Enough Is Enough: NUJP

NATIONAL UNION OF JOURNALISTS OF THE PHILIPPINES

The Arroyo government may argue until it is blue in the face that a culture of impunity does not exist in the country.It should tell that to the family of Palawan broadcaster Fernando "Dong" Batul, murdered early this morning on his way to anchor his regular Bastonero program on DYPR in Puerto Princesa.

And to the families of Albert Orsolino, gunned down in Caloocan City on May 16, Iring Maranan, mauled just hours after Orsolino's murder by San Pablo City, Laguna Councilor Edgardo Adajar in full view of 100 people, including other journalists, and our 40 other colleagues who have lost their lives in the five years since Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo came to power.

With a death toll of journalists that has already far outstripped the 34 claimed by the 14-year dictatorship and the unabated murders of activists in numbers human rights groups say is fast catching up to the Marcos regime's record, we no longer see how this administration can claim to preside over a society that claims to be the freest in this part of the world.

The murder of Batul happened just three days after UNESCO Director-General Koichiro Matsuura warned Friday that, "When violence poses a permanent threat for journalists, it poses a threat to the whole of society.""When crimes against journalists remain unpunished, the future of a country is endangered and organized crime or corruption becomes the main beneficiaries of this impunity," he said.

Indeed, the Philippine National Police itself has acknowledged that, of the 79 killings of journalists since the so-called democratic restoration of 1986, only five cases have been resolved by the courts.And we stress that, while the killers in these cases may have been convicted, NOT A SINGLE MASTERMIND has ever been brought to justice.

Not to mention the fact that, in many cases, the killings may be traced to agents of state security.We hold Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and her administration accountable for the murders of our colleagues under her watch and the increasingly brazen manner in which they have been killed.

For not only has this administration's inaction emboldened those who would impose on us the ultimate form of censorship – death – it has actually attempted to muzzle the independent Philippine press.

In its obsession with national security and its own survival, this administration has failed to protect the lives and respect the rights of the Filipino people, journalists included, and consequently failed to defend democracy.

To our legitimate demands for justice and security, what we get are empty promises, inutile task forces, and fatuous claims by the likes of National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales that "forces out to destabilize" the government are behind our colleagues' deaths and those of hundreds of activists.

We reject and condemn such facile attempts to trivialize our colleagues' deaths and make them another pawn in the political games this government plays.Today, we say enough is enough. We have condemned enough. We have issued statement enough.

We have marched in the streets and called government's attention enough.Today, we call on all our colleagues to fight back.Let us cease to be just observers and recorders to the death of democracy.

United, we can fight back the threats to our lives and liberties with the weapon we know best how to use – our profession, our pens, our cameras, our microphones.We call on the people, the public, the audiences we serve, to stand with us.

For the Freedom of the Press we struggle to uphold is not ours alone but the logical extension of the people's right to free expression and to know from which all other rights emanate.It is clear that the survival of democracy now rests solely in our hands.

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30 southern Philippines journalists attend peace, conflict journalism seminar in Davao

Mindanao-based journalists strike a pose during the Peace and Conflict Journalism seminar held at Eden Nature Park and Resort in Davao City. The 4-day seminar is the second this year. In January, the PECOJON held a similar seminar in Zamboanga City. PECOJON has members in at least 11 countries. The participants were selected from newspaper, television and radio reporters and film makers from all over the southern Philippines who finish on May 17, 2006, sponsored by the international Peace and Conflict Journalism Network (PECOJON), InWent and Pax Christi in Davao City's Eden Nature Park.

The De Venecia Code... 'rated-GP'?

The De Venecia Code: A protester dressed as a monk and wearing an Arroyo mask stands in front of a photograph of De Venecia to protest attempts to amend the Constitution.

Opol freezes Barra road levy

THE Opol government suspended over the weekend the implementation of a barangay law that authorizes the collection of fees from drivers of ‘‘commercial’’ vehicles that use a road in the village of Barra.

The suspension order came even as the town government started looking into the complaints of taxi and jeepney drivers in regard to the road-use fees, said Opol town administrator Fermin Jarales.

On Saturday, Jarales reportedly told Barra barangay chairperson Emiliano Madronal to temporarily stop the collections in view of the investigation.

Jarales said the town government would also look into the validity of the Barra ordinance.
"We will look into the legitimacy of the ordinance. In the meantime, the collections of fees will be suspended," said Jarales who was acting mayor. The mayor, Dixon Yasay, was reportedly in Manila.

