Full text of a simulated post Impeachment Trial interview between Minister Maximiano Bolahan, INCM and a novice interviewer in an undisclosed time and place in MM.

Interviewer: Hello Minister Bolahan, how are you and your church doing these days?

Minister Bolahan: Very fine, thank you!

Interviewer: You are a staunch supporter of ousted CJ Corona, at least that is the public perception and I thought Manalo and your church might have been affected one way or another by the Impeachment Court conviction/ouster of him, how would you comment about that?

Minister Bolahan: Well, maybe that’s the common perception but not actually the situation on the ground as far as the church is concerned. We are not affected at all.

Interviewer: But the final outcome of the trial might have exposed some weaknesses in your sphere of influence, isn’t it?

Minister Bolahan: Not necessarily and let me tell you why. The INCM surely knows what it is supposed to be doing especially when it comes to economics, politics and the likes. An organization, whether Non-government organization (NGO), government organization (GO) or even religious organization must co-mingle among themselves in the field of politics to further their respective interest. What is prohibited is the deliberate co-mingling of undeclared funds that may prove prejudicial to the interest of the BIR.

When the church held its Grand Evangelical mission attended to by millions of its followers at the Luneta, the same was a calculated political move under the guise of bible exposition just to impress upon the politicians the INCM’s electoral clout as evidenced by the audience’s size. It was intended to serve as reminder to political candidates in next year election that we could make or break them. That, is the only ultimate objective we have and the INCM support for Corona was just a ploy.

Interviewer: I don’t quite understand, please elaborate further.

Minister Bolahan: Supporting anybody or any group/organization for that matter through thick and thin is never our cup of tea. Our vested interest takes precedence over anything else come hell or high water. Hence we deemed it counterproductive to support Corona through and through knowing he is doomed and therefore, he is a liability rather than an asset.

Interviewer: But how about the news report that INCM was lobbying for Corona’s acquittal days before he was convicted, how would you explain about this?

Minister Bolahan: That particular report was inaccurate although we have indeed sent our representatives to touch base with the political personalities concerned but not necessarily to lobby for outright acquittal. We were more importantly concerned with determining the pulse of the Senator Judges, some sort of survey and evaluation as basis of our decision. Just like during election, the INCM relies on last minute surveys to endorse the sure winner, hahaha! Kailangan segurista di ba? We cannot afford to endorse a losing candidate considering the inaccuracy of our voting population record which in reality cannot guarantee candidate’s victory. In much the same way, why die lobbying for Corona’s sake when his case is a losing proposition? Such is a self-defeating situation, right?

Interviewer: You seemed to impress upon me that there was a last minute INCM withdrawal of support for Corona due to the hopelessness of his case, would that be accurate?

Minister Bolahan: That too is inaccurate because as far as INCM is concerned, our support for Corona is conditional in the sense that if he turned out to be a liability (which is now the case), we unilaterally reserve the right to withdraw that conditional support in favor of INCM’s greater interest.

Interviewer: How about the meeting between Noynoy and Manalo at the INCM Central Office in Diliman, Q. C.,a day before Corona was scheduled to appear before the impeachment court? I would like to believe that the meeting had so much to do with the on-going impeachment trial then. Was it really the case? Can you give me a glimpse on what really transpired during the meeting?

Minister Bolahan: We took advantage of that situation to inform the President regarding our withdrawal of support for Corona which we certainly believed made him happy. At the same time, we made a promise to support his would-be senatorial candidate in next year’s election as we have likewise begun lobbying for the possible inclusion of Associate Justice Presbiterio Velasco in the short list of JBC nominees for the next SC Chief Justice. We hope to have a better relationship with the President in the very near future; after all we used to support his candidacy as Senator and as President. He has our commitment if ever but he has yet to positively reciprocate.

Interviewer: Last question Minister Bolahan, what can you say about Corona’s theatrical challenge to his political detractors for them to also unconditionally disclose their dollar accounts?

