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The Mindanao Examiner
Nov. 26-Dec. 2, 2012
Hike journalists’ pay to curb corruption: Aquino MANILA – President Benigno Aquino said the salaries of journalists must be increased to curb corruption in the media, The Manila Times reported. It said Aquino, in his them, it becomes legitimate speech at the recent Ninth to ask whether their pay and Media Nation Summit in benefits are commensurate Tagaytay City, said that the to the highest standards of low salary of journalists in- integrity demanded of creases the temptation to en- them,” Aquino said. gage in corruption in the meIncreasing journalists’ dia. salary is part of the Aquino “The reporter bears the administration’s reforms on brunt of having to find sto- the system of pay, benefits ries, source information and and bonuses to prevent corcraft the reports that find ruption in private sector and their way to our countrymen. the government. Given the hard work they do “This is no different and the high standards ev- from the concerns that goveryone should demand of ernment and the private sec-
tor must bear in mind for all employees, who play such important roles in their operations. We in government are already trying to rationalize and reform our system of pay, benefits, and bonuses—not only to eliminate the temptation of corruption, but also to compensate our employees adequately for their work. This is a concern for all of us precisely because we are dealing with people’s lives,” Aquino explained. Aquino also said that there is a need for consistent ethical standards in the news media because like other
professions, journalism is imbued with public interest. The President raised conflicts of interests concerns in the news media. He asked what are the parameters concerning endorsements, what are the requirements for sources, and what are the mechanisms for redress against the media? He said that while the lack of standards that apply throughout the industry does not directly lead to corruption, it makes it easier for corruption to take place. “The more discretion you give someone, the more
leeway they have to make decisions—not necessarily based on a common set of rules and regulations, but on their own desires. The idea is not to make life more difficult, but to make it easy for everyone to do the right thing. This is at the heart of the reforms we are implementing in government,” Aquino said. Aquino also promised that his administration would not tolerate media killings. He called on the media to work with the government to speedily resolve and avoid media killings and
other violence in the country. “We want to work with you towards the advancement and protection of your profession. In cases of media killings, for example, we in government are demanding the apprehension of suspects and the filing of charges that stick, resulting in justice for all involved. In other cases of violence involving media, we have taken affirmative and just action,” he said. (Catherine S. Valente)
Aquino midayeg sa nursing society sa iyang mga natampo pagpaabante sa nursing education PAGADIAN CITY -- Si Presidente Benigno Aquino midayeg sa mga tulunghaan ug ang nursing society sa ilang mga natampo aron pagpa-abante sa standards sa
nursing education sa nasud ug sa tibuok kalibutan. "Ang kolehiyo mao ang dalan pagpalagsik sa kaalam sa mga kabatan-onan kinsa mao ang nag-agak
pagpaabante sa ilang mga kagahapon sa 2nd Internahingtungdang propesyon ug tional Conference of Student Nurses (2nd sa dugang ICONS) sa paghatag Grand Congahum sa vention Cenm g a ter, Cebu umaabot City uban sa nga lideres tema nga sa atong "Merging nasud, ang Ideas: ProH e p e moting PaEhekutibo tient Safety nagkanayon through Resa iyang search." mensahe sa "Kami mga orgas a nizers ug kagamhanan delegates sa naglaum nga 2nd Intermakigtrabaho national Presidente Benigno Aquino Conference of Student Nurses niadtong nakalabay nga Biyernes. Ang Cebu Normal University inabagan sa Nightingale Student Council ug Philippine Nursing Research Society, Incorporated-Cebu Chapter, nagpahigayon
Ang Presidente nagpadayag sa iyang paglaum nga ang maong katiguman mopadasig sa prinsipyo sa excellence ug integridad sa matag delegado. "Magkahiusa kita pagtuman sa highest profes-
sional ug ethical standards samtang kita ang magseguro sa kaayuhan sa katawhang Pilipino. Naglaum ako sa mapadayonong kalampusan sa inyong kalihokan," matud pa niya. (Gideon C. Corgue)
ninyo isip among mga kaabag pagseguro sa kaayuhan sa atong mga katawhan," matud pa ni Presidente Aquino. "Mahinungdanon kaayo kanato nga madaliong motubag sa mga panginahanglan sa atong mga katawhan," matud pa niya.
Davao tribesmen flee village due to NPA threats, says military
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DAVAO CITY – Dozens of tribesmen in Davao City in the southern Philippines have fled their homes following threats by communist rebels, the military said. It said New People’s Army rebels have accused tribesmen of passing information to the military about the communist group. At least 17 indigenous families have sought safe refuge in the village of Marilog. The rebels, led by Leoncio Pitao, were also forcing the villagers to join antigovernment rallies to protest the presence of government troops in the area, according to an army statement sent to the Mindanao Examiner. “We see how the NPAs
jeopardize the safety of these families who are living peacefully in the area,” said Lt. Col. Edgar Nigos, commander of the 84th Infantry Battalion. He said villagers should denounce the presence of rebels in the area instead of the military. “It is our mandate to protect the people and not to harm them. That’s why we would like to encourage everyone specially the government leaders to condemn the presence of the NPAs so that we can all live peacefully,” he said. There was no immediate statement from the NPA, which is fighting for the establishment of a separate Maoist state in the country. (Mindanao Examiner)
The port of Jolo in the Southern Philippine province of Sulu. Is one of the busiest in the region. (Mindanao Examiner Photo)
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Western Mindanao Command has no spokesman ZAMBOANGA CITY – The military’s Western Mindanao Command, which covers half of the southern Philippines, is now without any spokesman after its information officer was ordered to report to the office of its former commander Lt. Gen. Noel Coballes, now the Armed Forces’ Vice Chief of Staff. Lt. Col. Randolph Cabangbang said he is now with Coballes in Manila for a new assignment. “After 17 years, I am leaving Mindanao. I am transferring to the Office of the Vice Chief of Staff. It was fun
to work with you and I am hoping to return soon. Thank you,” Cabangbang told journalists. Former 6th Infantry Division commander Lt. Gen. Rey Ardo was named in October as the new chief of the Western Mindanao Command headquarters in Zamboanga City. And previous attempts by local journalists to interview Ardo had failed because he would always refer to Cabangbang. Ardo also did not meet with journalists since then and no press releases had been is-
sued to media despite reports of violence and fighting between troops and rebels in the Western Mindanao the past weeks. Local journalists said they now rely on news reports from army commanders in the provinces. Journalists during Coballes’ stint also had a similar problem because he would not speak to the press and had banned news photographers from taking pictures of wounded soldiers inside the military hospital in Western Mindanao Command. (Mindanao Examiner)