NUJP STATEMENT ON THE KILLING OF FORMER BROADCASTER IN ALBAY

NATIONAL UNION OF JOURNALISTS OF THE PHILIPPINES
Statement
January 20, 2007

The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) takes note of the killing of former boadcaster Jose Loreno in Daraga, Albay, on Thursday night.

While it is still not clear if Loreno was murdered because of his former profession or his involvement with the anti-communist movement, the incident remains a cause for concern, as much as the many other murders in the past years that have earned the Philippines the dubious honor of being the second most dangerous place in the world for journalists, next only to Iraq.

News reports quoting the police said Loreno had been with the New People's Army before rejoining mainstream society and subsequently becoming a radio reporter and an active member of the Kilusan Kontra Komunismo (Movement Against Communism). Reports say the police suspect the New People's Army of having a hand in the killing.

If Loreno was killed by members of the rebel movement, we challenge the Communist Party of the Philippines and the New People's Army to go after the perpetrators, even as we call on the government to immediately solve the killing.

Depriving people of their right to life and free expression for not agreeing with one's beliefs is totally despicable, no matter whose hand wields the gun.

We would like to also take the opportunity to remind our colleagues in media to abide by our profession's basic tenets – accuracy, fairness and objectivity – and not involve themselves in patently partisan activities, especially in shooting wars.

The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines will continue to keep a close tab on the case and do our best to investigate the circumstances surrounding Loreno's death.

Jose Torres Jr.

Chairman
National Union of Journalists of the Philippines

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NATIONAL UNION OF JOURNALISTS OF THE PHILIPPINES
www.nujp.org
105-A Scout Castor Street (near Morato Avenue)
Quezon City, Philippines
Tel.: (+632) 4117768
Email: mailto:nujphil@gmail.
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Are you a journalist under threat?
Report it to NUJP's Threat Hotline:
(+632) 411-7768 or email it to mailto:nujphil@gmail.
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"There can be no press freedom if journalists exist in conditions of corruption, poverty or fear."
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‘A CAUSE FOR ALARM’: RP MOST DEPENDENT ON OVERSEAS REMITTANCES IN THE WORLD - IBON

MEDIA RELEASE
IBON Foundation, Inc., IBON Center 114 Timog Ave., Quezon City, Philippines
Tel. (632) 927-6986 * Fax (632) 929-2496 * E-mail: media@ibon.org * www.ibon.org
January 17, 2007


Remittances from overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) have become the country's biggest source of dollars, and this has made the country among the most dependent on such inflows in the world. This was revealed during independent think-tank IBON Foundation's Birdtalk, the organization' s year-end economic and political briefing.

Speaking at the Birdtalk, IBON research head Sonny Africa said that from January to November 2006 remittances from migrant workers hit $11.4 billion, equivalent to an alarming 10% of the gross domesti c p roduct. The double digit mark makes the Philippines the most overseas remittance-dependen t economy of any significant size in the world. This means that the economy continues to be kept afloat by the external and volatile OFW remittances, and not by a strong local economic capacity, he said.

“The declines in domestic investment imply a diminishing capacity to expand production and warn of a slowdown in the very near future,” said Africa .

The dependence on OFW remittances also reflects the lack of decent productive work at home. “The sheer scarcity of jobs is already a sign that all is not well and that the economy lacks an internal dynamism that is able to productively harness and employ the Filipino workforce,” Africa said.

Joblessness has resulted in an influx of Filipinos seeking employment overseas, which as of November 2006 has already breached the one million mark. This means that over 3,000 Filipinos left the country everyday to find jobs abroad.

The IBON Birdtalk, a semi-annual briefing of the economic and political situation was held this week at the University of the Philippines in Quezon City . (end)


IBON Foundation, Inc. is an independent development institution established in 1978 that provides research, education, publications, information work and advocacy support on socioeconomic issues.

APPEAL FOR HELP OF VICTIMS OF TYPHOON "MILENYO" AND "REMING"

To All Filipino and Foreign Friends:

Greetings of Peace!

