Category: Media

Lolarga and Silverio win 1st Chit Estella awards

Ellen Leave a comment


By Eimor P. Santos, VERA Files

In death, Vera Files trustee and journalism professor Lourdes “Chit” Estella Simbulan continues to champion human rights campaign in the country.

The 1st Chit Estella Journalism Awards honored the best journalistic reports on human rights, Dec. 7. This is in line with the celebration of the National Human Rights Consciousness Week with the theme, “My Voice Counts in Ending Impunity: I Work for Human Rights-Based Governance”.

Babeth Lolarga

his year’s awardees were Ina Alleco Silverio of Bulatlat.com for her online story, “Three months after Sendong, Iligan residents still far from rebuilding their lives” and Elizabeth Lolarga of the Philippine Daily Inquirer for her print story, “365 political prisoners go on hunger strike”.

Links to winning stories:

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/107101/356-political-prisoners-go-on-hunger-strike

http://bulatlat.com/main/2012/03/16/three-months-after-sendong-iligan-residents-still-far-from-rebuilding-their-lives/

The works of Silverio and Lolarga were chosen among seven other finalists, four from online and two from print which were all published between October 1, 2011 and October 1, 2012. The winners each received P10,000 and a trophy, funded by the Simbulan-Estella family, and co-presented by the University of the Philippines Department of Journalism and Vera Files.

The Chit Estella Journalism Awards and and the Memorial Lectures that followed awarding ceremonies are intended to keep alive Simbulan’s ideals of excellent journalism and human rights advocacy.

Simbulan, better known by her byline Chit Estella, died in a vehicular accident May 13 last year on Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City. She was 53.

Satur Ocampo

Former Bayan Muna Partylist Rep. Satur Ocampo, who was the guest speaker, presented a historical perspective of the human rights situation in the country and its connection with the counter-insurgency campaign of the government.“Araw-araw may nangyayaring paglabag sa karapatan, lalo na ng maliliit na mamamayan (Everyday violations of human rights happen, especially to the common man),” he said Satur Ocampo during the memorial lecture of the said awards ceremony at the UP College of Mass Communication Auditorium.

A journalist with the old Manila Times before the declaration of Martial Law in 1971,Ocampo spent many years in the underground movement and as a political prisoner. He now writes a column for the Philippine Star.

Ocampo called on President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino to exercise his powers as commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines to end human rights violations, especially now that more and more children are becoming victims. He cited the report of the local rights group Karapatan which revealed that children aged 10-16 are being raped, tortured and illegally arrested by the military.

Human Rights Commissioner Cecilia “Coco” Quisumbing acknowledged the vital role of the media in stopping human rights violations. She enjoined media to “ stay away from press release journalism” and do more research in doing reports.

Estella’s husband, UP Prof. Roland Simbulan, said Chit’s death has led him to another advocacy: road safety. He now heads a group called Families of Road Victims and Survivors, basically a support group but is also working on making roads in the country safe.

(VERA Files is put out by veteran journalists taking a deeper look at current issues. Vera is Latin for “true.”)

Chit Estella Journalism awards focus on human rights reports

Ellen Leave a comment

Congratulations to the winners in the 1st Chit Estella Journalism awards.

The awardees were Elizabeth Lolarga of the Philippine Daily Inquirer for her print story, “365 political prisoners go on hunger strike” and Ina Alleco Silverio of Bulatlat.com for her online story, “Three months after Sendong, Iligan residents still far from rebuilding their lives.”

The winners of the 1st Chit Estella Journalism Awards will be known Friday (Dec 7) in an event at the UP College of Mass Communications Auditorium that will also include a Memorial Lecture.

The Chit Estella Awards honor the best journalistic report on human rights in print and online, published between October 1, 2011 and October 1, 2012. Each awardee will be given a cash prize of P10,000 and a trophy.

This year’s finalists for online media are:

-Three months after Sendong, Iligan residents still far from rebuilding their lives by Ina Alleco Silverio

-Jonas Burgos, gentle and brave by Ronalyn Olea

-Privatization of government hospitals, further marginalizing the poor in the name of profit by Anne Marxze Umil

-K + 12, worsening shortages to greet school opening by Anne Marxze Umil

-In Makati, the poor of Guatemala street know nothing about the city’s wealth by Ina Alleco Silverio

Finalists from print are:

-Kin of ‘desaparecidos’ keep up fight by Tonette Orejas

-In Sulu, human rights work starts with letting the people know by Julie Alipala

-356 political prisoners go on hunger strike by Elizabeth Lolarga

The Chit Estella Journalism Awards and Memorial Lectures are intended to keep alive Chit’s ideals of excellent and principled journalism and her human rights advocacy. Lourdes Estella-Simbulan in real life, she was known by her byline “Chit Estella.”

