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South China Morning Post (HK) writes about plot to smear me

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Expresses support for my work

Because the name of  South China Morning Post (HK), the newspaper I write for, was being dragged as well into the messy political battle, I had to inform  my immediate editor at the Foreign Desk, Andrew London, of this fact.

This was after The Daily Tribune owner-publisher Ninez Cacho-Olivares wrote that based on her “a impeachable source”, “blogger and stringer of the South China Morning Post, Raissa Robles” passed on Chief Justice Renato Corona’s bank documents to a prosecutor in Corona’s impeachment trial.

After I personally told Ninez  I had denied the rumor spread by Internet trolls, The Daily Tribune published yet another story. This time, it did not mention me but still named the newspaper I write for.

I was pleasantly surprised to learn that my SCMP editors not only supported me but Grego Torode, SCMP’s chief Asia correspondent, took the time out to discredit allegations on the Web about me that I was “moonlighting” as a journalist.

I am touched by SCMP’s concern for my physical safety. Here is the article that Greg wrote, which I am posting with SCMP’s permission. I also have SCMP’s permission to allow any Philippine media to repost it  in full as well. 

So there you have it — this is the paper I’ve been a correspondent for since 1996. To view start of the article, click on this link.

SCMP-1---story-on-smear-Feb

Journalist caught up in impeachment drama

Accusers insinuate Post’s correspondent gave prosecutors bank data on embattled chief justice

Greg Torode

Updated on Feb 15, 2012

Scmp---Greg-TorodeRaissa Robles, the South China Morning Post’s veteran Manila correspondent, has found herself at the centre of an online whispering campaign suggesting she gave bank account information relating to Philippines Chief Justice Renato Corona to prosecutors attempting to impeach him.

Robles is vigorously denying the allegations through her own blog as well as via statements to the Post, local newspapers and a major TV network.

While “amused” by some of the depictions of her, she said she fears she could be the victim of a smear campaign that, at worst, might incite supporters of the embattled Corona to violence.

“It is a very tense time and the chief justice is fighting for his political life. I only hope some of his supporters are not tempted by violence,” Robles said.

“There is no truth to the allegations whatsoever,” she said, adding that she had never received documents from bank employees, or passed on any bank documents. “I fear it’s a smear campaign because they can’t discredit my stories … I’ve always verified my stories, and I’m always fair.”

Robles’ stories have included a World Bank report into the misuse of a loan to enhance the “institutional integrity” of the Philippine Supreme Court – an objective described by Corona as a “huge lie”. She also investigated Corona’s cheap purchase of a luxury 3,000 sq ft apartment in Manila’s The Fort complex, home to some of the country’s wealthiest businessmen.

Her profile of Corona in the Sunday Morning Post last month quoted his concerns about the wider political climate as he prepared for trial. Corona, a former chief of staff to former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, was one of her last appointments when he became chief justice. Just a month before his impeachment on December 12, his court ruled against the maternal clan of the current president, Benigno Aquino, in awarding land to farm workers on the family hacienda.

“The problem with some people… is that they think that I am a thief like them,” Robles quoted Corona as saying.

Now she stands accused of being “the little lady” who illegally passed bank account files from a bank manager to a prosecutor investigating Corona. The “little lady” description was coined by the prosecutor, congressman Rey Umali.

“Whoever this ‘little lady’ is, it is not me… I’m really amused by these blogs and tweets that have described me as a ‘Girl Friday’ of a sitting magistrate who is at odds with Corona or that I’m merely ‘moonlighting’ as a journalist. My record stands for itself.”

Robles has written for the Post since 1996 and is proud of her record of asking tough questions of the country’s leaders without fear or favour. In 2002, she sparked a brief controversy when, a propos of rumours the president was in a loveless marriage, she asked Arroyo whether she still had “time for sex” with her husband. Arroyo answered “plenty”. Last year she asked Aquino about reports he was playing video games the night a sacked policeman shot and killed eight Hongkongers on a tour bus in Manila. Aquino issued a denial.