The typhoon Milenyo brought havoc in the Province of Sorsogon. The eye of the typhoon was seen at the heart of Sorsogon in the afternoon of September 27, 2006. With a 220 kph strong winds and heavy rain, our province was the hardest hit by Milenyo. Common folks said “it was the strongest typhoon that hit Sorsogon so far”. It left scores of victims in 14 towns. In the data of the Sorsogon Social Action Center on 7 towns and the Sorsogon City proper, 57,969 families become homeless, 362, 030 individuals affected. Many people were injured and many died. Some people remain missing to this date. Out of the 291 barangays hit, 274 were greatly affected or 94%. According to House Representative Francis Escudero, P2.5 Billion is needed to meet the urgent needs of the displaced families and the rehabilitation of the entire province. Sad to say, the aid from the National Government will be spent in infrastructure projects, forgetting the most crucial aspect of the situation – the survival of the people.

Then came the super typhoon Reming that shattered the temporary shelter or houses barely built by the people. It literally plunged down the entire agricultural life of the province. The once robust cocolandia was devastated that according to the experts, it will take 5 to 10 years before the coco-life of the people fully recovered and be productive again.

The aftermath of the two super typhoons are far worse because people become homeless with no enough food and medicine. Even clothing to keep them warm is totally lacking. Their economic means for subsistence were destroyed by the typhoon. Such situation will further result to the destitution of the people and eventually death due to post-typhoon sicknesses.

Thus the SORSOGON PEOPLE’S ORGANIZATION, INC. (SPO, Inc.), a province-wide organization of Sorsoganons, is organizing SAGIP-BUHAY (SAVE-LIFE) RELIEF and REHABILITATION OPERATION to help the victims of the typhoon especially the children. The situation is so urgent that I appeal to you to extend help to these people. Financial and material support like medicine, food, clothing, and housing materials are of great value to us. You can send your share and help to the following centers:

SORSOGON PEOPLE’S ORGANIZATION, INC. (SPO, Inc.)
2645 De Leon Apartment, M. Santos St.,

Polvorista, Sorsogon City, Philippines 4700

Please contact:

The Project Officer on Relief and Rehabilitation
sagip_buhay@yahoo.com.ph,

help_savelife@yahoo.com.ph

Let us come together as one God’s people and help rebuild the shattered lives of the province of Sorsogon. Every piece and dime you give will extend and save the thousand lives of our families, especially the children.

Sincerely yours,

Teodoro Escanilla
Secretary General

FIRST GENTLEMAN REDEFINES LIBEL

Statement by Newsbreak:

We are deeply concerned that the First Gentleman, Mike Arroyo, is not using this libel suit to seek legitimate redress. Rather he is redefining libel, a clear affront to the Philippine press.

As we know, the test of libel is the presence of malice. But Mr. Arroyo disregards this basic tenet and recklessly uses libel to intimidate and silence the press. The message we're getting is this: anything that hints of criticism of the First Gentleman or is considered unfavorable coverage of his activities is "libelous."

In effect, he hinders the public's right to information on matters of public concern.

Moreover, Mr. Arroyo misunderstands the role of the press. Never in the course of our work do we write "solely to besmirch" the reputation of a person. Our foremost duty is to inform readers on issues that are vital to public interest. Mr. Arroyo is only one among many public figures we have written about.

We want to stress that we have chosen to be journalists because we are convinced of the value of a free and responsible press in a democracy, which is to promote transparency and accountability in society, serve as government watchdog, and keep the citizenry informed so that they can participate actively in public life.

We believe in independent journalism whereby journalists report without fear or favor and keep the public interest at heart. The professionalism which has characterized our work, independently of each other, and together at Newsbreak, is the same professionalism that we have used in reporting on public figures.