At the time of her death in a vehicular accident May last year, Chit was a journalism professor of the University of the Philippines-Diliman and trustee-writer of VERA Files, a group composed of veteran reporters that puts out in-depth articles and conducts training for journalists.

The awarding of the winners for the 1st Chit Estella Memorial Lecture coincides with Human Rights Day which is marked worldwide on Dec. 10.

Satur Ocampo, a veteran journalist, former political prisoner, former Bayan Muna party list president and representative in Congress, and now columnist of the Philippine Star, Ocampo will be the featured speaker in the Memorial lecture.

The winners were chosen by a board of judges composed of five representatives from the Estella/Simbulan family, VERA Files, the UP College of Mass Communications and Karapatan.

***

It is a source of deep consolation that even at an agonizingly slow place, the bill penalizing enforced or involuntary disappearance moved. It was approved by both chambers of the Philippine Congress last Oct. 16 and is now in Malacanang awaiting the signature of the President.

The bill makes a crime making a person disappear from the face of the earth which defies the natural cycle of life. A person is born, lives, and dies. He does not disappear as what happened to Jonas Burgos, Karen Empeño and Sherlyn Cadapan and many more students, farmers, and workers.

The bill defines Enforced or Involuntary Disappearance as “the arrest, detention, abduction or any other form of deprivation of liberty committed by agents of the State or by persons or groups of persons acting with the authorization, support or acquiescence of the State, followed by a refusal to acknowledge the deprivation of liberty or by concealment of the fate or whereabouts of the disappeared person, which places such person outside the protection of the law.”

Human Right advocates are hoping that the President sign the bill, “Anti-Enforced or Involuntary Disappearance Act of 2012” into law on Monday. That would be the best Christmas gift that he could give to the families of the victims.

The President could further give substance to his much-proclaimed respect for human rights by signing the United Nations Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance.

It’s a shame that the Philippines under a President who comes from a family that experienced human rights violations during the Marcos dictatorship, is not among 91 countries that have signed the Convention. Thirty seven of those signatory countries have ratified the Convention.

The Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearances (AFAD) and the Families of Victims of Involuntary Disappearance (FIND) will be holding a press conference on Monday, Dec. 10, 9:00 – 11:00 am at the Max’s Restaurant, Orosa St., cor. U.N. Ave., Ermita, Manila.

A hundred groups urge P-Noy, Congress: Certify FOI as urgent!

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OVER a hundred organizations on Sunday urged President Benigno Simeon Aquino III, Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr., and leaders of Congress to heed one clamor: Certify the Freedom of Information bill as an urgent, priority legislation.

In a statement, the groups that comprise the Right to Know, Right Now! Coalition, challenged Aquino and Congress leaders to make good on their promise to enact the bill into law in the 15th Congress.

The House of Representatives’ Committee on Public Information had voted 17-3 on Nov. 27 to approve the report of its technical working group that consolidated 16 various versions of the FOI bill that it had received.

However, committee chairman Rep. Ben Evardone seems inclined to go slow on sending the committee report to the House plenary for debate on the floor. Evardone has scheduled yet another committee meeting on Dec. 11, supposedly for the committee members to sign the report.

The usual practice of Congress is for committee reports to be passed around for signing by committee members, without need for a committee hearing.

Only nine session days remain before the Congress goes on Christmas break on Dec. 22.

The statement of the Coalition follows:

THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION bill (FOI) in the Senate and in the House of Representatives has advanced despite the odds, having passed the respective committees. FOI is now at a critical juncture, which will determine its passage in this 15thCongress.

Given that time is running out in the 15th Congress, we appeal to the Senate and House leadership, as well as to the Executive, to accord its passage the urgency it deserves.

It is within their powers to pass the FOI bill in the 15th Congress despite the time constraint.

The Senators can make good their earlier commitments to pass the FOI bill. They must find time to proceed with interpellation, amendments, and passage on second and third reading before they adjourn for the December break.

In the House of Representatives, the Committee on Rules, through the Majority Leader, is empowered to declare a bill urgent, and to set the number of days or hours to be allotted for the consideration of the bill in plenary, and when vote on the bill shall be taken.