Minister Bolahan: Well, as you have said it’s just a theatrical challenge which may therefore necessitate a theatrical answer like what Corona’s political detractors kept on answering in resounding refrain: We do not have to sign waiver to unconditionally disclose the secrecy of our dollar accounts. We are not the one’s on trial here!

Interviewer: Thank you for your time Minister Bolahan!

The Paradigm of Irresponsible Media Practice

from CNN website http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-684615?ref=feeds/latest
GMA 7 “Case Unclosed”: Shadow of religious discrimination
October 7, 2011 | Manila, Philippines

On June 18, 2009 the program Case Unclosed of a Philippine TV Network GMA7 hosted by a broadcaster named Arnold Clavio aired a controversial one-sided documentary feature of a self confessed rapist Daniel Veridiano aka “Puto”. If anything, the episode merely accomplished what may be considered as trial by publicity or trial by media of Bro. Eli Soriano, the spiritual leader of a religious group known as Ang Dating Daan (ADD). In that program, Bro. Eli was repeatedly accused by Puto of “rape”, notwithstanding the fact that same case had already been submitted for judicial determination during that time (sub-judice). Without the benefit of “cross examination” and Bro. Eli’s account of the other side of the story, Puto and Clavio teamed up to make “home runs” of unopposed prejudices, in the absence of Bro. Eli, on that show.

Evidently, this was one of those instances of media bias and sensationalism. Likewise, it betrayed a network’s insensitivity to issue marked with significant religious undertone. A no nonsense media practitioner who fully subscribes to ethical standard of journalism would likely shy away from such a discriminatory project. The TV network involve could have easily acquired information about the real background of things that matters most unless such information would deliberately be ignored for devious purposes. http://jakeastudillo.wordpress.com/2…ould-mobilize/

With utmost disregard to Bro. Eli’s rights under a democratic set-up, GMA Network through its Channel 11 replayed the same episode last August 03, 2011 and in the process, adds more insult to injury. GMA7, not once but twice, had promoted the interest of Bro. Eli’s foremost detractor, the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC), the church where Puto sought refuge and comfort immediately following his excommunication from ADD for various offenses. GMA7, in this particular case of trial by publicity should have taken into consideration the common knowledge about the deep seethed animosity between INC and ADD and the fact that the INC had been subjecting Bro. Eli to all forms of persecution and religious discrimination for many years. http://socyberty.com/politics/indece…s-to-remember/

Puto was an excommunicated former member of ADD who filed his case against Bro. Eli the moment he became a member of INC. Was this controversial episode involving INC and Bro Eli of ADD a stage managed media event to put the latter in bad light or just a mere coincidence it happened that way? GMA7, INC, Clavio and Puto surely know the answer. On the other hand, the right thinking audiences know that Bro. Eli need not suffer from this kind of media bias, sensationalism, trial by media and RELIGIOUS DISCRIMINATION.

Political leverage beneath the cloak of religion

The on-going impeachment trial of Philippine Supreme Court Chief Justice (CJ) Renato C. Corona has become the center stage in the theatre of Philippine politics for the last several weeks. The daily proceedings from Monday to Thursday have brought out the worst and the best in Senator Judges, Congressmen prosecutors and the Chief Magistrate’s defense counsels. The trial has been so ticklish and passionate. Then, the publicity generated by live media coverage of the trial plus the press releases from both the prosecution and the defense have triggered further social and political polarization for or against the accused.

On February 28, 2012, an indigenous “religious group” named Iglesia Ni Cristo or INC which is generally considered as sympathetic to the predicament of the embattled Chief Justice tried to make its presence felt via its so-called Grand Evangelical Mission (GEM) at Luneta’s Quirino Grandstand in Manila, Philippines. Although it was announced that the “religious occasion” is open to everyone, formal invitations were served only to selected members of the Senate Impeachment Court and Supreme Court Associate Justices to include the impeached CJ Corona who nevertheless did not attend.