As a reporter in the Philippines since 1982, she has worked for local newspapers and contributed to international outlets including The Times, the BBC and Voice of America.

Corona is the third-highest official to be impeached in the Philippines, after former president Joseph Estrada in 2000 and ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez last year. Prosecutors have this week been barred from examining his foreign currency accounts, which they claim contain ill-gotten wealth. The senate endorsed a high court temporary restraining order issued on Friday.

Comments

  1. Raissa, I know you are objective and that you do a thorough research on your report. However, in my humble opinion the focus probably needs a bit “balanced”, lest it slides into something akin to advocacy. The term balanced is not used or meant in perjorative way. A specific example is the WB report. In that instance, you are the reader and that the WB was the Raissa Robles. The focus was on the ‘juicy” issues which the WB report did not actually focus on nor was exclusively writing about. I prefer the readers to make their own inferences and conclusions. But that’s just me.

    I find it very informative to read your report but am a bit turned off with the lopsided comments playing on incessant drumbeat that hijacked the character of your objective reporting into something that is not what it is. Just my 10 cents. All the best.

    • Actually the WB was trying to be polite but it did focus on the “juicy issues”.

      See its conclusion.

      I think the entire report can now be downloaded at the Department of Finance website.

      • Thanks again raissa keep up the good work, Tanong ko lang?

        Why did the IBC channel 12 stop coverring the impeachment trials? napakagandang topiko pa naman nakasalang nitong mga araw? sana mabalik ang I.C. trials coverrages…Thanks…

        Why did abs-cbn channel 22 or 23 stop coverring also? ito lang naman kasi angnapapanood namin dito sa probinsiya dahil wala kaming cable? sana maibalik ang I.C. trials coverrages….Thanks….

  2. i support you raisa. paki refrash nga pala mga readers mo regarding maceda and tatad. i think they are cooking something. good luck and god bless you always.

  3. I’m not good in written conversation, thus silently i follow your blogs. There are just some who hitch a ride to be noticed.

    I do believe and i support your blog.

  4. Hi Raissa. The best way to deal with Niniez is to ignore her. Your responding to her only gives her & her paper some importance, which they don’t have. She’s just enjoying free publicity from your readers. Ignore her. Truth will always come out & the truth is Ninez is a has-been. Stop responding to her & giving her any importance. You’re playing into her game. Ignore her, that’s the best way to deal with Ninez.

  5. Ms. Raissa, I always salute you.
    I have something to tell you regarding a blog/article that I have read from other site regarding CJ Corona, and there is one comment from Mcmacavinta that said Corona allegedly has a long time steady relationship in the name of Eva and that they have 2 sons. Here is part of the comment she/he posted on that blog.

    [NOTE from Raissa: I removed this portion from your comment because it makes very serious allegations against CJ Corona which I have not verified. Nor anybody has verified.]

    By the way, this person (who post this comment) claimed that she/he is relative to this Eva Auria. I don’t know if this is true, but knowing that you have this tremendous experience in the field of investigative reporting might help us find the truth.
    Thank you Ms. Raissa. May God bless you and will protect you always!

    • it remains a gossip until Raissa verified it to have truth in it. Madaming pinalalabas na kalukuhan si Corona para mapalayo ang tingin sa pera nya ang mga tao… Dyan kasi sa Peso & $ accoount ay kitang kita na may magic na nangyayari.

      • Yes, I agree with you, but this is also another issue sa pagkatao ni CJ being the Chief Justice of the SC.

    • Are u referring to this article?…

      a lot to say
      by maria4 on Wed, 02/15/2012 – 15:22

      ………….
      Chief Justice Renato Corona wants to project the image that he is a loving husband to his wife, Cristina. The fact is, the Chief Justice has not only betrayed the public trust but most importantly, has betrayed his marital vow. 


