July 8, 2010

The main headline in the Inquirer today (Ex-agri chief set to talk. Lorenzo to cooperate in scam inquiry) is a report about the return of a former Agriculture secretary, Mr. Cito Lorenzo, who may be involved or a witness to a supposed fund diversion to help former President Arroyo's candidacy in 2004. Surely, the report is negative to former President Arroyo. However, the question is whether it is also negative to President Aquino who is reported to have attended a birthday party where Sec. Lorenzo is also a guest. Since the report also gave doubts on President Aquino by stating the fact that the brother of the former secretary is one of the big contributors in the Aquino campaign, our monitor judge this report as negative to the new President. Arroyo -1. Aquino -1.

A first: Aquino acknowledges Corona at ‘healing’ Red Mass - somewhat a report on the first step to reconciliation between the President and the Chief Justice, giving legitimacy to the latter. The report did not so much take a view on the absurdity of Aquino's past pronouncements, though. Corona +1.

Mystic mollusk spooks Germany: It picked Spain! - a report on a seer octopus, who is now proven right, again, when it predicted that Spain will win over Germany in the FIFA semifinals.

Golf ‘cheating’ stymies new customs chief - seems to be a continuation of series of reports on what is negative to President Aquino's appointments. No matter what the new customs chief says, he will be forever known as a golf cheat. It is hard to say if the news is negative to the administration but we judge it not to be so, at this time.

Brownouts hit Times St. amid high Meralco rates - a report basically about people telling the President what to do, this time to stop Meralco and Napocor from increasing their rates.

No(y)-holds-barred, newsy media briefing - a report on a supposed "media-savvy" (according to the writer of the report TJ Burgonio) Aquino. Of course, it is obvious to everyone that Aquino was not answering questions directly but instead taking time diverting the questions with platitudes and generalities, but the report gave him A grade nevertheless. Aquino +1.

P7B allotted for seniors but no money - a story about the discounts given to senior citizens without so much completing the report by looking at who is shouldering the discounts.

Aquino to keep pork as ‘concept,’ figures to change - a report from two sides of the political arena on pork barrel, but did not give a treatment from the political reform point of view. The report let it pass that President Aquino does not intend to stop the use of pork barrel as political dole-outs. It merely packaged it as a fight between different political parties.

Full release of Mayuga report set - a report on a report which purportedly cleared the military of cheating for the former President but is nevertheless negative to her. Arroyo -1.

The scores:
Corona: 1
Aquino: 0
Arroyo: -2

July 7, 2010

More bad news are reported in the Inquirer's main headline today, but at least not directly linked to the new administration. Yet.


The main banner today surely gets into the reader's nerves (Meralco rates up again. Power firm blames IPPs for increase) but it does not necessarily pin the blame on the present administration.

The other news on the Front Page today:

‘Extrajudicial killings not my gov’t policy’ - the President's side took more space today on the subject of supposed extra-judicial killings. The topic is not (yet) blamed on the Aquino administration, although space is given to comments by left leaning Teddy Casino who took a dig at the President for taking aim at "wang-wangs" rather than working immediately on "bang-bangs" (perhaps meaning murders). I can say the tone of the news is still mellow and giving President Aquino some benefit of the doubt. Aquino +1.

Traders’ most watched: PBA chair heads BoC - is a somewhat shallow story on how the new BoC chief got the job, devoid of any opinion.

Gotcha on TV! Binay, red-faced, says sorry - is a dig on Binay for not following the President's orders. Binay -1.

Aquino ally seeks to cut pork by half; no way, says Arroyo party mate - a story that gave the Liberal party somewhat of a positive point of view, but not necessarily connecting to Aquino. LP +1.

DepEd chief learns first lesson: Handling media - A repeat of previous stories on the media gaffe by DepEd Sec. Luistro plus some coverage on his plans to go all over the Department to learn everything on it, turns out to be a neutral treatment.

Justice is surfed: SC taps Twitter, Facebook - an SC press release on its attempt to be closer to the people via social networking internet sites. SC +1.

Palace backs Romulo on DFA extensions - a bit of a negative take on the DFA situation with their chief forced to defend himself from critisms.

The score today:
Aquino: 1
LP: 1
SC: 1
Binay: -1

New VP Binay found himself in rare occasion alone in negative territory.

July 6, 2010

The killings, a culture of impunity, continues under the new Aquino administration.