On that date too, the prosecution panel of congressmen headed by Representative Neil Tupaz unexpectedly announced before the Impeachment tribunal the dropping of at least five (5) out of the total eight (8) articles of impeachment. The prosecution however has completed its evidences only on: Article 2 which pertains to alleged Non-disclosure of Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net worth (SALNs); Article 3 for alleged violation of Judicial Ethics and; Article 7 for allegedly orchestrating the High Court’s issuance of a TRO aimed at nullifying the preventive watch-list order earlier issued by Justice Secretary Liela Delima to guard against possible flight of ex-President Arroyo out of the country.

Whether the sudden twist in the impeachment trial of CJ Corona (whose lead defense counsel is former Associate Justice Serafin Cuevas, a prominent INC member himself) was influenced by religious event or not, the Congressmen prosecutors and the Senator Judges have reason to take notice of the INC’s show of force. There were more or less two hundred thousand (200,000) participants (as per police estimate) who participated in that one and a half (1½) hour of a vague “religious ceremony”. While the INC did not exactly delve on politics during the program proper, some politicians involved in the impeachment trial and potential candidates could have possibly taken it (GEM) as an obvious message of an electoral clout which could make or break them during next year’s May election.

The INC has gained notoriety for being a political power broker as a consequence of its block voting scheme during elections. Allegedly, the one million or so registered voters (based on INC’s arguable statistics) used to follow the dictates of their church leader who chooses the candidates to vote for. Candidates are chosen on accounts of their inherent capacity to win based on latest surveys and pledge of political patronage/commitment to INC. Such kind of wily political machinations enable INC to oftentimes “have its cake and eat it too”.

Reliable sources on the other hand revealed that the political fallout between INC (which is after Corona’s acquittal) and President Aquino (who is for Corona’s conviction) stemmed from the former’s inability to corner juicier positions for its members in government despite endorsing the latter’s candidacy during the last Presidential election. Furthermore, the recent unceremonious sacking of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Magtanggol Gatdula (a proud member of INC) by the President due to alleged cases of kidnapping and extortion is deemed by INC as adding insult to injury. Hence, the INC has virtually defined its belligerent position in this particular case.

Whatever would be the outcome of CJ Corona trial is for the impeachment court to finally decide. A negative people’s reaction though, towards the final resolution (whether for or against the accused) will put to test the political maturity of those at the helm of the three (3) co-equal branches of PH government; the executive, the legislative and the judiciary. Noteworthy too would be the spectacle of “spiritually self-destructive” game called: “political leverage beneath the cloak of religion” which the INC used to play.

GMA 7 “Case Unclosed”: Shadow of religious discrimination

Introduction – Media as a pillar of democracy

Regarded as one of the pillars of democracy, media plays a vital role in determining the makeup of society and is capable of influencing the people’s perception on diverse issues. With its free and healthy exercise of freedom of the press or freedom of media, media has established itself as an indispensable instrument that strengthens the check and balance function of a democracy.

Such freedom of the press which involves proper gathering and dissemination of news & information is intertwined with the people’s right to be kept informed about the current political, social, economic and cultural life as well as the burning topics and important issues of the day. Hence, media’s appropriate use of press freedom is important for people to know the current news that satisfies their interest and in the process, evolve themselves into a society which is well informed about domestic and foreign affairs in governance.

To achieve this end, people need a clear and truthful account of events from responsible media practitioners who subscribe to the principles of truthfulness, accuracy, objectivity, impartiality, fairness and public accountability (as these apply to the acquisition of newsworthy information and its subsequent dissemination to the public). This way, the people’s belief, emotion, attitude and opinion are correctly formulated and eventually translated into a course of action not for vested interest but for the common good or for national development.