Marites Danguilan Vitug
Editor in Chief
Newsbreak
0918-9126615
tel 687-5523/25

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Background

The story referred to is a short "Inside Track" item (Dec. 8, 2003) following our cover story on the Arroyos' undeclared properties in San Francisco, California (November 10, 2003). We said that in the course of our research on the California properties, we got leads from reliable sources about two houses, the addresses of which we provided, allegedly owned by Mr. Arroyo. We said that we searched the ownership and acquisition details of these properties but these yielded names that could not be linked to the First Gentleman. We said that our sources told us that the one who supposedly acquired the properties for Mr. Arroyo was a male relative of his who's into real estate business in California.

The article was very transparent: we said these were leads and that we pursued them and stated our findings. Our cover story on the Arroyos' undeclared properties in San Francisco provides proper context to this follow-up article.

MEDIA LAWYER AND FAMILY THREATENED WITH DEATH

CMFR/Philippines— The lawyer handling the class action suit of Filipino journalists against presidential spouse Jose Miguel Arroyo received several threatening text messages and a phone call on 3 January 2007.

Lawyer Harry Roque received a phone call at about 10 am from a certain "Jun Santos" warning him to stop "lawyering for destabilizers. " The caller identified himself as a supporter of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and a member of KAMPI, the political party founded by the president.

Roque later received three text messages threatening to kill him and his family. One offered a P5 million bounty on the lawyer's head.

The first text message, which came at about 1pm, said "Atty. Roque, RIP (Rest in Peace), we from the Hukbong Bayan (Army of the Country) are continually watching you and your moves of betrayal to the nation. We are again warning you to shut your fishy mouth."

A second message followed which again threatened Roque and his family. "Dura lex, sed lex. Our law may be harsh but it is still our law. Not all the time you are lucky. Your end is near and your family."

The third and last message said, "To all interested persons: we are giving away P5 million/$105, 000 as a reward for the capture of Harry Roque, dead or alive. Atty. Roque is a lawyer of terrorist communist group in the Phils. A destabilizer, insurgent, an anti-American. Caution: he is armed & dangerous. Any info on his whereabouts, pls call or text 09152546579. "

The number turned out to be that of a mobile phone owned by the Public Affairs department of the Philippine Army, which denied involvement with or knowledge of the death threats against Roque.

"My strong suspicion is that it is Malacañang (the Presidential office) behind these death threats," Roque said in an interview with the Daily Tribune newspaper.

Roque is also part of the legal team helping rape complainant "Nicole". "Nicole" was raped by US Marine Daniel Smith on November 1, 2005. Sentenced to 40 years' imprisonment by a Philippine court, Smith has been transferred to the custody of the US Embassy in Manila by the Arroyo government. "Nicole" is protesting the transfer.

Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility
January 9, 2007

ARRAIGNMENT SET FOR NEWSBREAK EDITORS

Editors of Newsbreak will be arraigned on January 10, Wednesday, 8:30 a.m. at the Regional Trial Court, Branch 6, Manila City Hall.

Six Newsbreak editors were charged with libel in November last year as a result of a story on the First Gentleman Jose Miguel "Mike" Arroyo the fortnightly news magazine published in December 2003. Scheduled to be arraigned are Marites Danguilan Vitug, editor in chief; Glenda M. Gloria, managing editor; Ricky Carandang, former business editor; R.E. Otico and Jose Dalisay Jr., editorial consultants; and Booma Cruz, former contributing editor.

The resolution dated Nov. 13, 2006 and penned by Fredy Gomez, assistant city prosecutor (Manila), said that we, the accused, "meant and intended to convey false and malicious insinuations" against the First Gentleman, "imputed… a crime…" and therefore our story was "highly libelous and offensive and derogatory to the good name, character and reputation…of the First Gentleman."

The resolution further said that the article was "solely prepared, written, and published by the accused for no other purpose than to impeach and besmirch" Mr. Arroyo.

REGIONAL PROJECT OFFICER NG BAYAN MUNA BICOL, PINASLANG!

