Saturday, August 3, 2013

MURDERED MEDIA PRACTITIONERS, NINOY, PNOY, AND THE FOI

So many media practitioners have sacrificed their lives in the name of truth and justice but what have we done for them in return? 

The Maguindanao massacre until now has not been decided upon despite the very glaring evidences, the number of witnesses, and the overt surrender of the accused to the charges, despite not really admitting it vocally or in writing. Come to think of it, why are the women in charge walking so slowly in this case: the judge and the DOJ secretary. Why can't we make a decision already instead of allowing the accused to further tempt the victims relatives to surrender their right to justice? I cannot fathom what is inside the minds of these people. I am really sorry to say. I thought that justice is so easy to dispense with once you have all the evidences. The media people who died there must be turning on their graves. 

How about the death of journalist Marilyn Esperat, the one who spilled the beans on the overpricing of farm inputs and the siphoning of public funds intended for farmers into private hands? She was murdered on in Tacurong, Mindanao, on 24 March 2005.  "She accused the department of Agriculture of being one of the country's most corrupt government agencies. In the last 10 years, she had filed dozens of lawsuits ranging from the smuggling of agricultural products, " according to news reports. Accused are alleged masterminds Osmena Montaner and Estrella Sabay. Legal counself for Esperat family is Prima Jesusa Quinsayas. Folks everything is in limbo. 


How about the Marcos millions? How many practitioners were killed,  murdered, arrested, jailed and maimed during the Marcos regime? Many even went into self-exile. Countless. Yet his kins have been elected and are now sitting calmly in the legislative branch. 

Anyway, news of corruption is hogging the headlines. It is a good omen that finally, justice is being served properly. Actually, we could ask, what does it take to trap a corrupt official? 

Isn't it enough a breeze that names have already cropped up as to who are having green hands in the Philippine bureaucracy. (As an aside I really admire our media for being brave to name names, fearless of any libel suits that could come their way. But that's the way it should be, isn't it? To be courageous and let the people's banner for good governance fly freely. )

No naming names is not enough. I would like to see them return the money of the people and the judgment be carried out on them. 


Why are media practitioners easily relegated to the bottom where justice is supposed to be served to them? I think it is because some could readily be bought by envelopes. That is why those who stick by the moral rules appear odd to those corrupt people who think money can buy everything. Perhaps, the media could start cleansing the ranks as well and slowly ease out those who are "writing praises" all the time. 

By the way, Ninoy was a journalist before he became a politician.  He was the youngest war correspondent to cover the Korean War for the newspaper The Manila Times of Joaquin "Chino" Roces. Because of his journalistic feats, he received the Philippine Legion of Honor award from President Elpidio Quirino at age 18. 

Based on the background of his father, PNoy could create a more solid achievement than his father by passing the Freedom of Information bill under his administration. He and his family owe a lot to media in terms of having been given broad coverage of their father's assassination, his mom's presidential campaigns, which catapulted her to the presidency later on. Without the help of media, I doubt it if they would be in their places now. 

iT WOULD BE THE HEIGHT OF GRATITUDE TO SEE THAT PNOY IS READY TO GIVE THE MEDIA WHAT WE DESERVE -- THE FREEDOM TO GET INFORMATION FROM ALL SOURCES IN SOCIETY IN THE SERVICE OF TRUTH AND JUSTICE. 

Now for what purposes do we need the FOI? Not only to ferret out the names of corrupt officials, but also to see how the web of corruption is created, how it grows and grows and the changes in the lifestyles of those officials who are very brazen in appropriating the people's money. 

Another thing, we would like to know why some agencies have a double face when it comes to releasing what the people own. For example, I have P1500 with Banco Filipino. The Philippine Deposit Insurance Company said that all those with savings of P10,000 and below may get their deposits without question, just an ID. Yet, in my case, I was made to present many IDs, and to make sure that the face in the ID is large enough to be recognized. I wrote to Mr. Valentin Araneta, the head of PDIC  who then threw my letter to the legal department. So I just quoted to myself a statement from Rizal's novel: "Isipin mo na lang na kinain ng mga buwaya."

What else can we use the FOI for? To ask the Intellectual Property Office why they lost my proposal for my invention, the footrest way back in the 80's. Now they want me to present a new proposal. Meanwhile, China has been manufacturing a similar invention and my earnings have not come at all. 

Also, I lost two cellphones last March 14, 2013. I went to the office of PNP Allan Purisima and complained. My letter was tossed here and there -- Galas police station, Camp Karingal. I told them that when I complained to the outpost police officer, Ryan Aguila,  at the corner of E Rodriguez and Araneta Avenue, He told me, "Ma'am if we are able to get back the sim card would that be enough for you?"



Well Folks, let's pray and pray, (as Cory used to do) that the results of this movement to cleanse the government would end happily, with the con artists behind bars. 





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