To start the process, we demand that Rep. Evardone gives justice to the 17 members of the House who voted to approve the committee report last November 27, by submitting it to plenary today (Monday, December 3). The House leadership must then include the FOI bill in the Order of Business beginning this week.

On the part of the Executive, President Aquino can certify to the necessity of its immediate enactment, as he did with the Sin Tax Bill. This will place the FOI bill on par with the highest priority measures of Congress, and save it the delay from the interval of days needed in passing bills on second and third readings.

We take this opportunity to thank and congratulate the FOI champions who succeeded in having the committee report approved by the House committee, despite the odds. Principally, we recognize the leadership of Quezon Rep. Erin Tañada and the crucial interventions by Akbayan Reps. Walden Bello and Kaka Bag-ao, Ifugao Rep. Teddy Baguilat, CIBAC Reps. Cinchona Cruz-Gonzales and Sherwin Tugna, and Bayan Muna Rep. Teddy Casiño.

We also express our heartfelt gratitude for the other regular, deputized and ex-officio members of the Committee on Public Information who answered the call for an affirmative vote on the FOI consolidated bill. They are Cebu 1st District Rep. Rachel Marguerite del Mar, Bagong Henerasyon Rep. Bernadette Herrera-Dy, Kabataan Rep Raymond Palatino, AAMBIS-OWA Rep. Sharon Garin, Basilan Rep. Jim Hataman-Salliman, Isabela Rep. Rodolfo Albano, DIWA Rep. Emmeline Aglipay, Ako Bicol Rep. Rodel Batocabe, An Waray Rep. Neil Benedict Montejo, and Pasig City Rep. Roman Romulo.

In plenary, we appeal to the proponents of the Right of Reply provision to allow the passage of the FOI. We urge them to pursue their Right of Reply advocacy independent of the FOI bill’s passage. Constitutional and public policy issues remain unresolved around the Right of Reply, which should be fully deliberated in the separate measures also filed with Rep. Evardone’s committee, with all the stakeholders consulted extensively.

We will support reasonable amendments to the FOI bill, like the provision on safeguard against abuse proposed by Rep. Bernadette Herrera-Dy. We will likewise support an amendment that will address the concern of the Department of National Defense over the time gap between the repeal of the existing information classification guidelines and the promulgation of the new classification guidelines as provided under the bill.

Beyond this, all that remains for the 15th Congress is the fulfillment of a solemn promise to the people to pass the long-overdue Freedom of Information Act.

Signatories:

1. Atty. Nepomuceno Malaluan, Co-Director, Institute for Freedom of Information and Co-Convenor, Right to Know. Right Now! Coalition

2. Bishop Broderick S. Pabillo, DD, Chairman, Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines – National Secretariat for Social Action-Justice and Peace (CBCP-NASSA)

3.Ms. Malou Mangahas, Executive Director, Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism

4.Mr. Peter Angelo V. Perfecto, Executive Director, Makati Business Club

5.Ms. Annie Geron, General Secretary, Public Services Labor Independent Confederation (PSLINK)

6.Prof. Luis Teodoro, Deputy Director, Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility

7.Mr. Josua Mata, Secretary General, Alliance of Progressive Labor (APL)

8.Ms. Yuen Abana, Campaign Coordinator, Partido ng Manggagawa

9. Ms. Clarissa V. Militante
Coordinator, Focus on the Global South, Philippines Programme

10. Mr. Jun Aguilar nd Mr. Elso Cabangon, Filipino Migrant Workers Group

11. Mr. Max M. De Mesa, Chairperson, Philippine Alliance of Human Rights Advocates (PAHRA)

12.Mr. Ramon R. Tuazon, President
Dr. ?Florangel Rosario-Braid, President Emeritus & Senior Adviser?
Ms. Madeline B. Quiamco, Dean
Asian Institute of Journalism and Communication

13. Atty. Roberto Eugenio Cadiz, Executive Director, Libertás

14.Mr. Alwyn Alburo, Vice Chairman and Ms. Rowena Paraan, Secretary-General, National Union of Journalists of the Philippines

15.Prof. Leonor M. Briones, Lead Covenor, Social Watch Philippines

16.Ms. Maxine Tanya Hamada, Executive Director, International Center for Innovation, Transformation and Excellence in Governance (INCITEGov)