      [NOTE FROM RAISSA: Sorry, pls post the story after you verify it. I’m not saying it’s true or false. Only I don’t know which is which.]

  7. hi raiissa! i am sorry for you for the crime you are being accused of… di nila kasi alam ako yun, little lady na yun..
    hwag ka mag alala, lalabas din ako in the right time and place… magugulat sila lahat at malilinis ang nabahiran mong dangal… little lady :)

    • are you the genuine little lady or jitters only. please don’t add confusion if you are not. let’s support raissa-

    • Sa totoo lang ako yata yon, kasi napanaginipan ko iniabot ko kay Congressman Umali yung envelope di ba brown yon. Sabi naman ng office mate ko siya raw kasi nandoon daw siya sa Impeachment court ng mga oras na iyon. kaya lang sabi ko hindi siya puwedeng umamin at 5’7″ siya.

      Gaano kalaki kaya ang gusto nilang small lady, kasi maraming gustong umamin.

  8. “Patience” I was waiting for the answer, “in due time”

    In journalism, according to Mr. Torode, Raissa exemplifies:

    “In each honest calling, each walk of life, has its own elite; its own aristocracy based on excellence of performance”

  9. i am praying for your safety Ms. Raissa. it seems the people behind the CJ are getting desperate and will do anything in order to save his skin. but let us not allow that to dampen our desire to see a better Philippines for the next generations.

  10. Ok, great . You have always been a great journalist. We all knew that.
    But where is this explosive scoop you mentioned?
    It’s so unfair to mention it and be so silent for so many days.
    C’mon! get with it already.

  11. The analysis of MR TED TE to me is very convincing considering the fact that thisIMPEACHMENT very political in nature and SP Enrile is always a survivor. nobody was able deny that.

    And as such there will be no monetary consideration that can equal the fruit that he will gain from thr result of this trial.consider the following:

    1- Majority of the filipinos at this stage believes that CJ is guilty. based on the evidences presented so far kahit na sabihin pa natin illegal ang paglabas ng ebedensiya.

    http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/248064/opinion/blogs/from-where-i-sit-enrile-s-master-stroke

    2-He is already 88 this is his last hurrah and can erase his mistakes during martial law. he will be interested to have a legacy that future generation will always remember.

    3- his son will harvest the fruit politically like PImentel, Guingona, Caytanos, and others.

    4- Enrile i guess based on his records will not take this golden opportunity in vain.

    I think the grand old man will do the right thing.

    • I hope and pray that this will come to pass, and not just wishful thinking.’tis high time for the senator to redeem himself form the gory days of martial law.

    • we still have to be wary about that—RE: enrile’s pronouncements that he wants to leave a legacy. he is a very seasoned politician, we can see that how he plays suave sa korte…. REMEMBER HE ALSO HAS A LOT OF STASHED WEALTH AND CASH AND ALL OTHER STUFF IN HIS CLOSET. E kung siya ang masunod MAUNGKAT MGA TINATAGO, MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE, CORRUPT PEOPLE AND THIEVES DO NOT THINK OF OTHERS WHEN THEY MAKE THEIR DECISION, AYAW NILA MASAYANG PINAGHIRAPANG NAKAWIN…

      SO IT IS STILL THE POWER OF THE PEOPLE, KUNG MAKITA NILANG TALAGANG NAGAGALIT ANG TAOMBAYAN, THEN THEY CAN FEEL THE PRESSURE AND ACT ACCORDINGLY,

      THE LAST THING THEY WANT to happen is MATULAD NI QADDAFY…

      so we have to register OUR PROTEST VIA PHYSICAL PRESENCE IN THE SENATE, or COMMENTING ON NEWS, AND ANY OTHER VENUES AT I-KOREK YUNG MGA TAONG NAG COCOMMENT LANG NG KABALBALAN…

    • i’ve heard that Pnoy and Enrile have a very good relationship. So, it is very likely Enrile will not fail Pnoy.

