Bryanton Post

The Committee to Protect Journalists reacts to the recent arrest of Cavite journalists on libel charges.

Authorities arrest, detain journalists on libel charges

New York, October 4, 2006-The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns this week's arrest of Rudy Apolo, a columnist and publisher of the Asian Star Journal and Asia Star Balita, and three members of his editorial staff on a criminal defamation charges related to reports on alleged government corruption.

The four were arrested Monday morning in the city of Barangay Santa Fe, Cavite province, on a complaint filed by the provincial governor, Erineo Maliksi, according to two Philippines-based press freedom advocacy groups. The complaint stems from a series of unbylined reports detailing corruption allegations surrounding a local government rice purchase, the groups reported.

The editorial staffers arrested along with Apolo included two of his children, Reynaldo Apolo and Michelle Apolo, and Editor Ed Lara Cuvinar.

They did not immediately post bond of 10,000 pesos (about US $200) each. Regional Judge Norberto Quisumbing Jr., who issued arrest warrants for the four, did not set a date for pretrial hearings, according to the National Union of the Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP).

"We call on the governor to drop his criminal complaint and allow the release of these journalists, who have been jailed in violation of basic press freedom standards," said Joel Simon, CPJ's executive director. "Criminal defamation charges have a deeply chilling effect on news reporting, and their use by public officials does great damage to the Philippines' rich tradition of press freedom."

The Philippines has seen a recent rise in criminal defamation complaints filed by public officials and their associates, according to local sources. NUJP said that Jose Miguel Arroyo, husband of
President Gloria Arroyo, has filed at least 42 different criminal defamation suits against reporters, columnists, editors, and publishers since 2001.

And now, officials are even questioning a poem?

Below is an invitation from the Provincial Council of Palawan to the editors of Bandillo ng Palawan, a local paper, to appear at the question hour of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan for publishing a poem criticizing the provincial government.

The poem is said to be part of a paid ad of the municipality of San Vicente which has been longing that their municipal road be repaired.




October 4, 2006

MR ROBERT BAGALAY and
MR SERGE FONTILLA [sic]
Editorial Boards [sic]
Bandillo ng Palawan
2nd Floor Escamilla Building
Rizal Avenue
Puerto Princesa City

Sirs:

Greetings!

The Sangguniang Panlalawigan would like to invite your goodselves [sic] to appear before the August [sic] Body during its Question and Answer Hour of the Regular Session on Tuesday, October 10, 2006 at 10:00 in the morning at the Session Hall of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, Legislative Building, this city.

Matters relative [sic] to the poem entitled [sic] "AY DIOS KO" which was published under the section of "Balitang San Vicente" of Bandillo ng Palawan, September 25, 2006 - October 1, 2006 issue will be tackled.

Your attendance and usual cooperation will be highly appreciated.

Very truly yours,

NORMAN C. NAVARRO
Board Secretary V
Officer-In-Charge

The poem, published in Bandillo ng Palawan that had criticized the local government, is posted below.

Ay Dios Ko!

Kalsada na Ay Dios Ko ginagamit na panlinlang
Ng Probinsiya sa mamamayan, sa kanyang pagkukulang
Pagpapabaya sa maintenance ng kalsadang kailangan
Matagal nang nangyayari, ngayo'y nais na pagtakpan

Sa Caruray di-umano double purpose ang Kapitolyo
Kahit na hindi pwede, igigiit ang Ay Dios ko
Dahil kailangan ang kalsada, tatanggapin na ng tao
Bandang huli iaatras, sisisihi'y Munisipyo

Pero mas lalo daw pabor kapag project ay matuloy
Sa 46 milyong pondo, computed na ang pangsuhol
Kay Pedro at kay Juan, pawang mga trabahador
At kay Jay-R na PORSYENTO, sa paghahanap ng CONTRACTOR

Filipino journalist Roby Alampay, executive director of the Southeast Asian Press Alliance, flags our attention to the questions raised at Thailand's interim constitution.

He wrote:

Concern and debate are growing over Thailand's interim constitution.

