WITHOUT PREJUDICE
April 6, 2013
Mr. Hermie Garcia
President, Philippine Press Club of Ontario
Re : Tess Cusipag’s Email dated April 3, 2013 addressed to PPCO Members
Dear Mr. Garcia,
I
read today the subject email which was cc’d to me by Teresita Cusipag, who I
shall refer to as Cusipag in this letter for the sake of brevity.
On
its face, the email purports to be Cusipag’s comments on the petition that was
lodged with the PPCO by certain members of the Filipino community on December
17, 2012 http://letter.fairjournalism.info.
Upon
closer examination, however, Cusipag’s comments are more about me than about
the petition itself.
Instead
of explaining Balita’s actions in publishing the repetitive stories targeting
members of the community mentioned in the petition, Cusipag picks on my motives
and chooses to impugn my personal character and integrity, in her continuing
efforts to discredit the petition, while all throughout omitting information
that are relevant to the complaint which she believes could be damaging both to
herself and Romeo Marquez.
For
one thing, Cusipag’s narrative is not comprehensive and detailed enough for any
person to make an intelligent assessment on whether Cusipag was justified in
publishing inflammatory, ill-researched and baseless accusatory reports in her
paper. For another, her email is fraught with inaccuracies and unsubstantiated
inferences.
Allow
me therefore to file a point-by-point response to Cusipag’s email, in order to
clarify matters.
1. Cusipag states “For
starters, even before Tobias Enverga was appointed Senator, Balita has already
been demanding from the couple to come clean with the finances of PIDC during
his administration.”
We have to ask ourselves why Cusipag is making this assertion. Is she saying this to avoid criticism in regard
to an email that she sent to Federal Minister J. Kenney on September 7, 2012,
the very same day Tobias Enverga’s Senate appointment was announced, questioning
Tobias Enverga’s Senate appointment, and linking him to so-called “outstanding
money issues” in the community?
As far as I know, her email to Kenney (reproduced below), which
suggests a motive other than Cusipag’s so-called quest for transparency, has
never been published and as such has largely remained hidden from public view.
From: balita@sympatico.ca
To: jason.kenney@parl.gc.ca; philvoicenews@aol.com; tennys@rogers.com; myrna.soriano@opg.com; makingwaves8@gmail.com; butchgalicia@yahoo.com
Subject: RE: Prime Minister Harper appoints first
Filipino-Canadian to the Senate of Canada
Date:
Fri, 7 Sep 2012 17:51:16 +0000
Mr.Kenney, Mr.Enverga and his wife still
have outstanding money issues that have to be cleared in the Filipino community
and so far have just been ignoring it.
This appointment came as a shock to us
knowing that an appointee for that high position should have an impeccable
character and reputation.
Anybody can produce a impressive resume like
he did, but did you investigate around? Just inquiring how you missed all the
videos and articles that have been circulating.
Tess Cusipag
Editor and publisher
Balita Media Inc,
From my review of Balita articles between the period March 1, 2012 to
September 7, 2012 I found no evidence of any demand by Balita on Tobias Enverga
to “come clean” with respect to any irregularities during his term with
PIDC. I also found no evidence of a
single specific allegation of any irregularity leveled by Balita against him
during this period.
All of Balita’s articles raising financial reporting issues related
to the PIDC beauty pageants during this period were targeted solely at his wife,
Rosemer.
Unless I missed something, the evidence available to me indicate
that Balita’s derogatory postings on Sen. Enverga began only after his
Senate appointment was announced and most of them dealt with subject matter
that did not have so much to do with clearing so-called “accountability” issues
that Cusipag claims she is championing.
2. Cusipag states, “This
matter is being handled by our investigative journalist Romy Marquez. Soon it came to our attention that a video
critical of Romy was circulated to UPAA by a member, Oswald Magno.”
Unless clarified, people reading this statement can be misled into
thinking that I was at odds with Marquez, created the video and circulated it
in order to spite him. Clarifications
are in order.
First of all, the
“video” is actually a news report, with a link to a video, and it was prepared
and published by a mainstream news organization, San Diego ABC Channel 10 News http://www.10news.com/news/5547656/detail.html.
On March 16/12, Cusipag, using Ruben’s membership access, posted
Marquez’s article entitled “Was There Wrong-Doing in PIDC’s BeautyPageants?”, an article
critical of Rosemer Enverga woven from the PIDC news conference, in the UPAA e-group.
The posting generated controversy.
Two issues surfaced. One issue was whether it was appropriate for a
non-UPAA member to use the private e-group to circulate contentious postings that
did not concern UPAA. The other issue was whether such posting was fair to the
other person who did not have the same access to the e-group.
Except perhaps Mogi Mogado, no one in the e-group, including me,
knew who Marquez was and people were curious. He was not introduced by Cusipag
as someone writing for Balita.
I am a subscriber to the USP4GG e-group and when Marquez’s name came
up at Dr. Tom Virey’s party on March 17, 2012 I recalled coming across an email
earlier (reproduced below) from San Francisco lawyer Rodel Rodis warning of
Marquez:
Date: 9
March, 2012 7:43:53 PM EST
Subject: [USP4GG]
The Truth about Romeo V. Marquez
The
"Romeo" in this news report is Romeo "Romy" Marquez, a fake
"journalist" who was deported from the US for bigamy and marriage
fraud. He has surfaced in Toronto, Canada and is spewing the same
"Breaking News" garbage on the Internet that he did for years in San
Diego. Please warn people about him.
