We will not surrender our freedomsToday, Independence Day, we renew our pledge to serve the people, to continue speaking truth to power, and to guard and defend freedom of the press and of expression from all threats.Read More Covering the PandemicRead more Covering the CoViD-19 Pandemic Media Didn’t Explain What Qualifies as “Pork” IS THE controversial and unconstitutional pork barrel back? “Pork,” the lump-sum discretionary funds allotted to lawmakers for their pet projects was revealed to be used in a large-scale scam in 2013, when the Philippine Daily Inquirer uncovered how the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) was used to channel kickbacks... Online News Site Looks Into “Favored Contractor” Background CHEERS TO GMA News Online for its efforts to look more closely into the government dealings of Bulacan-based C.T. Leoncio Construction and Trading, which some congressmen said has been a favored contractor of some Cabinet members for infrastructure projects. House Majority Leader Rolando Andaya Jr. Alleged that the company... Media Vigilant: Online Reports Note Reenacted Budget’s Link to Corruption THE PHILIPPINE Congress adjourned this year without approving the 2019 General Appropriations Bill (GAB). Some senators blamed the House of Representatives for submitting the GAB late, citing their colleagues’ alleged “insertion” of pork barrel funds in the draft. When the House approved the bill only on November 20, Senate... Press Releases in the Guise of News JEERS TO the Philippine Daily Inquirer and Manila Standard for publishing single-sourced stories on the House of Representatives’ supposed completion of President Rodrigo Duterte’s legislative agenda. Both reports come off as unedited, self-serving press releases from House Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s propaganda machine. The Inquirer ran “House Delivers on Du30... Federal Charter Railroaded: Media Missed House Vote Anomalies AFTER THREE failed attempts at charter change during her own presidency, House Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo may finally get her wish. On its third and final reading, the House of Representatives, by a vote of 224 in favor, 22 against and three abstentions, passed Resolution of Both Houses (RBH)... Revilla Plunder Acquittal: Only Some Reports Explained Liability Question THE PORK barrel scam was arguably the biggest corruption scandal in recent years. The first court decision on one of the high profile cases filed in 2013 was announced on December 7. But it was not the verdict that many had hoped for and caused some amount of public confusion... Martial Law in Mindanao: With No Security Briefing, Why Extend? FOR THE third time, martial law in Mindanao has been extended. A Joint Session of Congress on December 12 extended its effectivity until December 2019 with a total of 235 affirmative votes,  28 negative and one abstention. In his letter to the 17th Congress, President Rodrigo Duterte said that... Media Shoot Down ‘Ouster’ List CHEERS TO online news site InterAksyon and ABS-CBN 2’s TV Patrol for calling attention to the falsehoods in Paolo Duterte’s Facebook list of individuals and organizations allegedly conspiring to unseat his father. The list was posted on social media but was taken down a day later. Tall Tales The... Xi State Visit Aftermath: What Joint Energy Exploration? AMID TENSION over China’s continuing intrusion in the West Philippine Sea, Chinese President Xi Jinping flew to the Philippines on November 20 for a two-day state visit. It was the first by a Chinese head of state in 13 years, and during the term of President Rodrigo Duterte whose... Reporting the Hearing on Foreign Workers: More Information Needed THE CREATION of enough jobs for Filipinos has challenged every administration. The Philippine Statistics Authority’s October 2018 Labor Force Survey recorded a 5.1 percent unemployment rate. The Social Weather Stations’ Third Quarter 2018 Survey published on November 10, meanwhile, pegged adult joblessness at twenty-two percent or an estimated 9.8... « Previous1…8283848586…202Next »