SEAPA has posted a PDF copy of the The Nation's English translation of the charter, which you can access via this entry on our blog: http://seapa.wordpress.com/2006/10/04/thailands-interim-constitution/

The general who led the coup that ousted former prime minister says the charter adequately assures Thais of civil liberties and of media freedom. Many legal experts and academics are not so sure. A wiki on the issue and the ongoing debate is up on Wikipedia, which is accessible here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2006_Interim_Constitution_of_Thailand

Here's an invitation from Rowena Carranza-Paraan, secretary-general of the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines:

The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines is having a press conference cum jamming night tomorrow 7 pm at Newsdesk Cafe. NUJP will present the signatories to the petition against criminal defamation.

Attached is the list of journalists facing libel charges courtesy of the First Gentleman and the pooled statement/petition with the list of signatories as of Oct. 9. As of today Oct. 10 however, the number of signatories has already surpassed the 500 mark, with the signing of several Senate reporters.

It would be an honor if you could join us in this activity, including the jamming session, both for fun and in pursuit of the ideals of press freedom, free expression and the people's right to know.

Rowena Carranza-Paraan
Sec-Gen, NUJP


For inquiries, please call 411-7768.

The Southeast Asian Press Alliance (SEAPA) makes this alert in light of the recent libel spree of First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo. The Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility is a founding member of SEAPA.

Journalists demand repeal of libel law following multiple lawsuits from president's husband
Source: SEAPA

The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) is petitioning Congress to repeal the law on libel, calling it "an outdated law that has been used not so much to protect the innocent as to shield the guilty."

The move came following the revelation that Jose Miguel Arroyo, husband of Philippine President Gloria Arroyo, has filed libel cases against 42 reporters, columnists, editors and publishers of various publications (see IFEX alerts of 19 September and 30 August 2006).

The NUJP's petition has found support from local media organisations, the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility, Bandillo ng Palawan and Sorsogon Organization of News writers, Announcers and Reporters (SONAR), as well as international journalist organisations, including the International Federation of Journalists and Reporters Without Borders.

"The record number of cases Mr. Arroyo has filed highlights how the powerful in this benighted land regularly abuse libel laws to curtail the democratic right of the press to delve into the truth behind matters of public interest and the people's right to know," said NUJP, in the petition that has also received the endorsement of more than 200 journalists within and outside the country.

"We demand that Congress immediately work to repeal the law on libel, to strike it off the book of criminal statutes, as part of its sworn duty to strengthen our badly eroded and still beleaguered democracy," said NUJP.

The NUJP acknowledged that the law was meant to protect private citizens, but noted that it has mostly been used by Philippine public officials "to cow an independent press."

They also demanded that Jose Miguel Arroyo stop "this clear abuse of his power and influence," and challenged him to address his critics by engaging them in a "free and democratic discourse".

One of the outputs from the Training the Trainors Workshop the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility (CMFR) in Davao City was a press alert made by the participants on the case of Herson Hinolan, a broadcaster from Aklan who was killed on November 3, 2004.

The report/press alert was sent to the International Freedom of Expression Exchange or IFEX (a global network of press freedom and free expression organizations of which CMFR is a member) the same day. IFEX posted the alert the next day, to the delight of some participants and some of us from the staff like Nathan and I.

CMFR encourages journalists, especially those working in the provinces, to report press freedom threats and attacks to the organization. Given the rise of press freedom violations in the country, community journalists should really help defend press freedom in the country by reporting such threats and attacks to CMFR and other national organizations.

Police hot on trail of Aklan broadcaster's killer
Source: CMFR/IFEX

The town mayor charged with the killing of Aklan broadcaster Herson Hinolan has gone missing, following the upgrading of the case from homicide to murder.

Police are saying that they cannot serve a warrant of arrest for Lezo Mayor Alfredo Arceno as they have been unable to locate him. Arceno, whom Hinolan had attacked in some of his commentaries, used to be a military sergeant.

The arrest warrant was issued on 7 September 2006 by Aklan Regional Trial Court Branch 7.

On 13 November 2004, Hinolan was shot seven times in different parts of his body by a gunman near a carnival along a local street in Kalibo, Aklan, about 350 kilometres south of Manila.

Hinolan was a commentator and station manager working for the Kalibo-based radio station dyIN. Aside from criticizing Arceno, Hinolan had criticised illegal gambling activities in the province.