The character of a responsible media

While media’s role in society is noble and is somewhat related to public service, it is in itself an industry that needs income or revenue to sustain the complexity of its operations. Media as a business industry implies a comprehensive collection of communication channels of different scales for it to become a rated competitor in the field of commercially sponsored activities of news reporting, entertainment, education and advertising/promotional messages (from where its profit is obtained). Therefore, it goes without saying that media may not be totally vulnerable to the possibility of lucrative enticements and machinations by sponsors (whether entities or personalities) with vested interest which they promote and protect.

As Tony Burman, ex-editor-In-chief of CBC News once said: “every news organization has only its credibility and reputation to rely on”, then people as audience must always be vigilant at all times and be adept in using their power of discernment to distinguish between propaganda and real news. Likewise, it is a must for the audience/listeners/viewers to be constantly aware of the character of a conscientious and responsible media, one that would always stick to the highest ethical standard of journalism and one that would say NO to malpractices in media industry as enumerated below:

NO to media bias – Media bias is the bias of journalists and news producers within the mass media in the selection of events and stories that are reported and how they are covered. The term “media bias” implies a pervasive or widespread bias contravening the standards of journalism, rather than the perspective of an individual journalist or article.

NO to sensationalism – Sensationalism is a type of editorial bias in mass media in which events and topics in news stories and pieces are over-hyped to increase viewership or readership numbers. Sensationalism may include reporting about generally insignificant matters and events that don’t influence overall society and biased presentations of newsworthy topics in a sensationalist, trivial or tabloid manner.

NO to yellow journalism or the yellow press – Yellow journalism is a type of journalism that presents little or no legitimate well-researched news and instead uses eye-catching headlines for increased readership or viewership. Techniques may include exaggerations of news events, scandal-mongering, or sensationalism. By extension “Yellow Journalism” is used today as a pejorative term to decry any journalism that treats news in an unprofessional or unethical fashion.

NO to trial by media – a popular phrase to describe the impact of television and newspaper coverage on a person’s reputation by creating a widespread perception of guilt or innocence before, or after, a verdict in a court of law. During high publicity court cases, the media are often accused of provoking an atmosphere of public hysteria akin to a lynch mob which makes it nearly impossible to attain a fair trial. Moreover, the accused is unnecessarily subjected to intense public scrutiny the rest of his life regardless of the trial outcome. There are different reasons why the media attention is particularly intense surrounding a legal case: the first is that the crime itself is in some way sensational, by being horrific or involving children; the second is that it involves a celebrity either as victim or accused.

NO to religious discrimination – In a 1979 consultation on the issue, the United States commission on civil rights defined religious discrimination in relation to the civil rights guaranteed by the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution as follows: Whereas religious civil liberties, such as the right to hold or not to hold a religious belief, are essential for Freedom of Religion (in the United States secured by the First Amendment), religious discrimination occurs when someone is denied ” the equal protection of the laws, equality of status under the law, equal treatment in the administration of justice, and equality of opportunity and access to employment, education, housing, public services and facilities, and public accommodation because of their exercise of their right to religious freedom.”

One of the leading voices in the U.S. on the subject of Journalistic Standards and Ethics, the Society of Professional Journalists put it this way: Public enlightenment is the forerunner of justice and the foundation of democracy. The duty of the journalist is to further those ends by seeking truth and providing a fair and comprehensive account of events and issues. Conscientious journalists from all media and specialties strive to serve the public with thoroughness and honesty. Professional integrity is the cornerstone of a journalist’s credibility.

The paradigm of irresponsible media practice

On June 18, 2009 the program Case Unclosed of a Philippine TV Network GMA7 hosted by a broadcaster named Arnold Clavio aired a controversial one-sided documentary feature of a self confessed rapist Daniel Veridiano aka “Puto”. If anything, the episode merely accomplished what may be considered as trial by publicity or trial by media of Bro. Eli Soriano, the spiritual leader of a religious group known as Ang Dating Daan (ADD). In that program, Bro. Eli was repeatedly accused by Puto of “rape”, notwithstanding the fact that same case had already been submitted for judicial determination during that time (sub-judice). Without the benefit of “cross examination” and Bro. Eli’s account of the other side of the story, Puto and Clavio teamed up to make “home runs” of unopposed prejudices, in the absence of Bro. Eli, on that show.

