DOJ orders investigation of The Probe Team

can I report?
I forgot to spell check!

To me this is much “bruahahah” over bothing; I know the men of the NBI STF and they are fair and professional, If Atty. Ed Arugay is still heading it; Probe will get a fair review. that said- all I can see here is a request letter for a copy of a tape of program which is subject to law- a requirement all Broadcasters have to comply with. It is something aired at sdign on and sign off for all stations nationwide.

” A one-sentence letter was sent by NTC Regional Director for NCR Delilah Deles, on April 26, to ABS-CBN Network’s Vice President Manoli Manalastas. No explanation for the request is contained in the letter.” – agian per the LAw- none is required!

It says – I read it posted on this website ‘May we request a copy of the program aired….” Not the master tape- but a copy of the tape aired? you can challenge it court BUT; if it only wants copies of the”program aired” the broadcaster has to comply with a lawful order..

Now, Cong. Gilbert Remulla and another Congressman (sorry forgot his name) introduced a bill recently to amend laws governing broadcasters and freedoms of speech and press.
What every TV station manager or owner or news director and or producer learns “DAY ONE”… is Broadcasting has specific rules and conduct which makes this field of journalism subject to “Government review” and regulation that sets it apart from other Journalism.

I got that lecture from Che-Che’s old profesor at UP; Miss. Lulu Ilustre a former KBP president who pounded it into us at the Palawan Broadcasting Corporation.
“Responcibility, you must be able to present a report that will be able to face all forms of scrutiny.” In our case at that time we were the only station on the Island.
So you better believe we were made to make sure everything we reported was balanced, fair, and clearly capable of facing anything. I often joke with former students of Tita Lulu; you only had her as a instructor and profesor- to us- she was part Boss, Part Mom part judge jury and executioner! Boy this brings back memories…
On a global view of this – There is a common legal opinion, not only here in the Philippines, But in the USA, the EU, etc. “That as a private franchisee of a public resource- the airwaves- broadcasters are subject to strict regulation.”

If you look at the KBP code and Broadcast franchise licence of a TV Station, it’s all there. .Most of those are copied from the FCC code in the USA; stations there go through this a lot – but- when raw production tapes are demanded. There in lies the difference.

Then there is no the “KBP code” which governs broadcasting here as specific rules on sensitive subject mater in newscasts.aired – that is another mater- but not a mater raised here or so it seems in this order.

So until broadcast laws are amended this “one sentence letter’ or similar type of communication is all that is required, for “ANYTHING AIRED” Broadcasters; be they news or entertainment shows may be required to submit to until such a time laws are written or made as such to extend other protection provided for print media..
If it raw material- or video not aired being requested – Then A classic case a few years back in the UK where a series a IRA interviews were seized from a local BBC station under censorship & security rules. In that case commando team was sent in and nearly everything taken – and this is in the UK. Where specific laws exist for this.

Mind you- I have had my own experiences with “tapes taken” I don’t ever want to go through again r- but as explained to me then – i was on “exclusion or private property” not a public place when that happened. Hence; I did have to allow my tapes to be taken, personal opinion aside of my views on that incident.

I do hope at some point; more laws will be passed to cover this kind type of case but until such. One can fight it out in the courts. Good luck! Oh, by the way… if anyone in guesthouse ever sees a beta cam tape… someone seized… years ago… uh… I had to pay for that out of salary… could I have it back now please?

Gonzalez should investigate first the case of NANI PEREZ, the Swiss government
sent the information many years ago, Gonzalez, the Justice Secretary of gloria arroyo must act on the Nani Perez case first, there is paper trial pointing to Nani Perez, Is Gonzalez afraid to touch the case because doing so would expose a bigger amount probably $12 million which will further lead to a high government personality?

More relevant issues need investigated, The Probe Team interview of Sarmiento is no different from the other show’s episodes. Viewers are intelligent, Gonzalez has no right to dictate what shows are to be shown or not. This country cannot move on if government officials would devote their time on simple cases rather focus on bigger issues. gonzalez is indeed, no justice secretary of the people, he serves only gloria arroyo. From day one of his stint in DOJ, I can’t remember any noble deed this puppet had ever accomplished.

The only thing I recall about this man, is that everytime he opens his mouth, it
spews rubbish and poison. The DOJ and the Filipino people does not deserve him, only gloria deserves him.

Sec Gonzales has no place in our society!!his so evil that he will do any demonic act just to save his satanic evil boss GMA..was he a part during the 2004 canvassing at house of congress,doing his best evil act not to open the ballot boxes so they can review the authentic ER`s and SOV`s? so what do you expect?
his a 79 years old man who think that he will live for 100 years to reign on his evil acts just to preserve his satanic boss GMA..i pray to GOD and hope that this evil man be taken by our lord,together with GMA and all her evil cabals and minions in malacanan,like Ermita,Bunye,Puno,Defensor and others,that put our country the Philippines to be in crises right now..look what happen to Dir Wyccoco..he lived to lie for satanic GMA and he died lying for satanic GMA..
wish we all honest and dedicated freedom lovers and fighters filipinos and all filipino citizen all over the world to unite and oust this satanic GMA and his evil cabals out and put them to where do they belong….J A I L !!! crime does not pay in this world…

What does this also say? siRAULo & GLUE-RIA can’t catch 1Lt. Sonny Sarmiento, but The Probe Team has been able to get an interview. Now, who’s been sleeping on the job? No wonder siRAULo and GLUE-RIA are fuming–it makes them look ridiculous and stupid! That shouldn’t be The Probe Team’s problem. They simply did their job.

