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Pro-Duterte group gave reporters and bloggers  “gas money” for attending its presscon

April 19, 2017

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Part 2 of two parts

Exclusive by Raïssa Robles

The Duterte administration has gone out of its way to target and deride professional media. Facebook propagandists such as Mocha Uson and Jimmy Bondoc, as well as their thousands of followers, regularly belittle journalists as “presstitutes” and “bayaran.” They claim the mainstream press shouldn’t be believed  because all reporters are on the take.

Yet when those Duterte supporters and propagandists (including entertainers-turned-government officials) held a press conference on March 28, they apparently didn’t hesitate to pay off the media they mocked.

The press conference held at “a hotel along Timog” Avenue in Quezon City, Bondoc said, was supposed to discuss the April 2 rally in Luneta and featured six Duterte supporters, four of them public officials by virtue of the fact that they were appointed to their posts by the president (they should look up the terms “sinecures” and “sharing of spoils”). At some point during that event, the journalists, as well as bloggers, were given “gas money.”

The proof is there in black and white. Listed in the breakdown of expenses that Jimmy Bondoc posted on his Facebook page were the following:

  

“Gas money? What does gas money mean?”, I asked Jimmy Bondoc, now an assistant vice president in charge of the Entertainment Department of PAGCOR, the state regulatory agency for gambling, which is directly under the Office of the President.

Bondoc explained it was intended for the journalists who had to take public transport like taxis.

I told him, “sa aming journalists, suhol yon. We never accept.” In my profession, taking (and asking)  money from sources — variously called “lagay”, “suhol”, “coffee money”  “for the boy” and “envelopmental journalism” — is a gross ethical breach, if not an outright corrupt practice.

Bondoc admitted he’d been told the same thing on FB, where someone commented that it would have been better if they had not given reporters “gas money”.

At first, Bondoc claimed he was a newbie when it came to holding press conferences and had mistakenly believed giving money to the press was standard procedure.

Then he blurted out to me, “kaya pala yung mga ABS(CBN) – to their credit – binalik.”

From what he had posted in the tally of expenses, it would seem that “some”, and not just the ABS-CBN TV crew, had refused and returned the payoffs.

Bondoc told me it was for him “a lesson learned”. However, he said he had done it for “humanitarian reasons”, especially for the radio journalists, for whom he expressed pity.

He also added that besides, what they had given was far less than the P5,000 to P8,000  per reporter usually being handed out, which he described as the going rate.

But later, he defended the “gas money” that his group, the D.A.V.A.O. Movement, had given to the media and the bloggers.

“It’s not suhol,” he insisted.

I told him that in my industry, it was.

Bondoc promised he would not do it again.

This payoff incident, done so very casually, flabbergasts me in so many ways.

First, there is currently a systematic and deliberate attempt on the part of Duterte supporters, particularly Mocha Uson and her ilk, to denigrate professional media.

Second, they keep hammering on the theme that #changeiscoming.

Third, they keep calling media “bayaran” but in truth and in fact, they themselves don’t hesitate to pay off. By doing so, they demonstrate a very cynical and hypocritical view of their so-called crusade to change Philippine society.

And fourth, four government officials were holding that press conference where the payoffs took place: MRTCB board member Mocha Uson, Bondoc of Pagcor, Arnell Ignacio of Pagcor and Tourism Undersecretary Kat de Castro.

Watch the video here:

DAVAO Movement, pangungunahan ang pagtitipon sa Abril 2 sa Luneta

BALITA: DAVAO Movement, pangungunahan ang pagtitipon sa Abril 2 sa Luneta

Posted by PTV on Wednesday, March 29, 2017

Did they all approve of the “envelopmental journalism” that the D.A.V.A.O. Movement was  resorting to?  Could we then say that government officials were contributing to the corruption of the press?


UPDATE:

Critics (i.e., howling trolls) have been belittling part 1 of this report, claiming it is inaccurate about the March 23 press conference. The trolls have been repeatedly jeering that the March 23 presscon was only for the purpose of announcing that an impeachment complaint against Vice President Leni Robredo would be filed and that it had nothing to do with the Luneta rally.

