATIVE jour- prove a newspaper brand’s re- Schanberg in 1972. While covering the fall of Phnom Penh in 1975 to senatorial elections by analyzing nalist Lydia Cacho Ribeiro, who lationship with the young. the Khmer Rouge, Pran was captured and had to endure four years of the roles of political ads in the has been the target of threats and For this year, WAN has added torture and starvation . victory or defeat of the candidates. attacks for her work about pros- the special category Newspapers Pran finally escaped on Oct. 3, 1979 when he made it to a Thai Written by Pulse Asia executive titution and child pornography, and Literacy which will acknowl- refugee camp. Upon his transfer to New York in 1980, Pran worked director Ana Maria Tabunda, is this year’s Guillermo Cano edge an effective project that sup- for the Times as a photographer. He was specially regarded for his Newsbreak writers and Jaime V. World Press Freedom Prize ports the basic ability of people pictures that were taken with creativity and great imagination. Ongpin Awards for Excellence in awardee. Ribeiro received the to read and write. Appointed in 1985 as Goodwill Ambassador by the United Nations Journalism winners Carmela award given by the United Na- WAN is a non-profit, non- High Commission for Refugees, Pran was also a member of the Asian- Fonbuena and Aries Rufo, the tions Educational, Scientific, and government organization for the book also discusses how the me- Cultural Organization (UNESCO) American Journalists Association. Pran continued to help Cambodians newspaper industry that repre- dia covered the campaign and during the World Press Freedom who suffered under the Khmer Rouge by establishing in 1994, the sents more than 18,000 publica- election periods. Day ceremonies last May 3 in Dith Pran Holocaust Awareness Project, Inc. that aims to educate tions worldwide. Norway-based A panel discussion that in- Maputo, Mozambican. people on the Cambodian genocide and how such a crime could be Norse Skog, the leading producer cluded members of the media, Published in 2004, her book prevented from recurring. He also published in 1997 the book Children of newsprint and magazine pa- politics, and advertising sectors Los Demonios del Eden: el poder of Cambodia’s Killing Fields: Memoirs by Survivors, which contains per worldwide, is the sponsor of was held after the book launch. detras de la pornografia infantile his interviews with surviving victims. the awards. The panelists discussed the rela- (The Demons of Eden: the power His story of survival from the Khmer Rouge inspired the Academy tionship between political ads behind child pornography) ex- Award-winning film “The Killing Fields.” and electoral results. - Marrian Fil-am reporter posed the involvement of busi- P.R. Ching bags 2008 Pulitzer nessmen, politicians, and drug BRODIE, 72 traffickers in prostitution and Call for Entries FILIPINO-AMERICAN Jose An- child pornography. IAN BRODIE, a British correspondent who worked for the papers Daily tonio Vargas of the Washington The publication of her book Express, The Daily Telegraph, and The Times, died of a stroke last THE WORLD Association of Post was awarded the 2008 placed her life at risk but despite May 8. He was 72. Newspapers (WAN) is accepting Pulitzer Prize for two articles he the death threats, imprisonment, Brodie made it to the Daily Express in 1961 where he was assigned nominations for the 2008 World wrote about the April 2007 Vir- police harassment, and legal bar- to cover a number of momentous events. These included the fall of Young Reader Prizes annually ginia Tech massacre. The Washing- riers thrown at her, Cacho stead- Nikita Khrushchev, the Communist Party of the Soviet Union’s First given to recognize excellence in ton Post put together the two sto- fastly persisted in her expose of Secretary, in 1964; and a meeting of the Ku Klux Klan. He also newspaper activities that de- ries along with seven others as political corruption and orga- covered the Vietnam War and reported on then President Richard velop young readership. their entry in the breaking news nized crime. Her response to the Nixon’s 1972 visit to China during his stint as the paper’s Far East The prizes are open to news- reporting category. endless threats was a countersuit Correspondent. Brodie became editor of the Daily Express in 1972 papers that have developed in- ‘Pop, Pop, Pop’: Students for corruption and for violation but was severely challenged by union disputes. novative projects for people aged Down, Doors Barred, Leaps to of her human rights. This made In 1975, he moved to the Daily Telegraph where he reported, among 25 and below. Entries will be Safety” narrated how witnesses Cacho, also a contributor to the others, the trial of American newspaper heiress Patty Hearst and judged on the basis of their con- recounted what happened during daily newspaper La Voz del Caribe Roman Polanski’s flight to France after his conviction of rape. Brodie tribution to newspaper