What's the deal with Mike Enriquez?

Read this post from Ted Te:

Sorry, Mike E., I will listen to FM or CD during the 6-9 time slot every day. You just lost an avid listener.

Mike E is Mike Enriquez, anchor of DZBB’s Saksi sa BB 6-9 every weekday morning; and I listen to him everyday while driving to work and going to my hearings or meetings.

If you caught the live on-air simulcast anchored by Mike E earlier this morning., you will know why Mike E. has lost a listener on radio (I will continue tuning in to 24 Oras because Mel Tiangco is still credible but I’ll switch channels everytime Mike goes on air). He had a one on one with the dictator; and for a while there, I thought Mike had been hired by Cerge Remonde and had gone over to Channel 4.

To say that Mike was fawning over Gloria is gross understatement. Not even Ronnie Nathanielsz was that bad and at least, for Nathanielsz, it was understandable. But for Mike E., who attempted to project a sense of objectivity and independence? And even through the airwaves, you could feel palpably Mike’s chest (and head) swell when the dictator rewarded him with effusive praise on air.

More on this from Ed Ching, Jove Francisco, Atty-at-work, Helga and Ellen Tordesillas. (via MLQ3)

All I know is that this is not the first time na kasama si Mike Enriquez sa isang scripted "interview" with Arroyo na naging "damage control" ng admin for the previous scripted "press conference" that happened the day before.

UPDATE: From Ellen Tordesillas:

DJB, what happened to your classmate, Mike Enriquez. My friends who saw his interview with GMA said he was “kadiri”. Imagine addressing GMA as “mahal naming pangulo”. That is not done in democratic countries. Could you imagine Larry King addressing Bush, “our dear president”. Ngeek. North Korea and China, yes.

Actually Arroyo dealt his credibility a kiss of death when she praised him. If he were a true journalist, he should have squirmed in embarrassment.

UPDATE: Arroyo Practically describes ABS-CBN as seditious, irresponsible while heaping praise on Mike Enriquez.

Media intimidation continues:

Last Tuesday at ANC, after "Strictly Politics", guest Mike Defensor, presidential chief of staff, told host Pia Hontiveros so casually that she and another ANC anchor, Ces Drilon, are not in the list of Malacañang’s favorite broadcast journalists.

Last week also, a Malacañang adviser told a print journalist of his displeasure over Ces and Pia’s anchoring of the Feb. 26 standoff at the Marine headquarters in Fort Bonifacio. He said they were so relieved when finally Mari Kaimo and Twink Macaraeg took over the anchoring in the evening.

Last Friday, Justice Secretary Raul Gonzales said even if Proclamation 1017 which put the country in a state of national emergency has been lifted, they are studying the ABS-CBN’s coverage of last Sunday’s standoff, which might have gained sympathizers for Marine Col. Ariel Querubin who appealed for support.

Maria Ressa, head of ABS-CBN’s News and Current Affairs, told the Inquirer that no one among the ABS-CBN anchors and reporters had called on the people to come out and support Querubin’s call for public protection, or stated that some military units had defected to support their comrades in the Marines. "We simply aired their statements," Maria said.

What could be Defensor’s motive in telling Pia about Malacañang’s displeasure of how she does her job other than to intimidate her and Ces into "sobering up" as what happened to others as reported by Gonzales with unconcealed glee.

Gonzales must have been happy with the cancellation of the Feb. 26 episode of Bro. Eddie Villanueva’s "Diyos at Bayan" on Proclamation 1017 with guests Bishop Julio Labayen, another priest, two nuns and three lawyers.

Bro. Eddie, who was a presidential candidate in the 2004 elections, owns the franchise of ZOE11 which is being used by QTV11, which is being managed by GMA-7.

Kata Inocencio, Bro. Eddie’s co-host , said the program which was supposed to have been aired Feb. 25 in QTV11 and Feb. 26 in GMA-7, was taped afternoon of Feb. 24 (Friday), the day Proclamation 1017 was issued.. She said she was told Saturday afternoon by their producer that GMA-7 executives had decided not to air that particular episode.

Kata said she tried to appeal the cancellation, offering to show a disclaimer from GMA7 that it was not their production. She even offered to delete what Malacañang considered "offensive" statements. But to no avail. The 1017 episode was not cancelled . They had to replay an earlier episode for the Feb. 26 timeslot.

Kata, who has been in broadcast journalism since the Marcos years, is hard put to understand what in the statements of their guests, even if critical of 1017, could have threatened the stability of the country.

"I am really very sad that its happening in our nation today because 20 years after what we fought for the return of democracy and general freedom suddenly we find ourselves gagged and prevented from telling the truth, from expressing ourselves," Kata told "Probe", which reported the cancellation of "Diyos at Bayan" last week.

Kata said she can’t blame GMA-7 and QTV executives because "I’m sure they were also not sure about how to behave given the situation. My only disappointment is they played a little bit too safe just to make sure that the government and the NTC (National Telecommunications Commission) do not get back at them by cancelling their franchise or suspending their operation."

Ramir Orteza of GMA-7 Corporate Communications denied that they were intimidated by 1017. He sent us this said message: "QTV did not air the episode of Dios at Bayan" on Feb. 26, Sunday, because it was not in accordance with QTV’s policy on balanced treatment of issues. The top management of co-producer/blocktimer Zoe Broadcasting Network is aware of this policy. This decision had nothing to do with proclamation 1017. The network has exercised this option with Diyos at Bayan in the past- even before Proclamation 1017 was issued."

Previous:

-- Arroyo praises GMA7 for "responsible" journalism
-- Edward R. Murrow's statements on Sen. McCarthy