Last week, a group of mostly taxi and jeepney drivers complained about the collections and questioned the validity of the barangay ordinance.

One taxi driver said that collectors have been asking him to pay P2 to P5 every time he would bring a passenger to the place.

Madronal, the barangay chairperson, reportedly maintained that the collections were legal. The collections go to the barangay treasury, the chairperson was quoted as saying.

The barangay law, Ordinance 2002-030, authorized the collection of fees from drivers of public vehicles, including market vendors, who use the road leading to Vamenta and Jonhdorf subdivisions.

Jarales said the ordinance would likely need some changes if investigators find any of its provisions ‘‘fishy.’’

Jarales said Madronal was invited to shed light on the ordinance during a session of the town council today.

Cagayan de Oro Journal tried to interview Madronal but his staff said the official was attending a meeting.

A woman at the barangay office who spoke on condition of anonymity said collectors were only collecting P2 from every taxi and jeepney driver. She denied allegations that some drivers pay as much as P3 to P5.

She also apoligized for the way Madronal behaved during an earlier interview with this paper. An angry Madronal hung up in the middle of a phone interview. "We are sorry for what our chairman (Madronal) did during the interview.’’

Jarales said Barra officials could set up a billboard to inform the public about the ordinance. He said collectors also need to be easily identified by the public.

"They should be responsible to the public. They should not allow ordinances to become problems but solutions," Jarales said.

He also said investigators would check if the ‘‘cash tickets’’ given to drivers were properly documented for auditing purposes.

The tickets being used by Barra officials were bought from the town government. These came from the provincial treasurer’s office.

"that can be read at Gold Star Daily>

Bridge contractor snubs city council

REPRESENTATIVES of Adhi VT Lao Construction, the firm undertaking the Ysalina Bridge retrofitting project, were a no-show during the city council’s session yesterday.

‘‘This is a clear defiance,’’ said Councilor Edgar Cabanlas as he expressed disappointment.

Councilor Maryanne Enteria said it was the second time the firm and officials of the public works department ‘‘snubbed’’ the city council.

The council invited the contractor and government engineers to shed light on the ongoing bridge repair that has been blamed for traffic jams in the city since May 7.

‘‘They cannot ignore the city council just like that,’’ said Councilor Simeon Licayan.

Councilor Ian Nacaya said city hall might resort to drastic measures unless the contractor and public works officials show up during the next council session.

Councilor Alvin Calingin said the ongoing bridge retrofitting has inconvenienced residents and has caused damages.

Earlier, an engineer of the construction company faulted city hall for the delay in the implementation of the retrofitting project. He said the firm sought city hall’s permission to implement the project as early as March but the green light was given a month later.

"that can be read at Gold Star Daily, gsd9000.tripod.com>Link

Opol government slaps 4 beach resorts with closure orders

LOCAL officials ordered the closure of four beach resorts in Opol, Misamis Oriental, for allegedly violating a town ordinance that requires lifeguards and other important requirements.

"This is an effort to make Opol beaches safe, secure and clean," said Opol municipal administrator Fermin Jarales over the weekend.

The beaches of Opol are among the most crowded in Misamis Oriental because of the town’s proximity to Cagayan de Oro.

Jarales said local officials documented specific cases of safety breaches at the beach resorts.

Slapped with closure orders were the Lacang-lacang, Baybayon, Cagatin and at least another beach resort.

The beach resorts are said to be owned by Nestor, Fe, Leah and Mario Yasay. The beaches, according to Jarales, are located between Roan and Marvilla beach resorts.

"They can only operate again after they have fully complied with the existing ordinances," said Jarales.

Meanwhile, the Opol police has heightened security operations on the beach. Police are keeping an eye on the beach resorts in shifts 24 hours a day.

This is so, according to Opol police chief Henry Dampal, because the beach resorts were being used as hangouts and for drinking sessions of gangs that have been scaring villagers.

"that can be read at Gold Star Daily, gsd.tripod.com>Link

"Bato bato sa langit ang tamaan huwag magalit...pls!"

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'Da Vinci' breaks record sales in Oro

THE controversial film The Da Vinci Code is raking in record profits in predominantly Roman Catholic Cagayan de Oro where film piracy has nearly put local cinemas to sleep. Gaisano, which is showing the film at its Cinema 2, recorded ticket sales of some P100 thousand on the first day alone.

