Month: May 2008

The News Media

Civic work and awareness campaigns of affiliates of news organizations. Written by Student #9

Photo by GarethMcCormack.Tharu Child in Hammock Near Karnali River in Western Nepal Karnali River Bheri Nepal. (Lonely Planet collection) Used here for  educational, non-commercial purposes, free service by blog-use of image provided by and from www.allposters.com ,  Lonely Planet collection

 

       Media coverage of oneself and one’s affiliates. Written by Student # 9. Unedited by blog admin 

        Quote “Last Jan. 11, 2008, JP Soriano in GMA 7’s 24 Oras reported about a fire in Guadalupe Viejo, Makati City. Then, somewhere in the report, Soriano said that GMA Kapuso Foundation extended help to the victims of the fire. Soriano did not say that GMA Kapuso Foundation is an affiliate of GMA 7.  

      Quote “This is an ethical violation because the the foundation’s being an affiliate of GMA 7 was not disclosed. According to the PPI expanded code of ethics, advocacies and organizational involvements must be disclosed. The reporter himself may not be part of GMA Kapuso Foundation, but the institution he works form (sic), which is included in the news, is affiliated with it. This fact must be disclosed. Otherwise, GMA 7 as a media organization may be viewed as promoting its affiliates. 2008/03/07” closed-quote.   

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March post. From JP Soriano: 

   Quote “hi, this is jp soriano of gma 7 news, I came accross your blog entry about my report aired last jan. 11, 2008, I just want to say I appreciate your comment over my report, rest assured we will take these comments constructively and will keep in mind your comments and suggestions. 

        Quote “ However, if I failed to mention that gma kapuso foundation is an affiliate of gma7 itself this was unintentional.  

      Quote “Thank you again for calling our attention and we promise to hear and listen to your coments and suggestions in order to bring public service to the people.

      Quote “Thank you and God bless.  jp soriano “ closed-quote.

 

The News Media

Description of cut flesh and body parts. Comment written by Ms. Sugcang.

Photo by Peter Hendrie. Traditional Tattoo around a Man’s Navel Savaii Island Western Samoa Samoa. Lonely Planet collection. Used here for  educational, non-commercial purposes, free service by blog-use of image provided by and from www.allposters.com Lonely Planet collection

       Gratuitous. Written by  Ms. Sucgang, student #19’s fourth post. Edited by blog admin

             quote “Last March 6, an article about a 19-year-old boy’s supposed suicide by Zaida delos Reyes-Palanca was found in the top stories section of the website of the Journal group of publications, Journal online.

             Quote “The article’s lead, in an attempt to be eye-catching, used gory descriptions of the boy’s death that are not really necessary to the story. The article described it as “[he] let blood spurt from his slit throat to his  __________ (this was a lurid, wordy  description of the appearance of the  sex organ, the reporter simply meant  “engorged”  or “swollen”, and that’s how i would  have reworded/ re-phrased it  if i  were editing. More concise! But the reporter went to town with it;  deleted  for this blog   – blog admin). Seconds earlier, the teener was believed to have tried to decapitate himself. He failed, leaving his neck bones and flesh exposed, like a _______ (this is a  description of the  cut flesh,  comparing  it to fish; you get the picture, i deleted it for this blog  – blog admin) . As his vision blurred, the bleeding victim supposedly ________ (this was a slang word for “cut off”   which i deleted  – blog admin)  his sex organ then slashed his left wrist.’

             Quote “The expanded Philippine Journalist’s Code of ethics states that one should avoid language that might be insensitive and the blogger’s code of ethics also says that content posted online should show good taste and treat sources as subjects deserving of respect especially if there is tragedy involved. Apart from that, this story should not have been in the top stories section because it sensationalizes the death of a boy whose (death) cause is yet to be known.” Closed-quote

 

Rules of Court

ZTE witness Jun Lozada and the immigration watchlist: But not yet leaving on a jet plane

Photo by David Bases. Saturn Sixth Planet from the Sun.  Used here for  educational, non-commercial purposes, free service by blog-use of image provided by and from www.allposters.com

        Without a court order, the most that the Bureau of Immigration and Department of Justice can do against the travel plans of a person who has a complaint against him, is to put that person on its watchlist.

      People have the constitutional right, “within the limits prescribed by law”,  of “liberty of abode and of changing the same” except upon “lawful order of the court” (Art. III, Sec. 6). Under the same section, the Constitution says the right to travel shall not be impaired except by law.

           “Liberty of abode and of changing the same” means that a person can change residence and choose to live wherever he/ she decides to, whether here or abroad, as long as no law is violated thereby (of course, if not in his/ her country of origin, he/ she is required to have the necessary visas). Only a court order can prohibit one from changing residence. Court order means HDO or a hold-departure order, emanating from a judge. Judge means RTC judge or MTC judge or a justice of the CA or SC. It does not mean justice secretary, who has no authority to issue an HDO, only a judge can do that.  

         A judge issues an HDO on motion of the prosecution against an accused charged of a crime. This means that the person subject of the HDO should have been already formally charged in court. Being the subject of a preliminary investigation does not constitute being charged in court. But, yes, if the DOJ or NBI, thinks that very soon  you would be criminally charged, and here, the evidence should be shown to them by the complainant, they could put you on the immigration watchlist. It’s administrative in nature. 

        In the situation at hand however,  isn’t Jun Lozada the complainant in the kidnapping and attempted murder cases he filed against Avelino Razon and Lito Atienza? I understand that the latter two filed counter-charges against him for, i guess, perjury?

          As a sign of  fairness and professionalism, shouldn’t Avelino Razon and Lito Atienza be also put on the immigration watchlist?  But when was Raul Gonzales ever fair and professional? He is at Gloria’s bidding.  

            The most impact that being on the watchlist has is delay: at the airport, when the person tries to check with the immigration booth, his/ her name will pop out of the computer database of the immigration officer, and he/ she would be momentarily held while the immigration officer informs the “authorities” (the DOJ, the NBI, etc.) that the person is about to depart. The purpose of that is for those agencies to be able to check, if finally, a criminal charge has been filed agaisnt the person and an HDO issued.  But without an HDO in the peson’s name, he/ she cannot be legally prohibited from leaving; just delayed enough (so that he/ she would miss his/ her scheduled flight until he/ she could get an injunction.) It’s a hassle and becomes a form of harassment when not applied fairly and to all persons subject of a criminal complaint.   

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 From professor X   in  Are you a stockholder of MERALCO (Manila Electric Company)? : Proxy War 101, 2008/05/16 at 9:56 AM

       Quote “ Thank you Atty Marichu for the info. 

      Quote “I have same shares of stock and I am giving these to the current management of meralco. I would rather trust the Lopezez and their managers (who may be called for government hearings, anyway) than the cronies of the present administration who can hide behind executive privilege, have immunity against government inquisitions and who are motivated only by their greed for power and money.” Closed-quote.

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      From Adrian in  The Start of the Meralco Saga (Manila Electric Company: electric power distributor), 2008/05/13 at 12:33 PM

      Quote “there’s the perception or maybe a fact that government owned corporations are most likely be mismanaged. Meralco can operate as a private entity, the government, not sure if ERC is the appropriate institution should just do a thorough and regular audit of Meralco. there’s also the senate committe on government franchises to do investigations.” Closed-quote.