With various degrees of condescension, trolls told me to view a video.

Well guess what? I did. And what video makes clear is that the March 23 presscon also tackled the April 2 #palitbise rally at the Luneta. It was brought up by lawyer Bruce Rivera, a co-organizer of the D.A.V.A.O. Movement that raised the funds for the #palitbise rally through Gava gives. Watch the video below starting at 46 minutes up to 48 minutes and 21 seconds. 

Duterte supporters have also claimed that the video reveals that the crowdfunding by the rally organizers was mentioned by De la Salle University teacher Antonio Contreras. True, it was mentioned, but as I said in Part 1 of my report, the name of the crowdfunding platform Gava Gives was specifically kept out of the picture.  Watch the same video starting at 48:24 up to 49 minutes and 14 seconds.

However, I would like to correct myself in this paragraph in Part 1 which reads:

First, during a press conference held on the #palitbise rally on March 23, 2017, Jimmy Bondoc’s group hid from the press the fact that the organizers were actually raising money for the rally through the crowdfunding platform, Gava Gives.

It should read as follows:

First, during a press conference held – on the PLANNED IMPEACHMENT OF VICE-PRESIDENT LENI ROBREDO AND THE #palitbise rally – on March 23, 2017, Jimmy Bondoc’s group hid from the press the fact that the organizers were actually raising money for the rally through the crowdfunding platform, Gava Gives.

In the March 23 press conference, Contreras did say that they had already gathered money amounting to P1.6 million through crowdfunding. But he failed to mention the crowdfunding platform, which was exactly my point.

Perhaps because Contreras was afraid that publicity in the professional media would result in further hacking of Gava Gives.

Others have sneered that nothing was hidden since Gava Gives was “public” and viewable online by anyone.

My answer is, those who said that do not know how the Internet works. There are almost a billion websites online today. See – How many websites are there?  

At that time, Gava Gives – a start-up – was as public as a star at the edge of the universe. It’s there, yes, but if it isn’t specifically mentioned, along with its URL, it is invisible.

There are people from the Middle East who have insulted me saying they knew about it and they gave donations.

My reply to them is, why did only 1,122 contribute to Gava Gives when President Rodrigo Duterte has supporters in the hundreds of thousands in the Middle East? Is it because they did not care or they were hard-up? Or – perhaps – they did not know about Gava Gives?

Tagged With: corrupting the press, D.A.V.A.O. Movement, Jimmy Bondoc, presstitute

Comments

  1. vandr says

    May 4, 2017 at 2:48 PM

    https://sg.news.yahoo.com/philippines-congress-panel-voted-reject-lopez-environment-minister-060432739.html

    another milestone in bduts regime.
    this admin has a deep pile of incredible decisions.
    labas pa more!

  2. Yvonne says

    May 3, 2017 at 9:50 PM

    The $150 Million Manila Trump Tower and a Murdering Dictator’s White House Invitation.
    Read the full article here:
    http://www.triplepundit.com/2017/05/150-manila-million-tower-ties-murdering-dictators-white-house-invitation/

  3. Johnny Lin says

    May 3, 2017 at 8:38 PM

    Latest News
    “Sec Taguiwalo, a single mother, appeared before Commission on Appoinments session for her confirmation hearing. senator Sotto, asked her about her her marital status. After honestly confirming her single motherhood status, Sotto said “Na-Ano eh”

    After being criticized for his inappropriate comment on Taguiwalo, Sotto claims his critics did not understand his “joke”

    Another proof Sen Tito Sotto deserves his Summa Cum Laude honor from Iskul Bukol.
    Senate confirmation hearing is supposed to be attended by honorable government officials involved with the process. Mutual respect among each other should be maintained all the time.

    Not only that Sotto tried to invent an alibi but he also claimed that he could not have disrespected Taguiwalo because he also has 2 daughters with children who have separated from their partners.