Kudos to The Probe Team for a job well done!

mikekcohen,

Sorry, Mike. May I call you Mike? I just might have misunderstood your statements in your original comment. I thought you were actually very willing to give the NTC a copy of the Probe Team tape without resistance.

So you were a victim, too. And you don’t agree to these broadcast and NTC guidelines but it’s the law, you say, and there’s not much that can be done at this time. So, Mike, I understand now.

But I think it would be best to support the stand of the Probe Team to fight this intimidation again of the media.

Hi, Schumey,

Which cable network and which channel is UN TV on? What time is that early morning show?

Raul Gonzalez was suspended, but never disbarred. At least not yet. I recall he was then a congressman who was so insistent in investigating the judicial fund, but his behavior was deemed to be insolent that Chief Justice Fernando suspended him. The suspension was lifted sometime later.

Phil & schumey,

I support Probe’s stand but;

Anew- read the letter of the NTC, they want a tape of what was aired. I say to them to comply with the law.

AND as is the law or KBP rule rather states- BILL THEM FOR IT!

Improve network revues at the same time!

It was “aired already” Per KBP rules the network could impose the standard fee to charge Government entities and private parties for a “Copy of program aired recorded and material as aired.”.

The same thing that advertisers pay for – or offset cost for versus ad rates.

Want a copy of something on air? Sure the high end about P3 million pesos per hoiur at international rates is the recognized standard international fee.in legal maters. – am basing this on a request made by the US justice department for Al Qaeda coverage by a US network – since the netwrok here that aired probe is seen across the globe the rate should follow recognized “fair market value”
(50-1 X $1,000 a minute) its a standard fee charged by most major networks whenever a legal mater is raised. Plus editing room fee’s and legal certification of content.

Now since this program was aired all over the world Bill DOJ and the NTC per copy; per minute rates of the program content. That too is in the rule. I rememebr that from election rules memo’s on requests for program dubs. I’ll find the memo somewhere.

Let’s see- normally that come to $1,000 a minute? Perhaps less.

Plus equipment costs, dubbing fee’s plus other charges.

Perhaps since in looking over the NTC rules anew – and it says that in agreement with the KBP standard authority memo’s “A station may bill the full cost of syndication when asked for a segment or program to be dubbed for Government or Corporate use.” I am paraphrasing the KBP circular.

Hey! this might be a great business idea for sagging revenues ! Every TV station could interview everyone on the “ban list” and as interpreted and pray the tapes are requested.

Remember they can bill at “fair syndication market value” per KBP charge the government for the costs.

Perhaps revenue at my old channel would climb back to what it was when I was there.

I can see the desk editors and assignment editors saying hey- yeah- interview them all –then wait for NTC letters – then…. Poof! Think Christmas bonus and revenue sharing!

Quick buy stock in both UNTV and ABS-CBN.

SO; Bill them for dubbing charges and program material costs; remember per KBP rules also as agreed to by the NTC; this must be paid before any material is handed over.
Hmmmmm…. Nasaan kaya si … teka muna…

But of course fight the “press freedom issues” in court if there are any for something already “Broadcast”.

However- if they want the Raw or Working tapes of the show- that is another mater entirely and is something that needs to be reviewed by a judge and a court order to be issued..

But honestly; All DOJ has to do is use another route really- you can buy off cable any off air or cable content of every show aired in the USA from monitoring services there that provide legal court certified copies and transcripts of shows.

Actually, once something is aired US Supreme court rulings say it is in the public domain. And thus is freely recordable so long as it was broadcast over the “AIRWAVES” not cable TV mind you. But ; since “Probe” is on DBO. Or broadcast satellite in US markets all DOJ or anyone has to do is go to any of the services and pay the fee’s really.

Take the network I work for now – whenever they are asked by Police, the courts, and others for copies of shows aired for whatever purpose- they always agree – but bill them for “a non-broadcast quality but true copy of material carried on channel”. And that unit of the news department “Monitoring” has the best Christmas parties… Oh well Happy Weekend!

hmmm, very interesting info mikekcohen. indeed, it will be good business for media outfits if the doj & ntc keep on asking copies of those “seditious” tapes and charged w/ standard fees. i’m sure they will have no problem paying for these fees. but at the end of the day, the big question would be, “whose money is being spent in paying for those recorded aired programs? again, juan de la cruz will bear the brunt for this inept govt action.

Correction * http://www.untvweb.com

Hi Mike. Are you the Mike Cohen who used to report in the morning news in one of the big networks? You just suddenly disappeared. I used to watch you report and wondered where you went.

I agree with you Mike, let Probe bleed the DOJ dry…hahaha.

“DEMOCRACY is an eternal vigilance”

We probably failed to see that “binding string” between the citizens and justice system is getting very thin! It has been observed that the administration could easily obtain “royal favors” from the SC justices. Justice department has the total independence as supreme ruler to guarantee that the Law of the land is properly executed with impartiality and without prejudice, both for the rich and the poor. This is no longer true.
Needless to say, King Solomon’s descendants have never reached the front door of our justice department!

[…] The groups referred to the recent order by justice secretary Raul Gonzalez calling for the investigation of the current affairs television program, The Probe Team, for possible inciting to sedition. Probe had interviewed escaped mutineer 1Lt. Sonny Sarmiento. […]