      • From RINCEE: “i’ve heard that Pnoy and Enrile have a very good relationship. So, it is very likely Enrile will not fail Pnoy.” Eh si Enrile naman ALWAYS has a good rel with anyone who is in Malacanang, right? ;)

    • I believe na hinde na mababago ni Enrile ang nakaraan reputation niya. Kahit na pa bomoto pa siya to impeach Corona at the end, he still the guy who participated in the martial law and hewas guy who ambitioned to be president and led the coups during Cory’s time .

      He again made a mistake for voting to accept the TRO on the dollar account. Napakalaking kaga-gohan sa part niya. However, (re: TRO), I am very thankful that there are ten senators ( not five) that believe the truth must prevail.

  12. news writers and reporters remain the most dangerous profession in philippines. democracy is not how the government runs the nation. rather, democracy is what people do when they choose to participate in nation building. a free and independent press and media are crucial in keeping us informed in order to actively contribute in our society and to defend our institutions. more power to our journalists like raissa.

  13. Many thanks to the editors from South China Morning Post who vouch for your integrity and work as a journalist – I would hazard a guess, everytime we say the word “journalist, you-know-who suffers a rash – so there can be no doubt at all about this “tsismis corner” some people, ehem, are trying to insinuate and use to their advantage.

    We believe in you, Raissa, because you have been transparent, relentlessly industrious in researching, fair in getting all sides of the story, and print corrections where necessary, as new facts come to light. I don’t think old lady over there understands half those words.

    Her loss. Our victory. Keep pushing, because the truth is worth it.

    They certainly made a mistake insinuating you were “little” in any way. Excellence in one’s profession – no little feat.

      • Actually, I should thank you. Many, many times, I have felt despair for this country. Nakakalungkot man sabihin, pero I have serious doubts at times for what Ninoy said, that Filipinos are worth dying for. The events and state our country is in after EDSA 1 intrudes into my consciousness odiously. We seem to be so obsessed with “the rules” – highlighted with this trial – that we forget the reason those rules were instituted, to have justice, fairness and decency.

        Your relentless search for the truth in all your stories, no matter how bleak the outcome may sometime seem, have always been a reminder that, maybe, just maybe, may pag-asa parin ang bansang ito. No one else will help us but ourselves, although it really feels like we are Sisyphus all the time. Papahingain nyo naman kami! LOL!

  14. I would like to share an article by Ted Te, which I read on GMANetwork, where he talked about his take or analysis of Senate President Enrile’s master stroke in quelching CJ Corona’s mistrial strategy….

    http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/248064/opinion/blogs/from-where-i-sit-enrile-s-master-stroke

    Ted Te’s analysis seems, to me, a great analysis of each impeachment participant’s’ move vis-a-vis each other’s way of handling of the impeachment proceeding.

    By the way, I am a product of the 70’s and 80’s which saw martial law and its best and its lowest and also saw the coming of age of the People’s revolt. As Johnny Lin aptly says it, I was COMPASSIONATE about the People’s Revolt. Why? I was not at Malacanang or Edsa with it happened, I was at the hospital tending to my father who was ill at that time. But my brother was COMMITTED, he was there and later supported Saguisag when he ran for senator. So there Johnny Lin, to expound on your analogy. Peace…

    • I might know your brother,i was from original KM, my first COMMITTED experience running away from police was the rally on US pres Lyndon Johnson infront of Manila Hotel

      You like the fable of “eggs and ham”, I posted in the blog “I become part of Corona story. Thanks

      • Hi Johnny Lin,

        Yes, I like analogy of the ham and egg. Thanks for giving that analogy, and also to Raissa for her fearless and dedicated and verifiable explosive articles. Actually, I originally came from another’s blog site when somebody from there posted Raissa’s link, and I got hooked in reading the articles in it, and reading the differing views of blog readers here, which contributes to its effectiveness in opening of one’s mind to truth and how to distinguish the wheat from the chaff, as they say, to arrive at a very reasonable analysis of things centering around the impeachment process.

