Twin Jeers of the Month
Flawed coverage
JEERS TO the Manila press for its flawed coverage of the latest impeachment complaint against President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.
The Manila broadsheets and much of television news focused on the accusation by Pangasinan Rep. and former Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. that Arroyo bribed him and other lawmakers on Oct. 11 last year to support a weak impeachment complaint against her. The complaint, filed by lawyer Roel Pulido, was eventually dismissed by the House of Representatives.
De Venecia, a former administration ally, also linked Arroyo and her husband Jose Miguel to the controversial national broadband network (NBN) deal with Chinese firm Zhong Xing Telecommunications Equipment (ZTE) Corp. De Venecia was ousted as House Speaker in February after a falling out with Arroyo. During his speakership, the administration-controlled House of Representatives had dismissed all impeachment complaints against Arroyo since 2005.
The Manila newspapers emphasized the views of De Venecia, who endorsed the complaint. His son, Jose “Joey” III, who had earlier exposed alleged irregularities over the NBN deal, joined in filing the latest impeachment complaint against Arroyo.
The press did not pay much attention to the groups and personalities who had put the complaint together or who co-sponsored it. These complainants included Karapatan deputy secretary general Roneo Clamor; the Kilusang Mayo Uno’s Elmer Labog; missing activists’ mothers Edita Burgos, Con-cepcion Empeño, and Erlinda Cadapan; lawyer Harry Roque Jr.; Iloilo Vice Gov. Rolex Suplico; former government officials; and representatives of various civil society groups.
Because De Venecia’s statements and reactions were all over the coverage, some readers and viewers could not be faulted for thinking that he was the initiator of the complaint, that he was just getting back at Arroyo for his removal from the speakership by her House allies, and that, over all, it was just another pointless politicians’ circus.
Except for the NBN-ZTE deal and alleged Palace payoff, the other charges against Arroyo were either not addressed at all or were only minimally covered. These included the rampant human rights violations during Arroyo’s watch and the gold reserves contract for Mt. Diwalwal.
Voting 42-8, the House of Representatives Justice Committee dismissed Nov. 26 the impeachment complaint, the fourth such attempt against Arroyo in three years.
The Jan. 2009 issue of PJR Reports will have a full analysis of the press coverage of the recent impeachment complaint against Arroyo.
Who else were with Joc-Joc?
JEERS TO the Manila press for a major gap in its coverage of the P728-million fertilizer controversy—aside from former agriculture undersecretary Jocelyn “Joc-joc” Bolante, who else may have been involved in the planning and implementation of the alleged diversion of the fertilizer funds to President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s 2004 presidential campaign?
In March 2006, the Senate blue ribbon and agriculture committees released a report that recommended the filing of criminal and administrative charges against Bolante, who is alleged to have implemented the fund diversion, and other agriculture officials.
Recent coverage of the scandal focused on Bolante’s arrival from the US after his failed asylum bid, and on his testimony in both chambers of Congress.
PJR Reports will have a more detailed analysis of the coverage in its Jan. 2009 issue.
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