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Romanian theater group conducts workshops, performances in Oro

MISAMIS Oriental governor Oscar Moreno strikes a pose with Liceo de Cagayan University owner Madam Rafaelita Pelaez Golez and her son, an international pianist artist and awardee during opening rite of the World Festival of Drama Schools held at Capitol building on May 18, 2006. Right photo shows Romanian delegate, mostly students are singing their cultural song during fellowship night at the provincial capitol of Misamis Oriental. (Photos by ED MONTALVAN)

New Oro archbishop speaks on 'Da Vinci Code'

THE new archbishop of Cagayan de Oro on Friday doused cold water on calls to ban the film version of the controversial bestseller The Da Vinci Code, saying the local archdiocese would instead focus on teaching Roman Catholic doctrines and in telling people about the ‘‘erroneous claims’’ of book author Dan Brown.

The Movies and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) gave the film an R-rating last Tuesday––meaning, anyone below 18 years old are not supposed to see the film in the theaters. The adults rating also means SM-Cagayan de Oro would not show the film. The establishment has a policy against showing films that have been given R-ratings by MTRCB.

Archbishop Antonio Ledesma, who would officially assume the top Roman Catholic post in the city on May 30, said Brown’s book and its film version should be taken as a challenge.
It will ‘‘challenge the maturity of Christians,’’ said Ledesma in a phone interview.

The controversial film, which stars Oscar award winning actor Tom Hanks, is scheduled to be shown across the country on May 18, a day after it premieres at the Cannes Film Festival in France.

It’s a ‘‘soft stance,’’ said Ledesma on calls to ban the film. ‘‘Challenging Christians to be mature in their faith is the more difficult stance."

Ledesma, who is also vice president of the influential Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), said the Conference has already started issuing guidelines that priests can follow in refuting claims in The Da Vinci Code.

Priests were told to emphasize that the book and its film version is a work of fiction, he said.
"We will just point out the errors. We will not call for a ban. We are just exhorting Christians to study," Ledesma told the Cagayan Journal.

He said other bishops have described the The Vinci Code as "a monetarily profitable attack on the divinity of Christ."

Ledesma said the local archdiocese would encourage Catholics in this part of the country ‘‘to study the history and the fundamental truths of the Catholic faith.’’

Early this week, Mayor Vicente Emano criticized groups that have called for a ban on the film in the city.

Emano, a Mason, said a ban on the film would curtail the right of citizens who want to watch the film that is based on a book that claims the Church suppressed information about Jesus Christ and Mary Magdalene’s relationship by smearing the latter. Brown claims Christ and Magdalene had children.

He said those who have called for a ban on the film ‘‘overreacted.’’
"Dili angayan nga ila kining kagubutan," he said.

Like Ledesma, Emano religious groups should take The Da Vinci Code as a challenge so Christians could strengthen their faith.

"Angayan ang Katoliko mag-lig-on sa ilang pagtuo. Challenge kini sa ila," he said. "Naa ra kana nimo kung ma-usab ang imong pagtuo."

"that can be read at Gold Star Daily>

‘Pinoy eagle has landed on summit of Everest’

MOUNTAINEER Heracleo "Leo" Oracion became the first Filipino to conquer the 8,848-meter Mount Everest yesterday, May 17.
Arturo Valdez, leader of the first Philippine Mt. Everest Expedition, said Oracion, of Lukban, Quezon, reached the summit of the world’s tallest peak at 3:30 p.m. (5:30 p.m. in Manila).

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30 Journalists Finish PECOJON Peace Seminar

PECOJON international coordinator German journalist Antonia Koop gives out training certificates to Cagayan Journal editor Ben Balce. The seminar is the second this year for Mindanao-based journalists. In January, the PECOJON held a similar seminar in Zamboanga City. PECOJON has members in at least 11 countries. With Koop is Len Manriques (far, center) of PECOJON.

Rey Naranja, (not in photo) representative of Germany's InWent, speaks to selected newspaper, television and radio reporters and film makers from all over the southern Philippines who finish Monday 17 May 2006 seminar on peace and conflict journalism sponsored by the international Peace and Conflict Journalism Network (PECOJON), InWent and Pax Christi in Davao City's Eden Nature Park.

COWD rules out water rationing in Oro

LOCAL fire department based in Barangay Bulua helps in delivering potable water to Buenavista Village residents. (Photo by Cagayandeorojournal)

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