Evidently, this was one of those instances of media bias and sensationalism (in a rare practice of yellow journalism). Likewise, it betrayed a network’s insensitivity to issue marked with significant religious undertone. A no nonsense media practitioner who fully subscribes to ethical standard of journalism would likely shy away from such a discriminatory project. The TV network involve could have easily acquired information about the real background of things that matters most unless such information would deliberately be ignored for devious purposes. http://jakeastudillo.wordpress.com/2009/06/26/portrait-of-the-raped-man-for-whom-the-interpol-would-mobilize/

With utmost disregard to Bro. Eli’s rights under a democratic set-up, GMA Network through its Channel 11 replayed the same episode last August 03, 2011 and in the process, adds more insult to injury. GMA7, not once but twice, had promoted the interest of Bro. Eli’s foremost detractor, the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC), the church where Puto sought refuge and comfort immediately following his excommunication from ADD for various offenses. GMA7, in this particular case of trial by publicity should have taken into consideration the common knowledge about the deep seethed animosity between INC and ADD and the fact that the INC had been subjecting Bro. Eli to all forms of persecution and religious discrimination for many years. http://socyberty.com/politics/indecent-political-affair-and-injustices-to-remember/

Puto was an excommunicated former member of ADD who filed his case against Bro. Eli the moment he became a member of INC. Was this controversial episode involving INC and Bro Eli of ADD a stage managed media event to put the latter in bad light or just a mere coincidence it happened that way? GMA7, INC, Clavio and Puto surely know the answer. On the other hand, the right thinking audiences know that Bro. Eli need not suffer from this kind of media bias, sensationalism, yellow journalism, trial by media and religious discrimination.

Reference: Wikipedia

A Rebel Without a Cause – The Misadventures of CAPTAIN WET – Part II

Introduction

Captain Wet or Kapitan Basa was earlier introduced as a symbol of a modern day false prophet personified by Satantiago in this case.   Incidentally, the name Kapitan Basa has also been the name of Satantiago’s facebook and twitter accounts ever since he emerged from his initial rendezvous with the devil following his excommunication. It turned out later that those accounts had been created for purposes of black propaganda and disinformation campaign against his erstwhile spiritual leaders and to assail the biblical church doctrine.

Covenant with the devil

Captain Wet’s covenant with the devil (which provided for fortune, power and personal glory as worldly rewards for the nasty rebel to look forward to) paved the way for his absolute isolation from his wife and children who made a great escape away from him. His God-fearing wife knew for sure that he would take them also to hell should they decide to stay with him. Such a daring display of will and courage could not have been made possible without that “love of God above all” spirit of a housewife whose husband was irreversibly hell bound. With spiritual salvation as the issue, she could not bear a husband who has been consistently at war with the truth.

Captain Wet has a mission from his real master and that is:  “To destroy the character of MCGI spiritual leaders and to enter into conspiracy with dubious churches if need be to ascertain the escalation of an insidious form of spiritual subversion”. The detestable and devious courses of actions are evident from various internet sites such as: Youtube, facebook, twitter, blogspot, etc. Fictitious account names such as: taiohi, agacer_, FulgurNix, elvisriley, Yui Fei and a few more nut headed bloggers are all over the internet with their slanderous, deceptive, malicious and ridiculous blogs, posts and tweets.