        I, for one, am of the opinion that whatever the decision of the IC, CJ Corona’s reputation is in tatters, he would not be able to lead, much less run a tight ship in the SC, and the road ahead for him would be rough. On the other hand, SC’s integrity as an institution is being laid to waste by this exercise. It is opening a can of worms where no Justice of the Supreme Court can escape, Arroyo appointee or PNoy appointee. They have to remember that they are a collegial body and they are there to represent the SC as an institution and that institution is to work for justice, not for Justice (whoever he/she is). It casts doubts on the motive of the SC in its rulings, past or present, with this debacle.

        That’s my take on this political exercise.

        • Many Filipinos think like you now, most are young. Fruit of labor is in the horizon

          You said “Corona CJ reputation in tatters”, and you see it the way it is.

          Corona acts like a young kid going home trying to look clean before his mom after playing in dirt.

          Young ones probably do not know that four decades ago every young kid tried to wear their shirt 4 ways to look clean upon coming home. Kids play differently now with computer games. When we were young we always played outside in the dirt after school, of course the shirt would be covered in dirt afterwards.We changed the ways wearing it from front to back, reverse and wore it front and back, just to show our moms the cleanest part upon coming home.

          Corona is doing the same thing; he is so filthy that however he wears his shirt, dirt is plastered all over him.

        • “When we were young we always played outside in the dirt after school, of course the shirt would be covered in dirt afterwards.We changed the ways wearing it from front to back, reverse and wore it front and back, just to show our moms the cleanest part upon coming home. Corona is doing the same thing; he is so filthy that however he wears his shirt, dirt is plastered all over him.”

          Hahaha, you are good with analogy. I like that. It brings back memories. Thank you.

        • Coronaption:
          Nagkataon magkita si Corona at Vic Sotto sa Landmark

          Corona: Bossing sabi mo mahusay panlinis ang Tide madaling magpaputi
          Bakit ginamit ko ayaw maalis ang dumi ko

          Bossing: justice, maigi po talaga yun sa damit lang, SA BUDHI walang talab

          He he he

        • Coronaption

          Justice Cuevas Parating nakasuot puting amerikana sa senado
          Biglang nagsalita ang testigo ng bangko meron 31 milion savings so Corona
          Cuevas: senator Enrile gusto ko makita bank statement ni Corona

          Enrile: yun lang, Ok

          Kinabukasan dumating sa senado si Cuevas, nakasuot itim na amerikana

          Enrile: justice Cuevas, milagro , itim suot mo

          Cuevas: para malaman ni Corona wala na kong pambili ng Tide, may 31 million siya sa bangko, nag pro bono sa amin

        • Fr Johnny Lin: “Coronaption: Nagkataon magkita si Corona at Vic Sotto sa Landmark Corona: Bossing sabi mo mahusay panlinis ang Tide madaling magpaputi Bakit ginamit ko ayaw maalis ang dumi ko Bossing: justice, maigi po talaga yun sa damit lang, SA BUDHI walang talab He he he”….. Ahhh, kaya siguro umitim ung Kana ni Cuevas nung minsan. Umagos ang dugo mula sa budhi nung tarakan ni Garcia ng tatlong sundang (3 Corona accounts) na binunot same day the Cheat Justice was impeached. ;)

  15. CARRY ON MA’AM RAISSA! OUR PLAZA MIRANDA IS A SAFE HAVEN FOR THE INTELLIGENT , HONEST TO GOODNESS BRAND OF JOURNALISTS. I AM NOT A JOURNALIST, FAR FROM IT , BUT I CONSIDER OUR PLAZA MIRANDA AS MY COMFORT ZONE. MA’AM RAISSA…. PAYAKAP NGAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!