Hinolan was the 17th journalist killed in the line of duty during the Arroyo administration, according to the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility. He was also the second broadcaster killed in Aklan province in a span of three years.

Philippine media groups are saying that a weak judiciary and poor law enforcement are feeding on the so-called "culture of impunity."

Are we going to see the end of newspapers?

Philippine Daily Inquirer's Amando Doronila takes on the issue in today's edition of the paper:

Are days of newspapers numbered?

"AS YOU READ this piece this morning, it has to be asked if you are reading it in a newspaper or on the Internet on a computer in front of you.

"If dire predictions come true, the newspapers 'in their current form will cease to exist within a decade or two.' Some say that newspapers have a 'use by' label tucked to their ears, like perishable consumer commodities.

"Doomsday prophecies, such as this, have filled newspapers in the wake of a cover story in The Economist magazine (Aug. 26-Sept. 1) with the head, 'Who Killed the Newspaper?'

"A search on the Internet yielded hundreds of items under the label 'death of newspapers,' indicating the widespread concern in the media community over the fate of newspapers. This soul-searching emanates from journalists themselves, not from governments, officials, terrorists, corporate racketeers and underworld gangs -- all of whom have lived an uneasy coexistence with newspapers.

"They all may have tolerated newspapers as a necessary evil, but the days, if trends are correct, are fast approaching when there may no longer be newspapers or newspapermen and women to bash with torrents of libel cases or with assassins’ bullets.

"The threat to the existence of newspapers does not come from those afflicted by newspapers, but from the technological innovations spawned by the Internet -- a rival vehicle for news and information dissemination.

"According to The Economist, 'at their best, newspapers hold governments and companies to account. They usually set the news agenda for the rest of the media. But in the rich world, they are an endangered species. The business of selling words to readers and selling readers to advertisers, which has sustained their role in society, is falling apart."

Read more here.

From Reporters Without Borders comes this September 25 alert on the capture of Edgar Amoro's alleged killer. The Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility (CMFR) does not include him in its list of "journalist/media practitioners killed in the line of duty" because CMFR believes that Amoro got killed primarily because he was a key witness to the killing of Edgar Damalerio, and not because he was a journalist.

That does not mean however that CMFR does not condemns Amoro's killing. Without witnesses like him to journalist killings, it will be hard -- if not downright impossible -- to indict those who are behind the killings.

If there's one thing that the killings of witnesses to media murders show, it reflects the pattern of impunity and the prevalence of lawlessness and violence in the Philippines.

Journalist Edgar Amoro's alleged murderer caught by Pagadian police -- RSF

Mohammed Maulana, the alleged murderer of journalist Edgar Amoro, was arrested on 18 September 2006 in Pagadian (the capital of Zamboanga del Sur province on the southern island of Mindanao). Maulana was caught with three accomplices while committing a robbery and is now being held in Pagadian's provincial prison. He is suspected of murdering Amoro in February 2005 because Amoro was the key witness in the May 2002 murder of fellow journalist Edgar Damalerio, 13 May 2002.

For background information on this case, see: http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=12446

Attacks against journalists, like journalist killings, are grave threats to press freedom. We should unite together in condemning not only the killings but other attacks and threats as well.

The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines came out with this statement last September 23:

PNP should investigate attack against Baguio NUJP officer

The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) Baguio-Benguet chapter strongly condemns the attack against a member of its council on her way home last September 19, 2006 at 7:30 pm in the Benguet State University (BSU) compound in Betag, La Trinidad.

Abigail Taguba Bengwayan, 25, is former editor of the Northern Dispatch Weekly and a council member of the NUJP's local chapter. She is an occasional contributor to various media outlets and is a writer of the publication of the Cordillera Peoples' Alliance (CPA).

Abigail just got off the jeepney in front of the BSU main gate and crossed the street towards their compound where her family lives when an unidentified man rushed and grabbed her and put a knife to her neck threatening to cut her if she screams. But she resisted and screamed for help. This startled the assailant to drop her and run. Witnesses said the attacker, whose face was covered with a cap and handkerchief, had a companion who served as a lookout or accomplice.