    If this is the case with his daughters, the more Sotto should have been more circumspect when to tell a joke in the the right place because publicly he humiliated and disrespected his own daughters. Senate is an august chamber unlike the TV stage he commands daily in his Eat Bulaga show. He should know better that th people in the hearing are dignified deserving respect rather than the butt of humor, unlike his colleagues in the tv show.

    His public apology was unconvincing. He should have offered it to his daughters instead, that night of the incident as soon as he got home

    Silly dialogue daily begets maggot brain.
    Sotto should go back Iskul Bukol

    He he he

    • arc says

      May 4, 2017 at 11:33 AM

      marami naman po ang mga single mothers, widows whose husbands died are left to bring up children on their own, women left by their husbands/boyfriends ended up with children too. those victim of incest na binuntisan ng ama mismo also become single mothers. there are those older single women na nag-ampon ng bata and give them good home. single mothers, single fathers, anyone can be single parent, men and women alike.

      I was hoping na tugiwalo would ask sotto if being a single mother is problematic. does sotto has problem with single fathers? isn’t junjun binay a single father? herbert bautista?

      si sotto nagkaruon ng stupid moment. the laughter, I think, was meant for sotto, not for tugiwalo.

      • arc says

        May 4, 2017 at 1:03 PM

        si mommy d, wasn’t she previously a single mother? inanakan ng inanakan, tapos iniwan ng asawa. mommy d was left to bring up a large brood of kids, pakyaw among them. coming from single family did not harm the pambansang kamao. in fact, pakyaw was proud of it and worked early on to help support his mother and siblings. despite growing up poor and without a father, pakyaw may lacked education, but he did not become a serial killer, rapist or arsonist.

        may mga celebs din tayong single mothers gaya nina andi eigermann, ruffa, etc. ang dating beauty queen nga na si venus raj grew up in a ‘single family’ and was brought up by an ofw single mother. last I heard, venus tried to get in contact with her father but no success. still, venus grew up resilient and well adjusted. pretty as well.

        and being a single mother/parent is no joke, lot of hard work though.

        • raissa says

          May 5, 2017 at 8:07 PM

          Tama.

  4. Johnny Lin says

    May 2, 2017 at 4:27 AM

    Latest News
    “Gen Bato says: Secret jail illegal but was necessary”

    Trying to extricate himself from his defense of his subordinate, the more he buries himself deeper into trouble.

    Same thing- Extrajudicial killing illegal but was necessary”

    He he he!

    • arc says

      May 2, 2017 at 5:15 AM

      dejected si bato, started yata nuong binaliktad ni digong ang decision niya tanggalin ang killer ni exmayor espinosa na si marvin marcos sa pwesto. since then, parang lumot na lang si bato, parang walang gana na sa trabaho. paligoy ligoy na lang and looking forward to payday. even his eye contact nagbago, shifty na like he’s looking for bolthole. keeping his seat warm. he, he, he ang itlog ni bato migrated.

      bato talks rubbish and solves nothing, the kapolisan are now in their most criminal elements and thriving so well. they virtually print their own money.

  5. Johnny Lin says

    May 1, 2017 at 12:17 PM

    Latest News

    “Naglabas Si Bong Go picture nila Duterte kausap sa telepon si Trump. Iniimbitahan daw ni Trump Si Duterte bumisita sa USA”. Pa importante palabas ni Go kay Duterte.

    Sumagot ang White House ni Trump: ” Pinagusapan lamang ni Duterte at Trump ay ang kalagayan sa Korea”

    Wala ng Pahayag narinig galing kay Bong Go. Napurnada ang pa importante!

    Nasabat ng reporter sa Malacanang Si Sec Abella at tinanong ng reporter,
    “Sir Ano ang sagot ni Duterte sa tanong ni Trump tungkol sa Korea”?