 An outcast twice over

It must be remembered that prior to his current wave of vicious tantrums, Captain Wet was with certain Elmer Caras and Warly Santiago. They, together with a handful of confused supporters, composed the inner circle of that ill conceived spiritual rebellion against MCGI which was doomed to fail from the very beginning.  With Caras as the financier, they registered their own church the name of which was too awkwardly phrased to be properly recalled. Their attempt to push Captain Wet as bogus televangelist proved futile when their religious program went off the air after only a few episodes due to internal bickering and some cases of unaccounted funds. Shortly thereafter, news broke out that Captain Wet was expelled by Caras and company due to differences in values (issue of womanizing against Wet), policies and principles.

Having been an outcast twice over in so short a time, Captain Wet is now in a frantic effort (making up for lost ground) to implement the evil designs of his satanic mission. Incidentally however, the severed tie with Caras has deprived him of funds necessary to maintain a decent central office. Hence, the need to establish a command center on facebook and advanced command post on twitter both with direct links to youtube, Limited Zone (bereans) and blogspot.

Without a cause but with bad intention

As reality sets in, this orchestrated effort by Captain Wet and the rest of the gang to subvert the leadership of MCGI and its biblical doctrine would definitely be collapsing. Captain Wet would then be overwhelmed by the futility of using lies in trying to kill the truth and then the totality of his subsequent failure would be the crowning disgrace of his pathetic existence. Therefore it would be accurate to conclude that Captain Wet is not only a rebel without a cause but a stupid rebel with bad intention. – End of Part II. – Toto Onato

The Misadventures of Captain Wet (Kapitan Basa) – Part I

Captain Wet is the English version of Kapitan Basa, a symbol of a modern day false prophet who considers religion a lucrative preoccupation.  Better known as Satantiago, Kapitan Basa or Captain Wet is “wet brain inflicted” persona (for having confabulation or telling imagined & untrue experiences as gospel truth).

Captain Wet together with his brother Bernardo (who, many years earlier was excommunicated for fleeing away with the wife of his supposed brother in Christ) was able to infiltrate the Members Church of God International (MCGI) sometime in 1991.  He was subsequently able to gain the generous support of MCGI leaders to the point of abusing their kindness and compassion by employing the strategy of his feigned church loyalty and commitment. As a matter of fact, Captain Wet was even able to bail his mother out from strings of estafa cases (committed by her even prior to MCGI membership infiltration) involving more than two (2) million pesos by settling them with the personal fund of MCGI Presiding Minister, Bro. Eli Soriano.

Just like Jesus’ disciple Judas Iscariot, Captain Wet as a church worker once, was given opportunity for sensitive position in church (as Bro. Eli’s co-host in radio/TV religious program Ang Dating Daan for several years) only to emerge or disclose himself as traitor and betray his master later on. Furthermore, just like the privileged angel Lucifer, the original rebel who became known as Satan, Captain Wet rebelled against church authority due to same reasons: obsession for power and personal glory.

Captain Wet’s rebellious attitude began to manifest following Bro. Eli’s departure for abroad in December 2005.   The inconvenience brought about by unexpected parting with Bro. Eli (who happened to be too accommodating when it comes to his personal fund necessities) apparently pissed him off. With Bro. Eli not around, he had to deal with the Vice Presiding Minister, Bro. Daniel Razon and the latter, against whom he harbored unnecessary professional jealousy, was for him, not the best person to deal with. He even made unfounded accusation against Bro. Daniel of alleged gallivanting in cases when the latter needs to travel abroad to support Bro. Eli’s foreign mission.

As he engaged himself into discreet agitation of members, raising issues of imagined grievances, his dissatisfaction went into full blown treachery when he began subverting not only the leadership but the very doctrines of the Church itself.  His misguided spiritual dissent and deliberate doctrinal machination in furtherance of spurious motivation were sufficient grounds to deliver him to Satan. He was totally exposed shortly thereafter, hence, not only was he excommunicated but the order of his appointment with Satan was officially signed, sealed and delivered! – End of Part I. -by Toto Onato

Hello world!

Welcome to WordPress.com. This is your first post. Edit or delete it and start blogging!