A team of human rights lawyers and paralegal activists assisted Abigail in filing the report of the attack to the Philippine National Police (PNP) office in La Trinidad.

We strongly urge the PNP to immediately investigate, pursue and arrest the perpetrators of this crime against Ms. Bengwayan, a member of media and an activist. We equally demand the speedy delivery of justice for her as well as to the whole community vigilant against crime and injustice.

References:

Arthur Allad-iw – 09202442202
Junjun Dumlao - 09209053169

Other organizations came out with their statements on the Esperat case today.

Another Victory for Press Freedom -- NUJP

The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines welcome the conviction on Friday of three persons charged with the murder of journalist Marlene Garcia-Esperat, the Philippines' Erin Brockovich, who blew the whistle on multi-million peso anomalies in the Department of Agriculture.

"We welcome the decision. It's another victory for press freedom," said NUJP chairman Jose Torres Jr.

Torres also welcomed the decision of Justice Secretary Raul Gonzales to immediately reinstate the murder charge against Osmena Montaner and Estrella Sabay, the alleged masterminds of Esperat's murder.

"We appreciate the immediate action of Secretary Gonzales to order the prosecution of the alleged masterminds of the killing," Torres said.

"We hope it would be the start of a serious pursuit for the resolution of other murders of journalists in the country," Torres said.

Judge Eric Menchavez of the Cebu RTC-Branch 21 handed down life sentences against gunman Gerry Cabagay, and co-accused Randy Grecia and Estanislao Bismanos

Torres lauded Mechavez's decision, but noted that the battle for press freedom is still far from over.

A total of 86 journalists have been slain since the ouster of the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos in 1986.

Meanwhile, 46 media practitioners have been murdered under the administration of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, who took over the reins of government in 2001.

International media watchdogs have described the Philippines as among the most the perilous places in the world for media practitioners, second only to war-torn Iraq.

The verdict is only the fourth conviction on cases involving journalist murders. The other convictions to date are related to the deaths of Nesino Paulin Toling, Odilon Mallari and Edgar Damalerio.

SEAPA hails convictions in Esperat case, but echoes call to go after masterminds behind journalist killings

BANGKOK – The Southeast Asian Press Alliance today welcomed the conviction of journalist Marlene Esperat's murderers, even as it joined Filipino journalists in reminding that the masterminds behind this heinous crime have yet to be brought to justice.

"This is an important victory that, if followed through and allowed to create momentum, can hopefully stem the tide of journalist killings in the Philippines," SEAPA Executive Director Roby Alampay wrote from Bangkok where SEAPA is based. "There is an environment of impunity that is encouraging attacks on journalists and human rights workers in the Philippines, and without positive developments such as what we now have in the Esperat case, that climate can only worsen."

The Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility, a member of SEAPA and one of the founders of the Freedom Fund for Filipino Journalists, says there have been at least 60 journalist killings in the Philippines since 1986, the bulk of which took place under the incumbency of current Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

SEAPA congratulated the Filipino journalists and media groups that closed ranks behind the Esperat case and that are struggling to end the rash of violence directed against their sector. At the same time, the Bangkok-based alliance praised the Cebu judicial system which, it said, "in recent months has demonstrated independence and courage, and provided encouraging space" to prosecute killers of journalists. SEAPA noted a report from the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility which acknowledges how the Esperat judgment "was the third straight recorded journalist killing conviction in Cebu City. Earlier, Guillermo Wapile, the gunman of Pagadian journalist Edgar Damalerio, was convicted on 29 November 2005; while, Cebu photojournalist Allan Dizon's killer, Edgar Belandres, was convicted last 19 January."

The Esperat case, in particular, was transferred to Cebu City precisely on the argument that the city provides a safer and more neutral environment for hearing witnesses and receiving evidence than Esperat's hometown of Tacurong, Sultan Kudarat, ever could.

In the presence of her three young children, Esperat was murdered in Tacurong, Sultan Kudarat, on March 24, 2005. A government agricultural chemist-turned-journalist, Esperat was believed assassinated in reprisal for her exposés on corruption in her department. The suspected masterminds behind her murder are Department of Agriculture Region XII finance officer Osmeña Montañer and accountant Estrella Sabay. Barua, a former military intelligence officer, who was also Sabay's bodyguard.

