Photo taken at the Argao Catholic Public Cemetery right before the burial of Press Secretary Cerge Remonde

The late Press Secretary Cerge Remonde was buried in Argao, Cebu last January 24, 2010. Feel free  to view the linked Youtube video of the burial ceremony with no less than President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and Vice President Noli de Castro. I will be posting or linking here what members have written about him. Please inform me about articles that you also want posted …

Anol

Linked articles:

Press Secretary Remonde Dies at 51

Maayong Pagpanaw Kanimo Higalang Cerge by Elias Espinoza

Lubong ni Cerge by Elias Espinoza

Cerge Remonde by Anol Mongaya at InBetweenColumns

Diligent Cub by Godofredo Roperos

Cerge Remonde by Eddie Barrita in Superbalita

Outpouring for Cerge by Anol Mongaya in Sun.Star Cebu

Thousands came to bury a friend by Fred Languido in The Freeman

Good Men Die Young by Elias Espinoza

The arrest, and maybe the conviction, of Datu Unsay Mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr. might be a major development towards attaining justice for the 34 members of media and 23 other victims of the most barbaric massacre in the history of journalism.

But this is not enough.

Justice means the arrest and punishment of all those involved. Nobody – from the mastermind to the lowly bata-bata – should be able to get away with a crime so grave.

The massacre did not just take away at least 57 lives in a cruel and heartless manner. The slaughter defiled the core principles our democracy – the concept of free and fair elections and that of a free press.

Justice should lead towards the conduct of freer and fairer elections. Justice should further result in the healthy respect for members of the Fourth Estate and the role they play in making our democratic system work for everybody.

But the criminal warlords did not rise to such an extreme position of power and abuse without powerful coddlers for mutual benefit. Warlords, in fact, had been historically with us since the birth of our flawed democracy. They are part and parcel of our imperfect political system rooted in centuries of feudal relationships and violence.

The 57 are not only victims of the Ampatuans’ desire to maintain their warlord status in Maguindanao. They are victims of the worst case of violence of traditional politics in its extreme form. Justice, therefore, should be the first step in changing the historical socio-economic and political conditions that produced criminal warlords like the Ampatuans.

A law that dictates what journalists will publish or broadcast is patently unconstitutional. The right to reply bills — House Bill No. 3306 and Senate Bill No. 2150 — precisely seek to impose the editorial judgement of congressmen and senators on gatekeepers at the newsroom. The bills intend to enforce penalties on news executives and owners for not publishing replies in the same space or program within a specific period. It constitutes prior restraint and violates the constitutional right of press freedom.

The advocates of the bills argue that freedom of the press is not absolute. They say that offended parties have also the right to have their side published or aired. They even advance the argument that the bills will widen the freedom of expression by requiring the publication or broadcast of media reports and commentaries deemed inaccurate, unfair or biased, and injurious to reputations.

But newspapers and news programs are not passive mouthpieces. The choice and treatment of material especially on public issues and public officials — whether fair or unfair — constitute editorial control and judgement. This is integral in the news media’s function as the Fourth Estate. Our congressmen and senators should leave editors to freely do their jobs.

Moreover, we journalists consider fair play, accuracy and responsibility basic tenets in the conduct of our profession. We serve society best under an atmosphere of freedom sans interference from legislators who want to play editors.

Besides, offended parties already have a wide array of options in airing their sides against what they deem unfair or inaccurate news reports and commentaries. Offended congressmen and senators could deliver lengthy privilege speeches and even malign the object of their ire at the Congress floor before live television without fear of libel suits.

We in Cebu hope our legislators will see the light and reject the bills outright. But in the unfortunate possibility of passage of the bills into law, we will join our colleagues in going to court and win a major victory for press freedom.

National Press Club Cebu
October 2, 2008

NPC Cebu Induction. RTC Judge Meindrado Paredes inducts the officers of the newly reorganized National Press Club Cebu, namely, Emmanuel 'Anol' Mongaya of Superbalita and Sun.Star Cebu, club president; Eddie Barrita of Philippines News Agency (PNA), vice president for print; Ely Baquero of Sun.Star Cebu and Bantay Radyo, vice president for radio; Janice Callino of IBC 13, secretary; Fred Languido of The Freeman and DYLA, public relations officer; Job Tabada of Cebu Daily News,, treasurer; Mitchelle Palaubsanon of The Freeman, auditor; and Manny delos Santos Rabacal of CCTN, vice president for television. Not in the photo are directors John Rey Saavedra of Banat News, Ely Espinosa of Sun.Star Cebu and Superbalita, and Godofredo Roperos of Sun.Star Cebu and Cebu Catholic Television Network. The induction and Press Freedom Week club fellowship was held at the Wang Shan Lo Restaurant at the 20th floor of Club Ultima last September 25, 2008 in uptown Cebu City.