January 7, 2011

A regurgitation of a report on the Vizconde massacre case amidst a photo of scantily-clad tourists in Boracay grace the Phil. Daily Inquirer Front Page today.


The headline (VIZCONDE MASSACRE WITNESS. Jessica Alfaro stands by story. Guingona insists star witness is credible) is a report on the Vizconde witness and her story. Although there is mention of the Supreme Court and the President, there was not any hint of any positive or negative treatment.

The other front page news report:

Guingona backs Vizconde quest - former VP, and Justice Secretary at the time of the Vizconde trial, weighed in as intervenor to the reconsideration motion filed in the Supreme Court as the Webb filed a motion to quash. Secretary De Lima is mentioned in the report but without elaboration.

Arroyo camp: Garcia plea bargain no midnight deal - former President Arroyo was put on the defensive while President Aquino enjoyed space for of all things his legal opinion. The report is an example of how the paper use other people to say bad things about a person, this time a priest, Fr. Dizon, saying the Ombudsman is an ally of Arroyo. Ombudsman -1. Sandiganbayan -1. Arroyo -1. Aquino +1.

New plan working: AFP lets lawyers visit top Red - the military's point of view on their recent catch, supposedly a NPA bigwig. A bit of blame was hurled against former President Arroyo on the breakdown of peace talks while President Aquino was also mentioned to be called on by the NPA leadership asking for the release of the prisoner, but not enough to warrant a score in our monitor. AFP +1.

Aquino: Gov’t absorbs billions of LRT, MRT losses - the administration's point of view on the price hike of transportation fare. Aquino +1.

PAGASA: Luzon’s turn next week for rainy days - a report on the weather with interviews from different government agency and local government unit heads.

BIR hot on heels of 12 tax evaders; celeb doc convicted - the government is on the heels of tax evaders. BIR +1.

Mad witches cast spell on tax men in Romania - an AP report on witches who do not want to pay taxes.

The scores:
Aquino: 2
BIR: 1
AFP: 1
Ombudsman: -1
Sandiganbayan: -1
Arroyo: -1

January 6 , 2011

After the holidays when there are successive reports of the people's hopefulness in the new year, the Phil. Daily Inquirer Front Page now brandish an increasing trend on consumer prices.


The headline (Prices, fares, toll go up. Aquino to sign EO to curb high cost of bread) is a report on consumer prices going up but without anyone being blamed.

The other Front Page news today:

Garcia plea bargain a midnight deal - a one-sided report on the Garcia plunder case plea bargain. Arroyo -1. De Lima +1.

LA NIÑA WEATHER. Floods death toll rises to 25 - more stories of disaster in the Visayas and Mindanao region from floods mitigated by the weather phenomenon, La Nina. A bit of mention was given to DSWD and former Senator Gordon's PNRC but not enough to say the report is positive to them.

‘Special, dominant’ VIP to back Vizconde appeal - more report but lacking any updates on the Vizconde massacre case.

Ace NPA commander captured - a report on a catch by the military of a ranking communist rebel, with mention of President Aquino running on anti-corruption platform hoped to reduce insurgency. AFP +1. Aquino +1.

Hardliners on Reds’ tax could stall peace talks - a report on an interview with former partylist Congressman Satur Ocampo, with mention of DSWD Dinky Soliman and President Aquino on the relation between peace talks and the conditional dole-outs budgeted by the government.

7 gang men tied to killing of councilman - a continuation of a story of the murder which perpetrator was photographed by his victim.

US carrier skipper fired for lewd video - an AP report on officer firing due to an embarrassing video on a US aircraft carrier.

The scores:
Aquino: 1
De Lima: 1
AFP: 1
Arroyo: -1

January 5, 2011

Indeed, a slow season for news, as the Philippine Daily Inquirer Front Page repeats past stories with little new reports today.



The headline (Tax case filed vs Garcia. Owes gov’t only 5 percent of stolen P303 million) is a bit of news about the DOJ's decision to file a tax evasion case against the former AFP comptroller, and a lot of repetition of previous reports from comments by administration people. Aquino +1. Ochoa +1. De Lima +1.

The other news today:

Councilman had gun but didn’t draw it, says wife - the sad and emotional story of a good father gunned down by some criminals who were seen in a photograph he last took of his family. The paper credited itself with first publishing the photos and chided the local media for using it without permission or giving due credit. Inquirer +1.

Public Attorney’s Office in touch with Alfaro - a "regurgitating" story on the Vizconde case which gave Sec. De Lima both positive and negative press.

German envoy seeks peaceful resolution to ‘expropriation’ case of Naia 3 - an update on the NAIA-3 case involving the claims of German firm Fraport.

Death toll in floods, slides in South now 10 - the President is shown to have concern for people experiencing floods in Mindanao. Aquino +1.

Luistro decides to make a run for it - education became the focus of the administration with the biggest increase in budget in the DepEd in years, with the press release coming exclusively from the department Secretary. DepEd +1.

DoT bats for Metro’s unseen treasures - a media release from the DOT. DOT +1.

Bishop’s advice to Lacson, Singson - a continuation of a daily regurgitation of the same news for many days now. Lacson -1.

The scores:
Aquino: 2
De Lima: 1
Ochoa: 1
DepEd: 1
DOT: 1
Lacson: -1

January 4, 2011

The Phil. Daily Inquirer Front Page seems to signal the fact that it is quite hard to sell some newspapers today, trying to make issues out of nothing.


Our monitor is still trying to find the news report in this headline as of this time (Senators defend Lacson. No basis to compare murder, drug cases) but deemed this piece favorable to Sen. Lacson nevertheless. Lacson +1.