The case against the two had been dismissed by the local courts in Tacurong. But with the successful prosecution of the gunmen in Cebu, a motion has been filed in the city to reinstate the murder charges against Montañer and Sabay.

"So the case is encouraging and provides an important victory, but it is not closed," SEAPA stressed in a statement. "Until masterminds behind the killings of journalists are brought to justice, the climate of impunity will continue to threaten the Philippine media."

Justice for murdered journalist as three accused found guilty in the Philippines -- IFJ

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) is heartened by today's conviction of three persons charged with the murder of journalist Marlene Garcia-Esperat, dubbed the local "Erin Brockovich" by the Philippines press.

Esperat, a columnist for Midland Review in the southern island of Mindanao, was reportedly murdered on March 24, 2005 in her own home in the city of Tacurong after uncovering multi-million peso anomalies in the Department of Agriculture.

According to local reports, Cebu RTC Judge Eric Menchavez sentenced gunman Gerry Cabagay, and co-accused "masterminds" Randy Grecia and Estanislao Bismanos to life in jail for the murder of Esperat.

The three accused were also reportedly ordered by the court to pay the heirs of Esperat P75,000 (approximately USD 1500) in civil indemnity, P75,000 in moral damages, and P25,000 (approximately USD 500) for exemplary damages.

"This is a rare win in the battle for justice for the overwhelming numbers of journalists brutally murdered in the Philippines," IFJ President Christopher Warren said.

Since 2001, 46 media practitioners have been killed in the Philippines under the rule of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Yet this verdict is only the fourth conviction in a journalist murder case. The other convictions to date relate to the deaths of Nesino Paulin Toling, Odilon Mallari and Edgar Damalerio.

"We are hopeful that this victory for press freedom will set a solid example for future trials of journalist killers and send a strong message to those who seek to silence the media through brutal murders that they will be brought to justice," Warren said.

Here is the statement of the Freedom Fund for Filipino Journalists, Inc. (FFFJ) on the conviction of Marlene Esperat's killers today. Got this from the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility site, which also prepared a primer on Esperat and the case.

FFFJ statement on the conviction of Esperat killers

Today's conviction of Marlene Esperat's killers is a welcome, though incomplete, victory for press freedom.

After nine grueling months, the Freedom Fund for Filipino Journalists, Inc. (FFFJ) is more than happy that the trial had concluded with a sentence of life imprisonment for hit men Gerry Cabagay, Randy Grecia, and Estanislao Bismanos, who killed Marlene Esperat in cold blood while she was taking supper with her children on March 24, 2005.

However, this victory remains incomplete until the identified masterminds, Department of Agriculture Region XII finance officer Osmeña Montañer and accountant Estrella Sabay, are likewise tried for murder.

The victory is likewise incomplete because this is only the second successful conviction among the 28 cases of journalists slain in the line of duty under the Arroyo Administration.

Despite the constitutionally protected freedom of the press, the recent spate of journalists' killings has unfortunately earned the country the reputation of being "the most dangerous place for journalists," in international media circles.

The pursuit of justice in the case of Marlene Esperat would not have been possible without the support of concerned citizens and media organizations, both local and international. FFFJ hopes that today's victory will set the ball rolling for other cases of slain journalists even as it signals media's determination to pursue the cases until both assassins and masterminds are behind bars.

Currently pending in Manila courts are the murder cases of publisher-editor Philip Agustin and radio journalist Roger Mariano. Meanwhile, some 23 cases have yet to be filed even as police have failed to come up with the necessary evidence for the prosecution.

Center for Community Journalism and Development
Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility
Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas
Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism
Philippine Press Institute
Philippine News

Sun.Star reported in its blog at 11:00 am earlier:

Court finds 3 accused guilty of journalist’s murder

Three persons accused of shooting to death journalist and whistleblower Marlene Garcia-Esperat were convicted of murder charges by Cebu City Regional Trial Court Branch 21 Judge Eric Menchavez.

Menchavez in his decision read by clerk of court Maria Teresa Jaca finds Gerry Cabagay, Randy Grecia, and Estanislao Bismanos guilty of murder.

He further said in his decision that the element of treachery was present in the commission of the crime.

