Piercing Pens

In his paper “Forgetting, or Not Knowing: Media and Martial Law,” Prof. Luis Teodoro said Martial Law “left a legacy of secrecy that up to now, 27 years later, (he delivered the paper in 1999 during a conference on the legacies of the Marcos dictatorship at the Ateneo de Manila University) is still very much in government.” This legacy of secrecy, he said, is seen in the journalists’ limited access to information, and cited that police officers sometimes even consider the police blotter as “classified.” Indeed, secrecy has become one of the characteristics of how the government operates.

People Power 2 promised to abolish this system of secrecy. When Arroyo became President after Joseph Estrada’s ouster, she said in her inaugural address:

To ensure that our gains are not dissipated through corruption, we must improve moral standards. As we do so, we create fertile ground for good governance based on a sound moral foundation, a philosophy of transparency, and an ethic of effective implementation.

But then again, those were Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s words. (more…)

National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales, who was recently cited for contempt by the Senate for refusing to answer questions on a controversial contract he signed with an American law firm, reportedly needs to undergo a heart bypass. It is sad that he suddenly became so ill. It seems that he is the only person–other than Arroyo–who could answer the questions about the lobbying contract for charter change that he signed with Venable LPP. His operation would mean those questions will remain unanswered until he recovers.

Gonzales, who heads the Partido Demokratiko Sosyalista ng Pilipinas, has been an activist for most of his life. That he is now one of the rabid defenders of an unpopular president like Arroyo surely puzzles many of us. Here are some articles that would help us understand the person:

A Newsbreak article, Unraveling Norberto Gonzales traces his career from his early activism to his stint with the current administration. Meanwhile, Manila Times’ From the streets to government service meanwhile chronicles not just his career, but also his personal life.

Whether you love him or hate him, I’m sure he’ll still be on the news for some time.

Reporters sans frontières (Reporters Without Borders) has just released “Handbook for bloggers and cyber-dissidents,” a manual for bloggers.

“Bloggers are often the only real journalists in countries where the mainstream media is censored or under pressure. Only they provide independent news, at the risk of displeasing the government and sometimes courting arrest,” RSF wrote on its website.

The handbook is intended for such bloggers. It explains the basics of blogging, and offers handy tips and technical advice on how to to remain anonymous and to get round censorship. (more…)

Prof. Haydee Yorac was laid to rest at the Libingan ng mga Bayani today. “A sucker for helping the country” like her more than deserved it.

“She will be a tough act to follow. Not only did she embody what it means to be an honest and transparent public servant, she was consistent and unyielding in her position that justice be served to those who call for it.” – Akbayan Rep. Etta Rosales