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Press freedom advocates lambast surveillance of journalists

The Media for Peace, a broad network of journalists, lambasted Malacañang for berating GMA-7 reporter Tina Panganiban-Perez and virtually threatening her of being charged with abetting rebellion.

In a statement signed by Sonny Fernandez of ABC5, the Media for Peace, said ”What we find wrong – and extremely disturbing – was the fact that movements of journalists are being monitored, as admitted by Police Director Hermogenes Ebdane Jr., bringing us all back to the dark days of martial law.”

Bayan Muna Representative Satur Ocampo, also a former journalist, asked,  "Does this mean interviews made by journalists with personalities identified with rebel movements, such as Ka Roger Rosal (NPA) and Eid Kabalu (MILF), would henceforth be deemed as abetting rebellion?" 

Ocampo said President Arroyo was practically 'telling' the media not to get the views of the "other side." "This is tantamount to suppressing the press and the people's right to information," Ocampo said.

In a separate statement, Teddy Casiño, secretary general of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan, said, “The PNP surveillance on media is yet another proof that the Strong Republic and Arroyo’s moves against so-called destablizers are aimed at stifling all dissent, including the messengers themselves.”

Meanwhile, the College Editors Guild of the Philippines, an alliance of tertiary student publications, revealed that student journalists are also under surveillance via the student intelligence network (SIN). The SIN is a secret component of the National Services Training Program (formerly ROTC).  

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Ka Roger tags Lacson, Mike Arroyo chiefs of thieves

"The chiefs of thieves in this country are exposing each others' thievery," said Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) spokesman Gregorio "Ka Roger" Rosal. The statement was in reaction to Sen. Panfilo Lacson's exposure of the P270 million from campaign contributions and other spurious sources supposedly stashed by the president's husband, Mike Arroyo, in secret bank accounts under the fictitious name of "Jose Pidal."

"The chiefs of thieves know each other and the tricks of the trade," Rosal said. "Estrada, Lacson, the Arroyos… they are just the biggest of thieves who rob the people of billions, and launder and
stash their loot using various tricks such as fictitious bank accounts and dummies."

"The chiefs of thieves are most creative in devising new methods of stealing from the people. But because of their insatiable greed and because their big thievery has become an SOP, they usually resort to worn-out methods of plunder and robbery and imitate each other." Rosal was referring to the unoriginality of plunderers using fictitious names and dummies to launder and stash their loot.

Rosal said that Arroyo's grand thievery as well as Lacson's own massive loot from having been the biggest thief in the PNP and chief of narco-business in this country should all be exposed and investigated.

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 OFW party in HK scores OWWA e-card

The Hong Kong chapter of the first political party of Filipinos overseas lambasted anew the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) for the alleged ‘anomalous hi-tech exaction’ masked as a service systematization scheme.

The Migrante Sectoral Party-Hong Kong chapter said that OWWA has gone full blast with the issuance of an electronic card (e-card) that is supposed to make the OWWA services, particularly that of providing Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC), more efficient.

The e-card supposedly contains the basic information of each OFW that will make processing of OWWA documents easier. It can also be used as an ATM card and a cash card at the same time.

Connie Bragas-Regalado, MSP-HK chairperson, however, said that the e-card is being used to “enforce Memorandum of Instruction No. 8 issued in 1996 that forces OFWs to pay US$25 to OWWA for every contract.”

The said memorandum was implemented elsewhere except in Hong Kong where, because of OFW protests, payment was made voluntary.

Regalado asserted that all OFWs are lifetime members of the OWWA and thus eligible to its services. The e-card, on the other hand, is only valid for as long as one pays the per contract fee. “Practically, the lifetime membership in OWWA is subverted and replaced with a per contract membership,” Regalado said.

“This is a total negation of the victory HK OFWs gained against MOI No. 8.  What they couldn’t push directly, they sneak in with deceptive packages,” Regalado added.

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Plunder Watch to back graft raps vs. Reyes, generals

The anti-corruption watchdog Plunder Watch vowed to support the graft and plunder cases that may be filed against Defense Sec. Angelo Reyes and other military top brass before the Office of the Ombudsman in connection with the charges hurled against them by the Magdalo Group.

“We are interested in knowing these anomalies and helping ferret out the truth on the outrageous corruption in the AFP, especially in the face of government’s cover-up and prosecution of the whistle-blowers themselves,” said Plunder Watch spokesperson Fr. Joe Dizon.

Attending a Court of Appeals hearing last week on the writ of habeas corpus petition for the rebel soldiers, Fr. Dizon said that the soldiers deserve a fair hearing on the many anomalous deals and scandalous way of life of AFP generals.

Dizon lamented that “instead of looking seriously into the charges of the rebel soldiers, Malacañang has initiated several countercharges in a brazen attempt at cover up.”

Plunder Watch demanded that the generals be made to explain to the public how they acquired their wealth and properties. “These generals should tell the Filipino people how on earth they got to be richer while ground troops wallow in poverty.” 

Bulatlat.com

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