business the shooting rampage while “Stu- (The Voice of the Caribbean) the also interviewed Svetlana Stalin, Joseph Stalin’s daughter. Brodie in terms of revenue generation, dents Make Connections at a first woman in Mexico to file a was appointed the paper’s Washington Bureau chief in 1986. circulation, readership growth, Time of Total Disconnect” talked federal suit against a governor, a He also worked for the Washington Bureau of The Times in 1993 or brand awareness as well as about how students of Virginia district attorney, and a judge for and became the publisher of a local paper, Topanga Messenger, until benefits for its audience. The Tech used the Internet to commu- corruption and attempted rape his death. n deadline for entries is on July 31. nicate with and console each while she was in prison. n — Projects submitted should have other after the incident. Karen Nicolas 28 MAY-JUNE 2008 PJR REPORTS BUSINESS NEWS EVERYONE’S BUSINESS

n By Felipe Salvosa II labeled as “reform” when there is hardly any of it, and things are sup- USINESS NEWS can be boring stuff for most people. posed to be good when they are really Straight out of university, even with an economics de- not. The strong peso is an example. Few gree tucked under my belt, I found myself lost in a highly B realize that the government, which still specialized field of journalism when I entered BusinessWorld, has a significant chunk of dollar debts, the country’s pre-eminent business paper. I could under- seems to be the only main beneficiary stand GDP, inflation, interest rates, and other basic eco- of the weakening dollar, while export- nomic data, but many words I encountered later sounded ers and overseas workers suffer. The prices of oil and rice are going up—but totally Greek to me: EBITDA, special drawing rights, put do people realize that the government options, call options, return-on-rate base, consolidated public has been raking in more taxes than it sector deficit. I had to study all over again. had expected precisely because of in- flation? Hobnobbing with captains of in- The challenge is Indeed, the Philippines is a country dustry, crossing swords with whose economy is about to take off, policymakers, picking the brains of telling the readers but is held back by a huge debt burden analysts and economists, business re- and corruption. Debt payments eat up porters often consider themselves a cut why a business a third of the government’s annual bud- above the rest. There is some truth to get; tax revenues are alarmingly low. that. They know what makes the story matters and There is little money left to spend even economy tick, who is selling to whom, on vital services such as health and edu- what moves the market, or where why they should cation. The country needs more re- money is to be made. But know- sources to improve infrastructure, en- ing the concepts, understanding care about the hance the business climate, and hope- the theories, and being familiar fully win over more investments to with the technical mumbo-jumbo numbers ...... create new jobs and raise incomes. Busi- is just the first hurdle. The chal- ness journalists can have something to lenge is telling the readers why After all, business journalism is still say about all this. this business story matters and journalism—you ask questions, An emerging battleground is trade. why they should care about the double-check the facts, get all sides of Filipinos do not know it, but a lot of numbers. the story, follow the paper trail. You things have been committed to inter- After beginning to sound are not supposed to swallow press re- national organizations that would like an analyst myself, it took leases and alleged disclosures hook, eventually affect their daily lives. True, me a couple of years to realize line, and sinker. You have to confront freer trade has helped uplift standards that business reporters are sup- technocrats if the numbers do not add of living, but there are consequences posed to help make people earn a up or don’t make sense. You have to like the demise of local industries and living, tell shareholders whether tell readers the news as it is: prices are the entry of cheap but substandard their investments are worth it, and going up, the economy is teetering, or products. The economy is being opened inform taxpayers where their this company is losing money. The up supposedly with our best interests hard-earned pesos are go- economy is growing, but poverty is in mind. Is that really the case? Hardly ing instead of sounding widespread. Wages are up, but com- anybody is watching. intelligent or trying to panies are laying off workers. Come to think of it, business is re- impress. My hard-nosed There is so much obfuscation ally everybody’s business. n bosses would ask: “So around that “bad” news becomes ...... what? Who cares? What’s “good,” ideology is peddled around Felipe Salvosa II is a sub-editor for in it for them?” as gospel truth, just any policy shift is BusinessWorld.