17. Mr. Ariel Sebellino,Executive Director, Philippine Press Institute

18.Dr. Edna A. Co, Professor, University of the Philippines Diliman

19.Mr. Norman Cabrera, Secretary General, Ang Kapatiran Party
Mr. John Carlos G. de los Reyes, Candidate for Senator (2013)
Mr. Rizalito Y. David, Candidate for Senator (2013)
Atty. Marwil Llasos, Candidate for Senator (2013)
Mr. Carlos Cabochan, Candidate for Representative, 2nd District of Caloocan City (2013)
Mr. Harry Tambuatco, Candidate for Representative, Lone district of Muntinlupa city (2013)
Mr. Edilberto M. Cuenca, Candidate for Representative, 1st District of Makati City (2013)
Mr. Frank Reyes, Candidate for Representative, Lone District of Mandaluyong City (2013), Ang Kapatiran Party

20.Atty Eirene Jhone Aguila, FOI and New Politics Advocate

21.Ms. Joy Aceron, Program Director, Government Watch/ PODER, Ateneo School of Government

22.Mr. Sixto Donato C. Macasaet, Executive Director, Caucus of Development NGO Networks (CODE-NGO)

23. Ms. Jenina Joy Chavez, Southeast Asia Monitor for Action

24. Mr. Vincent Lazatin, Executive Director, Transparency and Accountability Network

25. Dr. Segundo Romero, Program Director, Ateneo School of Government

26.Mr. Ricardo Reyes, President, Freedom from Debt Coalition

27. Dr. Joseph Anthony Lim, Professor, Economics Department, Ateneo De Manila University

28. Dr. J. Prospero de Vera, Professor, UPNCPAG, and Executive Director, Pimentel Institute for Leadership and Governance

29. Mr. Bong Fabe, Freelance journalist

30.Atty. Risa Halagueña, Fellow, Action for Economic Reforms

31.Sr. Cres Lucero, SFIC, Co-Chairperson and Mr. Emmanuel Amistad, Executive Director, Task Force Detainees of the Philippines

32.Atty. Corazon Valdez Fabros, Lead Convenor, Stop the War Coalition Philippines

33.Ms. Ana Maria R. Nemenzo, National Coordinator
Ms. Mercy Fabros, Advocacy and Campaign Coordinator
Ms. May-i Fabros, Coordinator of Young Women Collective
Ms. Rosheic Sims, Assistant Coordinator of Young Women Collective
WomanHealth Philippines

34. Mr. Rolando Ocampo, Spokesperson, Prudentialife Warriors/Movement for Change and Good Governance

35.Ms. Cielo Magno, Coordinator, Bantay Kita

36.Mr.Red Batario, Executive Director, Ms. G. Sevilla Alvarez, Program Director, Center for Community Journalism and Development

37. Mr. Isagani R. Serrano, President, Philippine Rural Reconstruction Movement

38. Dr. Sylvia Estrada-Claudio, Director, University of the Philippines Center for Women’s Studies.

39. Ms. Jessica Reyes-Cantos, Lead Convenor, Rice Watch and Action Network

40. Ms. Ellene Sana, Executive Director, Center for Migrant Advocacy

41. Mr. Jaybee Garganera, National Coordinator, Alyansa Tigil Mina (ATM)

42. Mr. Jong Pacanot, Secretary General, Freedom from Debt Coalition – Southern Mindanao

43. Ms. Evita L. Jimenez, Executive Director, Center for People Empowerment in Governance (CenPEG)

44. Ms. Andrea Maria Patricia Sarenas, Chairperson, Mindanao Coalition of Development NGO Networks (MINCODE)

45.Fr. Albert E. Alejo, SJ, Ehem Anticorruption Program

46.Mr. Jason Alacapa, Chairperson, University Student Council (UPM USC), UP Manila

47. Ms. Jean Enriquez, Executive Director, Coalition Against Trafficking in Women-Asia Pacific

48. Dr. Nymia Pimentel Simbulan, Executive Director, PhilRights

49. Atty. Ray Paolo J. Santiago, Executive Director, Ateneo Human Rights Center

50. Ms. Zenaida S. Mique, Executive Director, Claimants 1081

51. Sr. Nelda L. Balaba, OND, Program Coordinator, Justice and Peace Desk – Social Action Center, Diocese of Marbel

52. Ms. Marjorie Anne Yoro, Suprema, UP Kabataang Pilosopo Tasyo (KaPiTas), UP Diliman

53. Ms. Moses Albiento, Chairperson, Alliance of Student Leaders (ASL), Ateneo de Manila University

54. Mr. Joseph Angelo Gutierrez, Chairperson, Movement of Students for Progressive Leadership in UP (MOVE UP), UP Los Baños

