TV Monitors

Zooming in the Zulkiflis
Following the beheading of 10 Marines in Basilan, media resurrected allegations of a link between the Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).
In a special report last Aug. 15, TV Patrol World traced the connection between the MILF and the Zulkiflis, alleged members of the JI terrorist group. It followed the exchange of e-mails between two Zulkifli brothers, who supposedly used codes in discussing alleged plans to bomb certain places in the country. The author of the book, Inside Al Qaeda, was interviewed about the Zulkiflis and their connections.
ABS-CBN 2 backed up its report with confidential documents that revealed a direct interaction between one of the Zulkiflis and the MILF command in Jolo. The JI member allegedly lived in a MILF “safe box,” an area where no military offensive could be launched. The report explained how this affected the operations of the military in capturing one of the Zulkiflis, as well as the implications of the links between the MILF and the JI. The news team also gathered reports from intelligence sources from the country and abroad.
But the report did not have the side of the MILF. Although the Muslim rebel group has consistently denied links to the JI, ABS-CBN 2 should have still asked the MILF about the intelligence reports and its own findings. The intelligence reports should have been verified with the military and concerned government officials.

Beer talk
WAS THE Aug. 9 report of TV Patrol World, “Bagong beer, hahamon sa mga leading brands,” an advertorial?
Although the news report never mentioned the name of the new beer, it repeatedly showed clips where the beer ‘s brand was clearly identifiable.
The report discussed the profile of beer consumers and how this has changed through the years. Women and the youth, who now make up the consumer base of the beverage, have reportedly dislodged older men as premier beer drinkers.
It also said this new beer will bring tougher competition to the market, and even discussed the unnamed beer’s packaging features.
The story included interviews with drinkers explaining why they choose beer over other alcoholic beverages.

A mouthful to say
A TV Patrol World report last Aug. 14 gave a lot of credence to the allegations of Sen. Antonio Trillanes III that some officials in the executive department as well as in the Marines had a “direct hand” in the ambush and death of 14 Marines last July 10 in Tipo-tipo. Trillanes promised to name the officials in a Senate defense committee hearing. He said his information came from a source in the Navy.
TV Patrol did not get the side of the Marines and the executive branch. Two days later, the newscast again aired Trillanes’s allegation. It said the ambushed soldiers were used as bait to fire up the war in Mindanao. Again, no one from the administration was asked to comment.
Let Teddyboy talk

Primetime Teledyaryo and its viewers are missing a lot because of the newscast’s unbalanced reporting. Last July 26, the news program reported that Agusan del Sur Rep. Rodolfo Plaza dared Makati Rep. Teodoro Locsin Jr. to identify the corrupt committee chairmen in the House of Representatives. It was a reaction to an earlier story where Locsin made the scathing remark against colleagues he did not name.
Teledyaryo was satisfied with Plaza’s bites and did not ask Locsin if he was taking on Plaza’s challenge.

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