Piercing Pens

The Families of Desaparecidos for Justice (DESAPARECIDOS) condemned the disappearance of Jonas Joseph Burgos and Melisa Reyes, on April 28, in Quezon City.

Burgos, or Jay-Jay, 38, son of press freedom icon Jose “Joe”� Burgos Jr., failed to come home to his family in Tandang Sora, Quezon City on April 28. His anxious family tried to contact him through his cellphone the whole night, but it was only at 10:46 AM the next day that they received messages from him which did not make any sense. His family was still able to talk to
him on the phone but his voice sounded drowsy and his words did not make sense as if he were drugged. (more…)

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) demands the Philippines president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo act immediately to protect media safety, following this week’s distressing news of the murder of journalist Carmelo Palacios, and attempted murder of journalist Delfin Mallari Jr.

According to IFJ affiliate the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP), Palacios was found dead in St. Rosa town, Nueva Ecija province on April 17. (more…)

Antonio Zumel Center for Press Freedom

Press Statement
18 April 2007

The Antonio Zumel Center for Press Freedom (AZCPF) strongly condemns the recent attacks on media people and journalists. The assassins want to prevent the media from bringing to the public the true state of the nation and the criminal activities being committed by those in power. (more…)

National Union of Journalists of the Philippines

This week marks another dark period for press freedom in the Philippines, with the murder of a colleague, the attempted murder of another and a libel case filed by a governor against yet another.

Carmelo Palacios, 41, field reporter of the government-run Radyo ng Bayan, was found dead in Sta. Rosa town, Nueva Ecija, Wednesday morning, his body battered and shot in the chin. He was the 51st journalist to be killed under the Arroyo administration’s increasingly blood-drenched watch, and the third this year. (more…)

In a resolution promulgated today, the Supreme Court granted Sen. Franklin Drilon’s petition to prevent the Comelec from implementing its resolution ordering a new election of Liberal Party officers.

The high court said Drilon has until November 30, 2007 to serve his term as LP president under Daza-Drilon constitution, which replaced the Liberal Party’s Salonga constitution. (Source: GMANews.tv report)

Manila Mayor Lito Atienza, head of the Atienza faction referred to by critics as Lakas Pala, said his camp will file a motion for reconsideration.

(more…)

Results of a Social Weather Stations national survey in February 2007 revealed that 86% of registered voters said they would surely vote. In 2004, 94% said they would surely vote. (more…)

Some Findings from Pulse Asia’s April 2007 Nationwide Survey on Filipinos’ Party-List Preferences

• Around one out of every two Filipino registered voters (53%) has heard or read something about the party-list system at one time or another.
• If the May 2007 elections were held today, ten of the 93 party-list groups vying for congressional seats would have a statistical chance of sending at least one of their nominees (out of a maximum of three) to the House of Representatives.
• Three representatives:
  - Bayan Muna with an overall voter preference of 13.7%
  - Anak Pawis (9.4%).
  - Gabriela Women’s Party (6.0%)

(more…)