55. Mr. Tristan Daine Zinampan, Chairperson, Linking Everyone Towards Service CDC (LETS CDC), College of Development Communication, UP Los Baños

56. Ms. Mary Ann Fuertes, Executive Director, Interface Development Interventions, Inc. (Davao City)

57. Atty. Arvin A. Jo, Focal Person, The Access Initiative – Philippines

58. Ms. April Lamentillo, Supremo, Sandigan ng mga Iskolar para sa Nagkakaisang CAS (SINAG CAS), College of Arts and Sciences, UP Los Baños

59. Mr. Curt Russel Lopez Delfin, President, Metro Manila Alliance of Communication Students (MACS)

60. Mr. John Mark Salvador, President, Bagong Benilde, De La Salle – College of Saint Benilde

61. Mr. Van Battad, President, UP Sirkulo ng mga Kabataang Artista (SIKAT), UP Diliman

62. Ms. Luisa Lioanag, Bos Tsip-Tsip, UP Bukluran sa Sikolohiyang Pilipino (Buklod-Isip), UP Diliman

63. Ms. Starjoan Villanueva, Executive Director, Alternate Forum for Research in Mindanao

64. Mr. Joseph Purugganan, Coordinator, EU-ASEAN FTA Network

65.Ms. Patricza Torio, Tagapangulo, UP Lipunang Pangkasaysayan (LIKAS), UP Diliman

66. Ms. Marian Bahalla, Chairperson, Laban COC Party, College of Communication, Polytechnic University of the Philippines

67. Mr. Arjay Mercado, President, UP Economics Towards Consciousness (ETC), UP Diliman

68. Mr. Joshua Layog, Primer, Katipunan CHE, College of Human Ecology, UP Los Baños

69. Ms. Ema Escanilla, Speaker, UP People-Oriented Leadership in the Interest of Community Awareness (UP POLITICA), UP Diliman

70. Mr. Edward Dayog, President, UP Organization of Human Rights Advocates (OHRA), UP Diliman

71. Mr. JC Tejano, National Chairperson, Bukluran ng mga Progresibong Iskolar – UP System (BUKLURAN – UP SYSTEM)

72. Ms. Ara Tan, President, UP Kalipunan ng mga Mag-aaral ng Sosyolohiya (KMS), UP Diliman

73. Mr. Ace Ligsay, Chairperson, UP Alyansa ng mga Mag-aaral para sa Panlipunang Katwiran at Kaunlaran (UP ALYANSA), UP Diliman

74. Mr. Mickey Eva, President, Coalition for Students’ Rights and Welfare (STRAW Coalition)

75. Mr. Carlo Brolagda, Chairperson and Mr. Chris Alquizalas, Councilor, College of Social Sciences and Philosophy Student Council (CSSPSC), UP Diliman / Convenors, FOI Youth Initiative (FYI)

76. Mr. Joshua Young, Chairperson, Bigkis ng mga Iskolar Para sa Bayan Tungo sa Makabuluhang Pagbabago – UPM (BIGKIS-UPM), UP Manila

77. Mr. Viko Fumar, President, BUKLOD CSSP, College of Social Sciences and Philosophy, UP Diliman

78. Julliano Fernando A. Guiang, Councilor, University Student Council, UP Diliman, and Convenor, Disclose All Records (DARe) Movement

79. Mr. Deg Daupan, President, Alternatibong Katipunan ng mga Mag-aaral (AKMA), UP Baguio

80. Mr. Walter Tamayo, History Department Representative, AngKAS (CSSP History Department Core Group), UP Diliman

81. Mr. Gio Alejo, President, Sanggunian ng mga Paaralang Loyola ng Ateneo de Manila, Ateneo de Manila University

82. Mr. Jose Valencia, President, KASAPI Kaisahan ng Migranteng Manggagawa sa Gresya

83.Mr. Lejun Dela Cruz, Acting Chairperson, Alab Katipunan

84. Aurora A. Regalado, Managing Trustee, Management and Organizational Development for Empowerment (MODE)

85.Mr. Renato Dela Cruz, President, Aniban ng Manggagawa sa Agrikultura (AMA)

