Monitors: Online

Who they are
The Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ) helped readers know more about the members of the Melo commission, which was commissioned by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to probe into the killings of journalists and activists. In an Aug. 24 post in its blog, PCIJ provided background information about the commission members led by Supreme Court associate justice Jose Melo (“Meet the Melo commission”).

When does a Pinoy ‘give up’ on his country?
The Philippine Daily Inquirer was accused of sensationalism when it carried a front-page story on Aug. 20 with a headline that said veteran singer-composer Jim Paredes had given up on the Philippines.

Paredes admitted suffering from “political fatigue” in Manila and having taken up residence in Australia. But, he insisted, he had not given up on the Philippines as claimed by the headline.

Inquirer publisher Isagani Yambot immediately issued an apology, saying the singer, who was a prominent figure in the Edsa 1 and 2 uprisings, had “valid reason to be angry” because of the “inaccurate and unfair” story.

That would have probably ended the issue—until the newspaper’s news editor, Artemio Engracia Jr., wrote a rejoinder that stood by the correctness of the headline. So did Paredes get his apology or not? Depends who you ask in the Inquirer.

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