News Release

BAYAN MUNA-Bicol

December 31, 2006

Reference: Jose PerniaRegional Coordinator

Ligao City- Alas 5:30 ng hapon sa Barangay San Lorenzo, pinaslang sa kanilang tahanan si Rodolfo "Ompong" Alvarado. Regional Project Officer ng Bayan Muna sa Bicol at ika-anim na nominado ng nasabing party list."Walang patawad ang "death squad" ni GMA. Sa natitirang oras ng 2006, inihabol si kasamang Ompong". Pahayag ni Pernia.Si Alvarado ang ika-42 sa mga pinaslang sa rehiyong Bikol sa taong 2006 at ika-129 mula noong maupo sa pwesto si GMA.

Matatandaang bago dumating ang araw ng kapaskuhan, pinatay si Atty. Gil Gojol, abogado ng Bayan Muna sa Sorsogon kasama si Danilo France na kanyang driver. "Ang nangyari ay patunay lamang na handang gawin ng malakanyang ang lahat matupad lamang ang 2 taong deadline ni GMA na ubusin ang kanyang mga kalaban. Tuloy-tuloy ang implementasyon ng Oplan Bantay Laya ng AFP na walang ibang hangarin kundi patahimikin ang sinumang itinuturing na kalaban ng gobyerno" Dagdag pa ni Pernia.

Matatandaan na bago pa man lumahok at manalo sa halalan ang Bayan Muna noong 2001 hanggang 2004, matindi ang propaganda ng gobyerno na ito diumano ay kasama sa mga front NPA. "Naniniwala kami na responsable ang gobyerno sa mga nangyayaring ito. Ang pagbansag sa amin na diumano’y mga kasama at taga suporta ng NPA ay deklaradong gyera sa amin at sinumang sibilyan na naghahanap ng pampulitikang pagbabago, katotohanan at hustisya sa likod ng katiwalian ng gobyernong Arroyo". Sabi pa ni Pernia. Ang Bayan Muna kasama ang mga kaalyadong militanteng organisasyon ay mahigpit na kinokondina ang naturang pagpatay.

"Dapat ng papanagutin si GMA kasama ang kanyang mga alagad sa dumadaming listahan ng inutang na buhay. Ang agarang pagpapatalsik sa papet, pasista at pahirap sa masang pekeng pangulo ay mas lalong dapat madaliin at ipagtagumpay. Hanggat nananatili si GMA sa pwesto, dadami pa ang magiging kaso ng pampulitikang pamamaslang." Pagtatapos ni Pernia.

For other articles link at: http://www.cp-union.org/katarungan-bikol/

THE RETURN OF SMITH TO US CUSTODY IS A CLEAR EXAMPLE OF US INTERVENTION TO THE PHILIPPINE AFFAIRS AND CALOUS PUPPETRY OF GMA

U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Daniel Smith, center, in handcuffs is escorted by Philippine police at the Makati Central Police Station before he is transferred to the city jail in suburban Makati, south of Manila, Monday, Dec. 4, 2006. (AP Photo)

Sorsogon City - "The historical tug-of-custody between the US government and the Philippine government on the convicted rapist US soldier Lance Cpl. Daniel Smith ends up again with US dominating the game of pressure and political blackmail. The return of Smith to the US custody is a shameless act of puppetry of the GMA government," Karapatan said.

The cancellation of BALIKATAN exercises pressured the GMA government to let go of Smith. In effect, the GMA government also let go the sovereignty of the Philippines. It only shows that US still shapes, dictates and influence the political arena of the country. The Philippines is a semi-colonial state of the US," Karapatan added.

"Such decision of the GMA government shows its real color, puppets of the US government. The Malacanang people are appendices of the US interest in the country. It (GMA government) does not represent to the true interest and welfare of the Filipino people. The US government raped our Constitution and the GMA government is the pimp in exchange of war materials and self-preservation. Such government has no right to rule the country," Karapatan ended.

Posted by: Bicolnews December 31, 2006