The Inquirer Front Page main headline today (Bayan activist shot dead. Gunman kills victim in front of 12-yr-old son) reports what could be the first political killing (some say extrajudicial killing) and continue to report on the first dead journalist in the new President's 5-day old administration. Although the news report did not pin the blame on President Aquino, it nevertheless gave negative treatment via interviews with left leaning people giving unsolicited advise to the President. Aquino -1.

The other front page news today are as follows:

Aquino orders review of RP defense - features the Phil. Airforce, their support for the new administration, and Aquino's speech on the occassion of the PAF's 63rd anniversary. Aquino +1.

‘Business as usual’ over at DPWH, says new head - reports about the statement of the new DPWH secretary who vows to end corruption in the department. It also talked about some past projects that supposedly benefitted two former Pres. Arroyo's sons. Arroyo -1.

President’s men to be trained in handling media - reports that because the administration people are new, they will undergo some training, as if the said idea absolves them of their media bloopers in the first 5 days of the Aquino administration. The report nevertheless gave negative impressions for Presidential spokesperson Lacierda and DepEd Sec. Luistro. It did not comment much on how Aquino himself seems to be answering negatively mass media's questions. The report therefore is negative to his men but not yet to Aquino directly. Lacierda -1. Luistro -1.

Aquino is against ‘jueteng,’ says Malacañang - this report gave space to Anti-Jueteng crusader Bishop Cruz' statements against the illegal numbers game and against gambling as a whole that puts the new administration to be in the dark as far as illegal gambling is concerned. Aquino -1.

And the ‘wiener’ is … ‘Jaws’ Chestnut - an AFP cum AP feature on a weird American competition involving a lot of hotdogs.

Is it time to give up NAIA in favor of Clark? - a feature about the airport in Clark, named after the former President's father, on the backdrop of recent problems encountered in the NAIA.

Belmonte leads in House; 3-way race in Senate - a feature about the race for leadership in the two chambers of congress without reporting much how leadership positions are arrived at there.

The scores today:
Aquino: -1.
Lacierda: -1
Luistro: -1
Arroyo: -1

For the first time in weeks, Aquino and his men joined Arroyo in the negative territory, prompting the question as to whether this is the end of the Administration's honeymoon period with the press..

July 4, 2010

The fight for the Senate leadership is on.


The main headlines in the Inquirer today gave space to the other side of the senate presidency race (Pangilinan too close to Aquino). Without reporting any other senator who is challenging Sen. Pangilinan's bid for the Senate Presidency, the Inquirer gave space to press statements coming from Sen. Angara who might be supporting Sen. Villar. By the way things are looking, it seems Sen. Pangilinan already had the support of enough number of senators. However, obviously, other senators are toughening their act to get the most out of the exercise. The Inquirer report though only touched on the official reasons and counter reasons for why or why not some senators are voting for whom. I say this report goes for Sen. Angara or whoever Angara is with, which we cannot read from the news. The news by the way gave some positive spin for Sen Escudero when the paper credited him as the "architect of the NoyBi tandem". Escudero +1.

The other news today:

In his own words: Why they’re Aquino’s Chosen - a delayed print of the Aquino June 29 introduction speech of his own cabinet appointees. Aquino +1.

Who’s Julia Abad and why is she PMS head? - a feature on the young Abad with a few good words for President Aquino. Aquino +1.

DOJ chief’s priority: Smugglers, tax cheats - a feature on the new DOJ chief Leila De Lima, again with a few good words for President Aquino. Aquino +1.

Dutch incredible! Brazil is out of World Cup - a compilation of reports, some belated, on the world cup.

On the 4th day, Aquino takes day off - Although the title of this piece is about a too early day off, the news it its entirely gave also positive spins on the President's schedule and statements. The report also gave Arroyo a positive treatment by comparing her Saturday work schedule to that of Aquino, which is fuller. Aquino +1. Arroyo +1.

The scores today:
Aquino: 4
Arroyo: 1
Escudero: 1

The honeymoon period apparently continues.

July 3, 2010

President Aquino's first address to the military grabbed today's headlines.


The speech was given almost exclusive space in the Inquirer Front Page main headline (Follow chain of command. Aquino reminds military of civilian supremacy) giving the new President generally positive treatment. Aquino +1.

The other news in the front page today are as follows:

Ombudsman is ‘obstacle’ to any graft case vs Arroyo - a news piece that is 80% negative against former President Arroyo, 10% for her, and 10% neutral. Arroyo -1.

No ‘wangwang,’ no limo, Aquino stuck in traffic - A very positive treatment of the President's all important no "wang-wang" policy. Although there is mention of his bomb-proof vehicle, one that came from a private corporation controlled by his controversial uncle and Marcos Crony Eduardo Cojuangco, the report is still generally positive. Aquino +1.