86. Mr. Walter Balane, President, Bukidnon Press Club

87. Ms. Sylvia Paraguya, Chief Executive, National Confederation of Cooperatives (NATCCO)

88. Mr. Pete Pinlac, Chairperson, Kilusan para sa Pambansang Demokrasya

89. Mr. Pablo Rosales, Chairperson, Progresibong Alyansa ng mga Mangingisda

90. Mr. Boy Alban, Chairperson, League of Urban Poor for Action

91. Mr. Jun Pascual, Acting Chairperson, Pambansang Katipunan ng Makabayang Magbubukid

92. Ms. Edeliza Hernandez, Executive Director, Medical Action Group

93. Dr. Renato G. Mabunga,Chairperson, Human Rights Defenders – Pilipinas

94. Fr. Edwin Gariguez, Coordinating Committee Member, Faith-based Congress Against Immoral Debts

95. Sr. Mary John Mananzan, OSB, Co-chairperson, Association of Major Religious Superiors in the Philippines

96. Mr. Acmad Maruhom-Macatimbol, Executive Director, Lanao Alliance of Human Rights Advocates

97. Ms. Jennifer Julia Lacaba, President, Animal Concerns and Awareness Club (AC2), University of the Philippines – Visayas Tacloban College

98. Mr. Xander Losaria, Secretary General, SENTRO – La Salle, De La Salle University – Dasmariñas

99. Mr. Wilson Fortaleza, Kampanya para sa Makataong Pamumuhay

100. Prof. Flordeliz L. Abanto, Broadcast Journalism Coordinator, St. Scholastica’s College, Manila

101.Prof. Nelson J. Celis, AES (Automated Election System) Watch

102.Prof. Angelina E. Borican, Journalism Professor, College of Communications, Polytechnic University of the Philippines

BIR files P28-M tax evasion case vs lawyer in Ampatuan assets sale

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THE BUREAU of Internal Revenue on Thursday filed a P28-million tax evasion complaint against a lawyer of Andal Ampatuan Jr., a principal accused in the Maguindanao Massacre case.

Last week, the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism, in a report by Multimedia Director Ed Lingao, exposed that Atty. Arnel C. Manaloto had acquired eight big real properties of Andal Jr. in Davao City, in May 2011.

Certified true copies of the transfer certificate titles on the properties obtained by the PCIJ showed that Manaloto purchased the properties for only P20 million.

The P27.56-million tax evasion case against Manaloto — for taxes due, interest, surcharges, and value-added tax liability — for the year 2011 was apparently triggered by a two-part PCIJ investigative report on the wealth, and lingering hold on political and economic power, of the Ampatuan clan, three years after the Nov. 23, 2009 massacre.

The PCIJ’s Ed Lingao also produced a documantary, Lipat-Bahay, on the wealth of the Ampatuans, which aired last week on GMANewsTV.

The Ampatuan patriarch and scions are principal respondents in the Maguindanao Massacre case now pending before a Quezon City court. Fifty-eight people, including 32 media workers, died in the carnage, the worst case of election-related violence in Philippine history.

Three years hence, at least 72 candidates with Ampatuan for surname and middle name are running in the May 2013 elections. Among them are nine candidates under President Benigno Aquino’s Liberal Party, and 34 others under the United Nationalist Alliance of Vice Presiodent Jejomar Binay and former President Joseph Estrada.

At a press conference on Thursday, Commissioner Kim Henares of the Bureau of Internal Revenue said Manaloto failed to supply correct and accurate information in his income tax return, and failed to pay value-added tax for the year 2011.

A resident of Angeles City in Pampanga, Manaloto passed the bar only in 2005. He served briefly on the legal staff of former Pampanga Governor Ed Panlilio.

Apart from Manaloto, the BIR also charged Erwin Carreon, a certified public accountant who examined and audited the books of accounts and other accounting records of Manaloto for 2011.

Henares said the BIR’s investigation showed that in 2011, the year Manaloto bought Andal Jr.’s properties, Manaloto declared a total income of only P1.495 million.

This evident underdeclaration of income was a “deliberate ploy to avoid having to register as a VAT taxpayer,” Henares said.

The BIR’s investigation also showed that Manaloto earned P37.97 million in revenues in 2011, but was not a registered VAT taxpayer, and did not pay VAT on his revenues.