    Sagot ni Abella: “parehong fans ng Chicago Bulls at hilig si Kim Jung Un ng North Korea at Près Duterte sa basketball. Galit pa rin sa Tumalo sa Pilipinas si Duterte kay Shin Dong Pa ng South Korea”

    Kaya pala pinakulong si DeLima, hindi nakakalimot Si Duterte, Vengatibo pala

    He he he

    • arc says

      May 2, 2017 at 5:42 AM

      kapag bumisita si digong sa USA, si imee marcos at mocha loca will be entouraged again and bringing with them their own filth and lies. digong would just have to charter a big enough airbus, pinoy taxpayers footing the bill, na naman.

      trump is correct, the business with digong can be done simply over the phone. no need for long haul trans-atlantic flight.

      • leona says

        May 5, 2017 at 12:40 PM

        + + drug cartel in Americas…USA too…baka pdutz ma extra-jfk doon…

  6. netty says

    May 1, 2017 at 11:15 AM

    Talagang mapapamura ka…. sa PILIPINAS. Kahit antik aparador o tokador , very ingenious ang Pinoy pulis , akalain mo selda na ngayon. Wala nga namang kotong, kinubli lang from the elements of the weather, baka mainitan o matokhang ng riding in tandem, bigyan ng proteksyon…. sabi ni Bato, na-misplace lang sila.

    KAkaibang magnegosyo ang mga pulis, parang sanglaan. Pag di natubos, bebenta ba sa e-bay or palulutangin sa Laguna de bay.
    As long as the perperators of EJK ARE IN POWER, they feel they lord over the gullible. I hope matapos na ang nightmare nyo sa Monster na mga yan.

    I heard about the successive EQ,, a little all seeing BIRDIE says TO ME , so that they’ll know the all seeing ONE IS WATCHING.

    TRUE STORY.

    • arc says

      May 2, 2017 at 5:47 AM

      he, he, he, I think, sadam hussein did better. he was found hiding in a manhole covered by plywood.

      aparador was the kapolisan’s open sesame and behold, money grows in the dark!

      • netty says

        May 2, 2017 at 8:39 AM

        It’s interesting, why is it that the prisoners t shirts inside the cell are colored YELLOW ( dilawan) ? Parang nang-iinis pa sila ano? Sinong hateful mind ang nag-isip nyan? ‘I’m curious.

        • wbar says

          May 2, 2017 at 4:56 PM

          mga alipores ni pandak na ngayun ay na kay digunggong…sila ang may pakana ng dilaw na suot ng mga detainees…utak pulbura at utak kwarta

  7. Johnny Lin says

    May 1, 2017 at 10:57 AM

    MATRIX OR SUMMARY OF DUTERTE’S DRUG WAR

    Upon occupying the presidency Duterte issued a directive to fight drug menace all over the country. He waived thick bundles of papers identifying drug lords, pushers and users all over.

    Duterte addressed his policemen to arrest and kill drug pushers and drug users comparing the killing to the acts of Hitler Jewish extermination. He swore to protect and defend any policeman accused of murdering drug pushers and users, legitimate or not.

    Duterte appointed Gen Bato as PNP chief, who is now accused in ICC by admitted Davao Death Squad killer Matobato as a henchman of Duterte in the DDS.

    An accused drug dealer by Duterte, Mayor Espinosa was killed point blank by policemen while in jail. Duterte promised to protect and promote the killers despite the fact that Senate investigation resolved that the Espinosa killing was premeditated. Impunity committed by policemen could be discerned as explicit executive order by Duterte during his speech toPNP.

    Korean businessman was abducted and framed by policemen to be a drug dealer. He was executed in police headquarters, Camp Crame, right in the office of PNP chief Bato. Bato refused to fire and condemned the officers involved in the execution but pointed to Korean mafia as the cause of the abduction and killing.

    Philippine Commission on Human Rights discovered a secret jail of prisoners in Tondo police precinct who have been imprisoned for many days, without, warrant of arrest, police blotter, inquest and charges. Gen Bato defended the precinct commander and his men for maintaining a secret prison which is directly against constitutional provision. Bato claims his policemen did not do anything wrong.