The other Front Page news:

Caloocan councilman saw death coming - a report on a murderer joining the family picture.

‘Abadilla 5’ halts hunger strike. Merci offers coffee, cookies, vows fast action - the Ombudsman seems to have given in to the demands of those planning to have a hunger strike. Ombudsman -1.

LA NIÑA. 5 dead as floods, slides hit Visayas, Mindanao - a report on rains and floods hitting some parts of Visayas and Mindanao, causing deaths.

Doronila’s reporting hailed - the columnist who often repeated that about 42% is a landslide victory in the last presidential elections was hailed as a master in his craft.

US Peace Corps volunteers can’t get over awe of Filipinos - the people who needed their (US Peace Corps') help are said to be awesome while perhaps they are just average people braving coming to remote areas even when there are travel warnings here.

Garcia assets already turned over to gov’t - a continuing report exclusively from the side of those charging the office of the Ombudsman with expediency in releasing a suspected plunderer. Ombudsman -1.

More Asian men taking over kitchen - looks like an advertisement for Electrolux.

The scores:
Lacson: 1
Ombudsman: -2

January 3, 2011

It is another slow day today as the Phil. Daily Inquirer Front Page tries to create more issue out of a three day old news on the Singson drug case in HongKong.


The headline report (‘Expel Ping first’—Chavit. ‘Reactions premature, biased against my son’) is a continuation of the past two days' news on Cong. Singson's drug case in HK, this time a reaction from his father taking a shot at Sen. Lacson, and some more opinion coming from other congressmen. Lacson -1.

The other Front Page news report today:

Garcia’s wife, 3 sons absolved in court deal - a report made funny by the fact that it gave space to a mere opinion by an undisclosed source. This report seems to be the first time that the front page directly linked the Ombudsman to the Garcia plunder and plea bargain case. Ombudsman -1.

7 members of family die in accident - a report on another road accident that killed a number of its victims.

Bemedalled officer named new Philippine Navy chief - a report on the new Phil. Navy Chief. The report mentioned that leaders in the AFP recently appointed are members of PMA class 1979, harking on an issue that could possibly haunt President Aquino later (but not directly so yet).

‘Team Lauro’ makes sure he’s not alone - a continuation of the report on the Vizconde massacre case, all from the Vizconde side, that took a shot at the recent Supreme Court decision. SC -1.

Baguio shivers but Aquino gone - a continuing feature on Baguio City with the President missing in action.

Querubin outfought, outnumbered in home front - a curious news feature on Col. Querubin, triggered by a 5-month stale news. Querubin +1.

‘Abadilla 5’ to go on hunger strike to get Merci - the Supreme Court and the Ombudsman suffering another negative press from statements made by some members of the convicted group called Abadilla 5. Ombudsman -1. SC -1.


The scores:
Querubin: 1
Lacson: -1
Ombudsman: -2
SC: -2

January 2, 2011

Possibly facing another slow day, the Phil. Daily Inquirer Front Page today features only non-news.


The headline (Singson expulsion sought. But it’s all up to members of House) is a report on some congressmen commenting on Cong. Singson's drug case in HongKong, obviously a non-news.

The other reports on the Front Page today:

Pontiff pleads for religious freedom - a report on recent terrorism targeted against Catholics and other Christians, and the reaction from the Pope.

Aquino seeks to return the scent of pines in Baguio - except for the negative comment by the bishop in Baguio against tapping PAGCOR funds to revive the City, this news report is generally positive for the President. Aquino +1.

Our Lady of C-5: Mary takes to the highway - a report on a "visionary" who miraculously "speaks" for the Virgin Mary.

What a waste: 6 dead, 103 injured in New Year’s Eve fun - a report on a calamity that Filipinos do to themselves to celebrate the new year.

500,000 party at spruced up Rizal Park - a report on the spruced up Luneta Park.

The score:
Aquino: 1

January 1, 2011

The Vizconde massacre case made it again on the headlines giving us a sense that there are no more bigger problems we are facing this year.



The headline (Alfaro: I won’t testify. ‘My life is ruined, I’m done,’ she said) is a report that basically says we are back to square one on the Vizconde Massacre, getting a bit of exposure for Sec. Leila De Lima and negative word out on the Supreme Court. De Lima +1. SC -1.

The other Front Page today are as follows:

President on ‘private time’ in Baguio for New Year - the case of the President, missing in action for several days, but termed positively and amazingly bu the paper as "private time". Aquino +1.

COMMENTARY. First Aquino budget unabashedly pro-poor - somewhat a disjointed commentary, carefully avoiding confrontation with the President's total lack of economic plan. The piece mentioned that the economy is most important to the people but did not point out that administration's oft repeated slogan against corruption. The piece also mentioned the infrastructure is important while it shielded the President's total disconnect as letting the private sector lead the infrastructure while the budget is focused on social welfare. We cannot be sure how the author can actually call the budget pro-poor at all. Aquino +1.

Aquino scraps redundant ‘GMA agencies’ - a report devoted exclusively to the administration's side, that made some potshots on the former President. Aquino +1. Arroyo +1.

Gov’t foots bill when revelers lose hands - a couple of government agencies given space for a repeat of their previous messages. DENR +1. DOH +1. PAG-ASA +1.

Kiribati first nation to party - merely a report on time differences between countries.

Chavit son to admit HK drugs charge - an update on the Singson drug case in HongKong.

Solar panels: Embrace the sun to power homes - reports a case for using solar panels.

The scores:
Aquino: 3
De Lima: 1
DOH: 1
DENR: 1
PAG-ASA: 1
SC: -1
Arroyo: -1