Bu-lat-lat (boo-lat-lat) verb: to search, probe, investigate, inquire; to unearth facts

Volume 3, Number 5               March 2 - 8, 2003            Quezon City, Philippines







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Media for Peace

We are writers, journalists, photojournalists and workers from the Philippine print, broadcast and online media. We do not usually make public our positions on the issues and events we report on but, considering what is happening - with the United States edging closer to war, heedless of what will happen to the rest of the world - we feel there is a need to speak out.

We in media are just like other citizens who prefer the ways of peace and oppose the brutalities of war. We are concerned about the warmongering of the U.S. against Iraq. We are convinced that if this conflict comes to a head, Iraq, including its infants and children, will be devastated. The effects of such a war would spill over to other nations and kill and render homeless more innocent people.

It saddens us to see how the U.S. has attempted to browbeat other sovereign countries, even the United Nations, into taking its position of using preemptive action against Iraq - despite the glaring absence of proofs that would justify military aggression and despite the overwhelming worldwide opposition.

That Bush's planned aggression against Iraq will take civilian lives is certain. From the Vietnam War to the Gulf War, U.S. war policy has victimized millions of civilians. In the Philippines, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has repeatedly declared her all-out support for Bush. While claiming to support Bush to promote world peace, her administration unleashes military offensives in Pikit, North Cotabato, in Mindanao, that have displaced more than 80,000 residents, almost all of them Muslims.

A war in the Middle East will have devastating effects on the hundreds of thousands of overseas Filipino workers toiling there, just as the Gulf War in 1991 had. They, who have been keeping the economy afloat for years now with the billions of dollars they remit each year, face not only displacement but also the risk of losing lives and limbs from conventional bullets and deadly biochemical weapons.

A war of aggression against Iraq will also send oil prices skyrocketing. They have in fact gone up four times now since the U.S. intensified its war calls. The mere whisper of war also jacks up the exchange rates and depresses our economy even further.

Given the devastation a war will bring, we are moved to express concern at the Arroyo government's pertinacious support for Bush's war - a war with dubious motives, stained with the lust for oil and full of inconsistencies and double standards.

We call on our colleagues and the public to be critical and to look beyond the war rhetoric. We implore them to promote and protect the free flow of information.

We believe that the media must foster truth and peace. As such, we stand against the U.S. war on Iraq. As such, we stand for Peace. #

Friends and colleagues in media who wish to support the statement may fax their complete names, including, for identification purposes, titles, positions and media agencies, and signatures to 9258839 or email media4peace@mail.com.  If you have questions, please contact Charlie (09179969305), Weng (0918-3458465), Ruth (09178425541 or any of the following initiators: Sonny Fernandez (ABC5); Inday Espina-Varona (Managing Editor, Philippine Graphic); Charlie Manalo (Managing Editor, Balikbayan Magazine); Sonia Capio (Anchor, Ngayon Na Bayan, DZRJ); Rowena Carranza-Paraan (Managing Editor, Bulatlat.com); Lira Dalangin (Reporter, INQ7.net); Agnes Donato (Reporter, Phil. Daily Inquirer); Edgar Hilario (Reporter, Bulletin Today); and Ruth Cervantes (Co-Anchor, Ngayon Na Bayan, DZRJ).

SIGNATORIES:
(As of March 2, 2003)