    General Bato has command responsibility of officers under his jurisdiction. His defense of police action despite obvious facts of illegality is a form of conspiracy to violate constitutional rights of Filipino prisoners. Killing the accused drug pushers/users unjustifiably without due process is crime against humanity.

    But, Duterte has spoken in public forum that drug pusher/ users are not humane. Command responsibility starts with Duterte as Commander in Chief. Gen Bato takes his orders from Duterte while his ranking officers follow his orders.

    Any Filipino who reached grade 2 level of education could understand this simple Matrix.
    International Criminal Court should not have a problem filing charges. Definitely, Gen Bato Dela Rosa is guilty of crime against humanity. His recorded defense of constitutionally violating secret prisons is the last nail in his coffin. If Bato does not understand the relevance of his duties with constitutional provisions, he does not deserve any more minute sitting as PNPchief.

    Why did Gen Bato defend the precinct commander and why Duterte did not fire Bato?

    Oh, Gen Bato protected Manila precinct commander Supt Domingo because he is one of his leaders tasked to perform EJK while Duterte is also protecting Bato because he was one of his original leaders in DDS

    He he he

  8. Johnny Lin says

    April 29, 2017 at 11:42 PM

    Duterte’s “Auschwitz concentration camp” exists in police precincts. True to form, Hitler being the idol of Duterte, his henchmen(Nazi police) put up “secret prison cells” in their police headquarters.

    Only difference is in Hitler’s Auschwitz prisoners were exterminated without th ability to buy their freedom whike in Duterte’s Auschwitz prisoners were allowed to find means to buy their freedom but will be exterminated if unable to produce the money.

    For this similarity, PNP chief Bato still defended Duterte’s Auschwitz while Duterte has maintained since the beginning that he will protect, defend and promote his Nazi policemen for the war on drugs.

    New York Times is right to call the world to stop Duterte.
    Auschwitz camp in police precints is crime against humanity.
    Bato signed his warrant with ICC for defending Duterte’s Auschwitz

    He he he

    • arc says

      April 30, 2017 at 11:23 AM

      concentration camp, susma! ang galit ni bato, parang butanding na na nangingintab ang ulo, pinagpawisan ng husto. naunahan kasi siya ng chr, they were 1st on the scene. habang si bato only came 2nd, huli na naman and have to play catch up. the kapolisan are getting idiotic, thinking they can hide operation barbarosa behind an aparador!

      the germans are fastidious record keeper and recorded everything, whereas bato’s kapolisan did not document their prisoners. and when the undocumented prisoners were finally in the rehas, bato visited them in such a huff, natakot tuloy ang mga undocumenteds. they were blocked with nowhere to run. bato with entourage is a scary sight, his show of force impressive. so, of course, the undocumenteds changed their story and said anything just to appease villain boss bato.

      sana ginaya ni bato ang saudi king who give amnesty to undocumented ofws, and also give amnesty to undocumented prisoners. bato would have been hero, not villain. better luck next time, butanding villain.

      • leona says

        April 30, 2017 at 6:55 PM

        ‘secret jail’…pnp cops Mania.

        ‘secret vaults’…marcos FM.

        ‘secret jails and vaults’…BB 2022!

        he he he

        • arc says

          May 1, 2017 at 5:59 AM

          secret jail, maybe,there are more secret jails in metro manila that we know nothing about. si bato kasi, kinokunsenti and indulged the kapolisan so much that they behaved like spoiled children, greedy and hungry for more money: undisciplined and free to do as they like.

          if digong is bad president, bb is going to be worse. already, sabi ni imee when she entouraged with digong and visited middle east, there are more ilocanos ofws working there. maybe, for a very good reason: the further they are from ilocos, the better their chances of holding on to their money, away from the marcoses’ coffer.

« Older Comments
First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out— Because I was not a Socialist Then they came fof the Trade Unionists, and I did not out speak out— Because I was not a Trade Unionist. Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out— Because I was not a Jew. Then they came for me— And there was no one left to speak for me. —Martin Niemöller (1892-1984)

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