Read more here. Who is Marlene Esperat? Read here.

Before I post more Davao-related entries, I'm flagging this post first so that journalists can cover this tomorrow. I definitely hope that everyone, journalists and non-journalists alike, will monitor the outcome this case, as this would most likely have an effect with the other cases of journalist killings in the country.

“Unlike in the other slain journalists’ cases, this one (Esperat case) seems to have a very promising outcome as there is a clear identification of the masterminds and full cooperation from the witnesses,” said private prosecutor, Atty. Nena Santos in the Esperat primer.

TO: Editors/News and Current Affairs heads/Station Managers
FR: Freedom Fund for Filipino Journalists, Inc.
DATE: October 5, 2006
SUBJECT: Decision and Promulgation on the Marlene Esperat murder case trial

The promulgation on journalist Marlene Esperat murder trial is set on October 6, 2006, at Cebu RTC Branch 21, Hall of Justice, Cebu Provincial Capitol Compound, Escario St., Cebu City. After the court proceedings, there will be a press conference with the two eldest children of the late Esperat, their legal counsel, Atty. Nena Santos, FFFJ representative and Philippine Press Institute executive director Jose Pavia, and Cebu Citizens-Press Council board member Atty. Pachico Seares.

In view of this, the FFFJ has prepared an in-depth primer (available here in the site of the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility) on the Esperat case to show the significance of this case on the national scale. Coverage of the promulgation by the media outlets is strongly requested.

Please see the attached primer for more details about the case.

For inquiries, please contact Nathan (0915-998-7247; 632-840-0903; email: staff@cmfr-phil.org) or the Cebu Citizens-Press Council (032-414-7980; email: admin@mbfpressctrcebu.org.ph).

Please visit http://www.sunstar.com.ph/blogs/esperat for a running account
of the trial.

Just came back from Davao City last week for two activities made by the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility (CMFR). The outrageous Internet cost at Waterfront Hotel there (at least P100 per 15 minutes) and the busy schedule we had hindered me from posting anything in this blog for two weeks. Sigh.

But now that I'm back here in Manila, I'll try to resume my post-whoring activities again. Hahahaha.

The PJR Reports in the upcoming October 2006 issue will feature the two
activities, but just to start it up, here are brief reports on the event from CMFR's site:

CMFR holds training the trainors workshop on safety and alerts reporting

Around 30 journalists and citizen press council representatives from various parts of the country have been trained on work safety and reporting on press freedom attacks and threats by the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility‘s (CMFR) last Sept. 28 to 30 in Davao City.

The workshop, “Training of Trainors: Safety and Alerts Reporting,” was organized to train a network of alerts writers in the country to complement CMFR’s efforts in its press freedom protection work. CMFR sends out alerts, or reports on attacks against and threats to press freedom in the country, not only to local media organizations but also international press freedom organizations such as the International Freedom of Expression Exchange, the Reporters Sans Frontieres, Article 19, and the Southeast Asian Press Alliance (SEAPA).

CMFR also presented its latest study on the journalist killings under the Arroyo administration in the workshop.

Roundtable Discussion on Citizen Press Councils

Representatives from regional citizen press councils in the country convened in the Roundtable Discussion on Citizen Press Councils (CPCs) organized by the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility (CMFR) last September 27 in Waterfront Insular Hotel Davao.

Participants from the established CPCs in Cebu, Palawan, and Baguio shared the developments and issues in their respective CPCs since the workshop last year. They also discussed the problem of awareness of CPCs as reflected by the few complaints filed to them. CMFR helped in the establishment of these three CPCs in 2002.

The establishment of a fourth CPC in the country, the Dumaguete Press Council, was also presented in the meeting.

More details about the roundtable discussion on citizen press councils in the October 2006 issue of the PJR Reports.

If you want to know more about the CPCs, go to CMFR's Citizen Press Councils page.

The Cebu Citizens-Press Council (CCPC) has just launched its website. Know more about CCPC 's functions and activities by visiting their site.

Will post something on the issues that came out of the two activities sometime soon. Promise.

But one thing I got to tell you: Davao is really such a lovely place! Photo at left taken in the hotel. That's me with colleague Don.