  1. Jose “Pete” Lacaba

  2. Richelle Sy  (GMA Network Inc.)  

  3. Gerry Lirio (Philippine Daily Inquirer)

  4. Isagani de Castro Jr. (Asahi Shimbun/Newsbreak)

  5. Christian Esguerra (Philippine Daily Inquirer)

  6. Lyn  Resurreccion (Today)

  7. Ka Totoy Talastas (DZEC, Net25)

  8. Lira Dalangin (INQ7.net)

  9. Ronron Calunsod (Daily Manila Shimbun)

  10. Rommel Bagares (Philippine Star)

  11. Ime Aznar (MDN Studio)

  12. Delfin "Sonny" Mallari Jr. (Phil. Daily Inquirer -Southern Luzon Bureau)

  13. Deo Macalma (DZRH)

  14. Gerry Cornejo (DZRJ)

  15. Sonia Capio (DZRJ)

  16. Sonny Fernandez (ABC5)

  17. Agnes Donato (Phil. Daily Inquirer)

  18. Ruth Cervantes (DZRJ)

  19. Mayo Uno Martin (Malaya)

  20. Inday Espina-Varona (Philippine Graphic)

  21. Charlie Manalo (Balikbayan Magazine)

  22. Jennifer Ng (Business World)

  23. Kara David (GMA7)

  24. Edric Peñaflor Eder (Kyodo News-Manila/Tinig.com e-zine)

  25. Hetty Alcuitas (People’s Media Center)

  26. Arthur L. Allad-iw (Northern Dispatch Weekly)

  27. Danilo Arao (UP Journalism professor/Bulatlat.com)

  28. Natzi Santos (GMA7)

  29. Rowena Carranza-Paraan (Bulatlat.com)

  30. Rowena Salvacion (DZBB-GMA7)

  31. Jo Clemente (Philippine Daily Inquirer-Northern Luzon Bureau)

  32. Isko Salvador

  33. Keith Bacongco (MindaNews)

  34. Robert JA Basilio, Jr.

  35. Abigail T. Bengwayan (Northern Dispatch Weekly)

  36. Joan Bondoc (Philippine Daily Inquirer)

  37. Edgar Cadagat (The Visayas Daily Courier/Cobra-Ans)

  38. Perry Marco Calara (Kaiba News and Features)

  39. Cherry Ann Perez (ABC5)

  40. Melchor Quintos (GMA7)

  41. Jenny “Flower” Simon (DZRH)

  42. Aristotle Castro (The Bedan)

  43. Emmanuel Mongaya (Sunstar Superbalita)

  44. JP Lopez (Malaya)

  45. Ronalyn Olea (College Editors Guild of the Phils.)

  46. Angelito Cortuna (UE Dawn)

  47. Leila  Salavedra (Philippine Daily Inquirer)

  48. Flora Niña Dalisay (DXCA-Tining ng Bayan)

  49. Audie Dela Cruz (freelance photographer)

  50. Karen Lim (ABC5)

  51. Vivien Dumingsel (DXCA-Tinig ng Bayan)

  52. Alexander Martin Remollino (Bulatlat.com/Tinig.com)

  53. Romy Elusfa (MindaNews)

  54. Bernadette Libres (Kodao Productions)

  55. Dennis Espada (Balikas/Bulatlat.com)

  56. Rachel Mariano (Northern Dispatch Weekly)

  57. Ser Morales (Daily Tribune)

  58. Richard Gappi (Manila East Watch)

  59. Marlon Gomarcho (Northern Dispatch Weekly)

  60. Edgar Hilario (Reporter, Bulletin Today)

  61. Jovy Francisco (ABC5)

  62. Cecil Lardizabal (ABC5)

  63. Julius Mariveles (Cobra-Ans)

  64. Prestoline Suyat (Pinoy Weekly)

  65. Fred Sapa (Cobra-Ans)

  66. Milena Roque (Northern Dispatch Weekly)

  67. Heidi  Santos (ABC5)

  68. Aubrey Makilan (Bulatlat.com)

  69. Rodil Vega (DZRJ-AM)

  70. Felicisimo Manalansan (Ibon Features)

  71. Zelda DT Soriano (Newsbreak/Bulatlat.com)

  72. Olivia Tripon (Women's Feature Service Phil. Inc.)

  73. Manuel Jr. Matus (RSN-DZRS)

  74. Kimberly Ngabit (Northern Dispatch Weekly)

  75. Lito Ocampo (Phil. Journalism Review)

  76. Gilbert Ordiales (GMA7)

  77. Ron Papag (Kodao Productions)

  78. Aline Parrone (Banahawbreeze.com/ Sanrokan.com)

  79. Carlito Parungo (Ibon Features)

  80. Jon Tolentino (ABC5)

  81. Hazel Recheta (ABC5)

  82. Ryan Raranga

  83. May V. Rodriguez (Philippine News and Features)

  84. Bobby Tuazon (Bulatlat.com/People’s Media Center)

  85. Pat Roque (Associated Press)

  86. Pio Verzola Jr. (Northern Dispatch Weekly)

  87. Alfonso B. Villamora (Kaiba News and Features)

  88. Joy Anne Villar (CVSU)

  89. Jofti Villena (Titus Brandsma Media Center)

  90. Eliza Zamora (Probe Team)

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