Monitors: TV

Express Balita of IBC-13,  a government-sequestered  network, clearly showed bias for Charter change in its Oct. 31 report which aired only the side of the politicians and groups rooting for amending the Constitution. The newscast said the participation of the Senate, which is predominantly against Cha-cha, was not necessary to convert Congress into a constituent assembly (con-ass). The report was based on the views of pro-administration Rep. Prospero Pichay of Surigao del Sur who claimed to have gotten 194 signatures, one more than the three-fourths of the total number of representatives required  to convene a con-ass.
Express Balita also solicited the views of other Cha-cha advocates such as Sigaw ng Bayan convenor Raul Lambino and Charter Change Advocacy Commission chairman emeritus Jose Abueva.

After the fireworks, what?
The press followed the story of the suspension of Makati City mayor Jejomar Binay and other local officials by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) last Oct. 17. The reports, however, focused mostly on the bickering between the parties involved. On one hand was Binay, who accused the administration of political persecution, and on the other, long-time Binay foe and former Makati vice mayor Roberto Brillantes who filed the case before the Ombudsman.
On Oct. 21, TV Patrol World dwelt on the plan of the DILG and the Office of the Solicitor General to file a motion for reconsideration on the temporary restraining order issued by the Court of Appeals on Oct. 19 stopping the implementation of the suspension order on Binay for 60 days. The report  aired the side of Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno as well as Binay’s reaction to it.
In highlighting just the heated arguments, TV Patrol World and the other reports failed to explain several issues that were important  in understanding the whole affair. A number of questions were left unanswered. For instance, what does the law say about a mass suspension of local officials? Who takes over the reins of the city government if all officials from the mayor  to  councilors are suspended?

Show ’em the money!
What is behind the cash-giving spree of disgraced congressman Mark Jimenez? Last Oct. 23, TV Patrol World tried to look into the activities of Jimenez, whose deep pockets have been the source of cash given to poor residents in Manila, college policy insurance holders, homeless soldiers, etc. Aside from money, TV Patrol World reported that Jimenez’s camp also distributed T-shirts printed with “Mahal Tayo ni ‘MJ’ Mark Jimenez.” The report mentioned speculations that Jimenez was planning to run for mayor of Manila in the local elections next year.
Jailed in the United States for two years for tax evasion, fraud, and election financing offenses before returning to the country, Jimenez denied giving out money and T-shirts. He claimed to have distributed only rosaries and Divine Mercy posters.
But TV Patrol World revealed that after the conference,  in which Jimenez was the main guest, reporters were each given P7,000. According to ABS-CBN reporter Niko Baua, he tried to return the amount to a member of Jimenez’s staff, but the latter refused to take the money back. The reporter said he donated the money to the ABS-CBN Foundation.
The story provided viewers a glimpse of what a reported mayoralty candidate  is already doing months before the official campaign period. Curious viewers must be asking: Who among the reporters in the press conference accepted money from Jimenez’s camp?
Nur who?

The end of Ramadan last October was an occasion to focus and explore different aspects of the Muslim celebration.  It was also a time to ask questions like: What ever happened to Nur Misuari?
In its Oct. 23 episode, ANC’s Top Story followed former Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao governor Nur Misuari as he said his prayers in a Taguig mosque. The show provided a background and update on the case of Misuari who has been under house arrest in New Manila since May. Facing rebellion charges after the 2001 uprising in Jolo where at least 100 people were killed, Misuari was first detained in Fort Sto. Domingo in Sta. Rosa, Laguna. He was allowed to transfer to a house in New Manila because he has to undergo regular check ups at the St. Luke’s Hospital.

The price of public office
Six months away from the next election, Sentro went ahead of the pack and analyzed the cost of financing a Senate campaign.
The newscast last Nov. 14 reported that candidates routinely violate Commission on Elections (Comelec) Resolution 6520 which limits the amount that may be spent by a candidate in a campaign to P3 per voter.
Comelec spokesman James Jimenez said the penalty for violating the poll body’s resolution—P30,000—was not an effective deterrent since candidates actually spend millions during the campaign period.
Based on Jimenez’s estimate, candidates should have spent P129 million for the 43 million voters in the last elections.
Also interviewed for the report was Prof. Segundo Romero of the Asian Institute of Management who explained how candidates raise funds to finance their expensive campaigns. He said various groups and personalities who bankroll politicians’ candidacies get handsome returns for their investments when winning bets pass laws that are favorable to their business interests, among other things.
The Sentro report was a good analytical feature but it would have been better if the expenses of senatorial candidates and the names of their donors in the last election were cited.

Public service
ABC-5 did a good job last Nov. 17 in informing viewers about a new law that prohibits retail stores from charging customers  extra  in credit card purchases.
Sentro said Republic Act 7394 or The Consumer Act of the Philippines requires retail stores to have a single price for displayed items regardless of the customer’s payment mode, among other things.  Previously, customers paid more for credit card purchases.
The law was passed on Nov. 5, but Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) officials  had been informing retailers as early as January about the anticipated passage of the law and the need to comply with it. According to the report, the law also applies to purchases on installment.
The report gave viewers a DTI telephone number that consumers can call to report violations of the law.

Kidneys for sale on the Internet
24 Oras and Saksi  aired a series of reports on kidneys for sale—an alarming social reality  exposed years ago by the network.
Interviewed for the reports were some of those who had sold their kidneys for extra income and whose lives have not improved. The reports revealed that the kidney-for-sale trade has reached the Internet. Viewers were also informed of the health risks in having one kidney removed.

Pig with a microphone
On Nov. 15, a Teledyaryo reporter covering the pre-pageant parade of Miss Earth 2006 asked Miss Finland Linnea Altonen if she liked Filipinos. Before the contestant could finish her answer, the reporter volunteered, “We look very handsome” and, shoving his face near Miss Finland, solicited a kiss. Surprised, the beauty contestant politely gave him a peck.
At the studio, anchors Angelique Lazo and Rey Langit beamed, apparently proud of how the reporter put one over the beauty contestant. Lazo said, “Ibang klase talaga itong si….” Langit replied, “Nang-iinggit na naman.”

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