Maguindanao massacre on our mind

Ellen Leave a comment

The media community in Cagayan de Oro. Photo from Froilan Gallardo’s FB

The 2009 Maguindanao massacre and the sad fact that justice continues to elude the victims were foremost in the minds of the delegates to the 9th Spectrum Fellowship National Campus Journalism conference held at Mambukal resort in Negros Occidental.

The Spectrum is the official student media corps of the University of St La Salle. There were about 60 participants in the conference coming not only from De La Salle but also from Far Eastern University, University of Sto. Tomas and University of San Agustin in Iloilo City.

They had an interesting range of topics. I came on the second day (Friday) and I caught up with the lectures of Ernie Sarmiento, formerly chief photographer of the Philippine Daily Inquirer, on photojournalism ethics, Philippine Star columnist Cito Beltran on opinion writing, GMA-7 (Iloilo)’s Rexcel Sorza on social media ethics, and RA Rivera on connecting through video.

I missed the talk the day earlier of Cagayan de Oro-based journalist Michael Barros and that of Manix Abrera on “Creating funny and relevant comics.”

Twenty-two year old Rob Cham’s presentation about giving the extra edge to online posts through graphic design was fun and interesting.

My talk was on investigative journalism.

One common message of all the speakers was honesty- being true to oneself.

Mendiola from Yuen Abana FB

Cito talked about the occupational hazards in practicing responsible journalism and one of them was incurring the ire of some people. He mentioned about death threats.

Touching on it in my talk, I said that journalists in Manila are much actually “safer” in the sense that if anything happens to them they have the national media to cover that. Politicians and government officials, who are usually subjects of the reports, would have second thoughts of harming them considering the backlash that it would generate.

That does not apply though to police reporters or journalists who write about criminal syndicates. They deal with persons who kill people like they do with chicken. Those people don’t send death threats. They just kill.

Despite talks about rampant corruption among community journalists, I still salute them for carrying on.

It’s a different environment in the provinces, where it is more intimate, and the chance of being accosted by the person you are taking to task on your way to work or while following up a story is very high, where your relatives are also their relatives.

The situation can get sticky. That’s what happened in many of the 153 cases of journalists killings since 1986, when press freedom was restored. Thirty-two of those killings happened after the Nov. 2009 Maguindanao massacre that shocked the world.

Red Batario of the Center for Community Journalism and Development wrote a stirring piece in remembrance of the of victims of the Maguindanao massacre. He explained why he chose to march from Quezon Rotonda to Mendiola last Friday instead of joining the discussion on media corruption while savoring the coolness of Tagaytay where the annual Media Nation was held.

Red wrote: “The massacre was a beast that nearly eviscerated the community press in that part of Mindanao, demonstrating in horrific detail the vulnerability of journalists who live and work in the provinces and who have often been, and still are, put to task for, among other things, suborning the practice of journalism. They are often portrayed as easy prey for blandishments of many kinds or willing participants in rent-seeking and rent-giving. Or that they are paid hacks of politicians and are bereft of any ethical norm or standard. This may be partly true but realities on the ground present a different picture and context of the vulnerabilities faced by community journalists.

Welcome Rotonda. From Jun Sepe’s FB

“But only they can tell with a certain amount of acuity and pathos the day-to-day challenges of practicing the craft in an environment that treats journalism and journalists as malleable avenues for advancing self interests…including media owners who consider reporters and staff as nothing but vassals.

“We at the Center for Community Journalism and Development cannot claim to represent them or to articulate their own thoughts and concerns. We can only provide them the opportunity, whenever and wherever it arises, and in this instance we had thought the coming of Media Nation9 would have given them that chance to tell their story and provide fresh insights in addressing those challenges.

“Their inability to participate in MN9 due to some logistical shortcomings puts into question the meeting’s priorities in terms of hearing a plurality of media voices especially from the community press, members of whom are often targets of violence. Because of corruption? Who knows? Only they can tell.

“While we have chosen to join the march to Mendiola for the commemoration of the 3rd anniversary of the Maguindanao Massacre, we bring with us also the hope that MN9 will send a strong message for all journalists, editors, reporters, staff, media owners, networks, publishing houses to seriously and squarely address issues that beset practitioners among which are economic security, personal safety, social welfare and professional standards the lack or absence of which leads to journalists’ vulnerability.

“Our call for an end to a culture of impunity is also a call for an end to media corruption. Our plea for justice for the victims of the Maguindanao massacre is a plea for a better understanding of the complex issues and challenges that beset community journalists in the Philippines.

“This is why we are in Mendiola and not in Tagaytay.”