Saturday, February 25, 2006

PNP takes over the Daily Tribune

Police chief Arturo Lomibao said na he is recommending the government take over the Daily Tribune for now, habang may "state of emergency." napanood ko ito sa GMA7 kanina.

From ABS-CBN:

Daily Tribune Publisher Niñez Cacho-Olivares vowed Saturday to resist the government's plan to take over the newspaper after police late Friday night raided and shut down the publication.

"Simula pa lang sa amin ito, sabi nila (This is just the beginning for us, the police said) they would take over [the paper] but I will fight it out," Cacho-Olivares told abs-cbnNEWS.com in a telephone interview.

She said she is consulting her lawyers, including Rene Saguisag, regarding the legal moves that should be taken.

She said she would go to the office later Saturday to bring out the Sunday edition of the paper.

"They can intimidate me all they like but I will fight them every inch of the way. If they close us down I will go to the Supreme Court," she added.

Olivares denied the claims by PNP chief Director General Arturo Lomibao that the Tribune was raided because it has been publishing baseless stories that abet coup plotters.

Lomibao told reporters Saturday in Camp Crame that the PNP will recommend that the government run the operations of Tribune.

Malacañan on Saturday said it is unaware of a police raid on the editorial office of the newspaper.

Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye, however, told DZMM that he is confident that the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) of the PNP has strong basis for the action.

He said the newspaper could file a complaint before local courts.

Asteeg.

From the PDI:

Police presence in Tribune a reminder to media, says Palace

First posted 06:44pm (Mla time) Feb 25, 2006
By Lira Dalangin-Fernandez
INQ7.net

THE “strong presence” of the police in the editorial offices of the Daily Tribune will remain while “extraordinary conditions” in the country exist, as a reminder to other media organizations not to aid those who want to overthrow the government.

The stern warning came from Presidential Chief of Staff Michael Defensor who said that in the coming days, the publication would operate under the watch of the uniformed men.

”Hindi namin pinapakialaman ang publication pero gusto naming ipakita iyong strong presence namin na huwag kayong gagawa ng kahit anuman na makakatulong sa rebelde (We are not meddling with the publication but we just want to show our strong presence to tell them not to do anything that will help the rebels),” he said.

Defensor clarified that the government has not taken over Daily Tribune. However, he said it was a possibility under a state of emergency. In case of a takeover, he added, the government could even have a say on the paper’s editorial content.

In meetings with police officials, he said it was agreed that the government would not to interfere with the stories that the paper would put out.

After a raid in the wee hours Saturday, policemen from Camp Crame were stationed inside the editorial and business offices of the Daily Tribune in Manila.

Media organizations have denounced this act.

Whatever you say, Sir Mike.

Read this too the PCIJ blog: A call to journalists to take a stand.

UPDATE: From the Sunstar:

Police warn of more warrantless arrests, media takeover (4:00 p.m.)

MANILA -- Philippine National Police chief Director Arturo Lomibao warned Saturday of warrantless arrests and takeover of media entities who "continue to contribute to an atmosphere of instability."

Lomibao in a news conference said the national police is empowered to perform such tasks as stipulated under General Order 5 as contained in President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's Proclamation 1017 or the declaration of the State of National Emergency.

On Friday, President Arroyo declared a state of national emergency hours after the military claimed to have foiled a plot to unseat her.

I believe the only person who creating this instability is Mrs Arroyo herself.

Previous:

-- Daily Tribune offices Raided
-- Not the first time media has been harassed by the Arroyo government

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