‘Rerun of coup plots last of Aquino’s worries’ - reports of assured coup-free term of the President. Aquino +1.

Drilon gives way to Pangilinan as LP bet for Senate President - reporting the race for the Senate leadership, this news piece gave extra positive coverage of Senator Pangilinan and the Liberal party. Sen. Pangilinan +1.

Aquino picks Ateneo classmate to head Pagcor - a generally positive report on PResident Aquino's appointee. Aquino +1.

Bernas: Arroyo Charter change bid humorous - Rather than talk about the arguments for and against charter change, the report gave space to different opinions, a mere yes or no, from different people mostly against former President Arroyo. Since logic is not even give space in the news report, it became merely a vote of no confidence to Arroyo's resolution. Arroyo -1.

Sorry, wrong number, new DOH chief told - although a story about the AIDS situation in the country, the backdrop is the boo boo by the new DOH secretary Ona, whom I noticed has been consistently receiving negative press from different sources right from the announcement of his appointment. Sec. Ona -1.

The scores today:
Aquino: 4
Sen. Pangilinan: 1
Sec. Ona: -1
Arroyo: -2

Still, President Aquino enjoys an unwarranted honeymoon period with the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

July 2, 2010

"Here we come to get you" blares the main headline today.


Even without so much of details, the Inquirer front page today gave exclusive interview space (Graft raps filed vs Arroyo. NBN-ZTE deal returns to haunt her) to the people filing charges against the former to their eyes very corrupt President. Arroyo -1.

The other news today:

P-Noy, the singer, got talent, gets ‘A’ for effort - simply says Noynoy is a very nice President indeed, perhaps because he sang. Aquino +1.

No surprise: Arroyo, son file Charter change bill - gave space to interview saying the former President is a bad person. The report did not give so much reaction to any official Aquino stance on the issue, although it insinuates that the administration are not afraid of Arroyo. Arroyo -1.

Boo-boo or not: Palace reissues ‘firing’ circular - even from a very obvious blooper, the Inquirer gave the new administration more space for their explanation, the paper even saying it as fact in the very first sentence of the report. Aquino +1.

Aquino checks coffers; Cabinet hit ground running - basically a press release coming from the Aquino administration. Aquino +1.

Aquino, Binay split on ‘wangwang’ ban - gave space to comments that says the wangwang pronouncement is the boldest yet of Aquino's orders. Although VP Binay seems to qualify the order coming from a speech, the news still reek of positive spin for the new President. Aquino +1.

First Igorot bishop, martial law foe dies; 81 - a feature about a Jesuit priest who died.

Binay finds office too small, chair too big - A new VP talking about little things. Binay +1.

The scores shows the best for Aquino so far:
Aquino: 4
Binay: 1
Arroyo: -2

July 1, 2010

The answer to "Who's the Boss?" seems to be the main takeaway in the Inquirer main headline today.


The main banner today (AQUINO SAYS: ‘Kayo ang boss ko’. Aquino also thanks the people, ‘my true strength’) talks of how great the new President's speech is. Of course that is expected given that the writer Mr. Gil Cabacungan is whom we know to have given wildly glowing descriptions of Noynoy Aquino, during the campaign. Aquino +1.

The other news in the Inquirer front page today follows:

They came to celebrate democracy - shows how well loved the new President is, both by ordinary people and celebrities. Aquino +1.

Aquino, Arroyo convoys get in way of Binay’s e-jeep - a report on the Vice President's side of the inauguration ceremonies. Binay +1.

Arroyo loses immunity from suit - seems to be somewhat of a "magtago ka na" type of threat versus the former President, making it timely as she was said to have lost immunity after finishing her term. While the Inquirer showed the Constitutional provision of limited immunity for members of the House, the paper did not show the supposed immunity provisions for the PResident. There are none by the way. Arroyo -1.

Arroyo jeered in Luneta, cheered in Pampanga - featured some love and hate for Arroyo, although the hate part is given prominence. Arroyo -1.

No anthem glitch for Charice; VIPs stand for folksy Noel - a coverage on the singers that rendered the inauguration ceremonies like a huge concert. It also reports shallow (even funny) proof of the Filipino unity under Aquino, via the artists from two networks getting together. Of course, the report is all too positive for President Aquino. Aquino +1.

The scores:
Aquino: 3
Binay: 1
Arroyo: -2

Indeed, yesterday is President Aquino's day.