The
rest of the story is captured in the emails
reproduced below:
From: oswaldmagno@gmail.com
Date:
Sat, 17 Mar 2012 22:35:55 -0400
Subject: [upaatoronto] Fwd: [USP4GG] The Truth about Romeo V. Marquez
Subject: [upaatoronto] Fwd: [USP4GG] The Truth about Romeo V. Marquez
You
may be interested in this information about a certain Romy Marquez.
Sent from my
iPhone
Date: 9
March, 2012 7:43:53 PM EST
Subject: [USP4GG]
The Truth about Romeo V. Marquez
The
"Romeo" in this news report is Romeo "Romy" Marquez, a fake
"journalist" who was deported from the US for bigamy and marriage
fraud. He has surfaced in Toronto, Canada and is spewing the same
"Breaking News" garbage on the Internet that he did for years in San
Diego. Please warn people about him.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: balita@sympatico.ca
Date: Sun, 18
Mar 2012 02:53:02 +0000
Subject:
RE: [upaatoronto] Fwd: [USP4GG] The Truth about Romeo V. Marquez
We challenge
you to present a proof of conviction
You were the
one that got convicted because of his expose
so be quiet
and do not spread lies
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sent:
Sunday, March 18, 2012 11:06 AM
To: upaatoronto@yahoogroups.com; oswaldmagno@gmail.com
Subject: FW: [upaatoronto] Fwd: [USP4GG] The Truth
about Romeo V. Marquez
Oz,
I apologize to you deeply, with the trigger of emotion, I just pushed the wrong
button
The
email is meant for Rodil Rodis and I already sent him the separate email
I
am really really sorry for this. WE know each other and I never meant to hurt
you.
I
have the responsibility to protect my writers and if they are being attacked, I
feel it reflects on our paper as well
So
this Rodis had to be put in his proper place right away.
Again,
I am sorry. I hope you understand
Tess
Note that Cusipag found
no reason to take offense at my passing on the news report at that time,
because I was passing off a legitimate news report, not mere gossip, and I had
no prior run-ins with Marquez.
As the above
exchange shows, she was deeply apologetic after she realized she had mistakenly
sent an email to me that was intended for Rodel Rodis.
Note further that
there were no complaints whatsoever from Marquez either, that is, until
December 17 when the petition was lodged.
Cusipag and
Marquez have since used the above conveniently as their justification for
falsely accusing me of starting a “cyber war” against them. Cusipag herself does
not admit that it was she who instigated Marquez’s attacks on me shortly after
she found out that I had written, using Marquez’s words, a “praise release” on
Sen. Enverga to PM Harper, which prompted Cusipag and Marquez to despise me as
a supporter of Enverga, calling me a “chihuahua” or lapdog of Enverga (discussed
in # 3 immediately below).
3. Cusipag states, “When Oswald sent a congratulatory letter
to Prime Minister Harper for his appointment of Enverga, signing as President
of PAMANA, Romy inquired about the organization, after people had told us it
was long defunct.”
I challenge the
truthfulness of this statement because from where I stand it inaccurately paints
as seemingly innocent a loaded and malevolent inquiry from Marquez. Besides, Cusipag’s account does not tell the
whole story, as she intentionally omits information that could put both her and
Marquez in a bad light.
Here’s the
background story. A few days after
Enverga’s Senate appointment was announced on September 7, 2012 I came across
an email from Cusipag (reproduced in # 5 below) to Federal Minister J. Kenney
questioning Enverga’s appointment and implicating the latter with alleged “outstanding
money issues”. I also became aware of
rumors that a planned rally would be held in front of Parliament to protest
Enverga’s appointment. As the reversal
of the appointment would be embarrassing not just to the Envergas but also to
the Filipino community, I wrote Harper thanking him and also assuring him that
he had made a correct decision. I hardly
knew Tobias Enverga at that time, but to me it did not matter. It also did not matter that Ruben and I have
been friends for a long time. I was simply happy, as were many others, that a
Filipino was among those chosen.
Almost three
months later, on November 22 to be exact, Marquez ran into my letter to Harper
which was published in Philippine Daily Inquirer under a banner that read “Fil-Canadians now have a voice In Parliament”. Immediately, Marquez
sent an email to Cusipag and others entitled “Chihuahua ni Caligula” and
calling me a “bata” of Enverga (red highlighting and bolding was by Marquez) to
which Cusipag responded: “Siya pala ang
Chihuahua. Ha haha. Unbelievable.” See emails below.
Subject: chihuahua ni Caligula
From: philvoicenews@aol.com
Date: Thu, 22 Nov 2012 16:08:24 -0500
Eto pala ang bata ni
Enverga:
Fil-Canadians now have a voice in Parliament
9:21 pm | Friday, September 14th, 2012
I, and the organization I represent,
the Pamana Cultural Association, wish to thank Canadian Prime Minister Stephen
Harper for appointing Tobias C. Enverga Jr. to the Senate of Canada. Pamana is
a volunteer organization that helps promote the works of young artists in all
fields of endeavor and fine Filipino culture and tradition.
Enverga’s appointment is a historic
milestone for the Filipino-Canadian community and a great opportunity for
Filipino-Canadians to add their voice to nation-building efforts in their
adopted homeland.
Prime Minister Harper has not only
given Filipino-Canadians a voice in Parliament Hill, he has brought honor to
all Filipino-Canadians. We commend him for this gesture.
(Redacted for brevity)
Cusipag disseminated
Marquez’s offensive email on the same day.
To: Fanny Calucag
<fannymcal@hotmail.com>; Joe Rivera
<riverayrivera@gmail.com>; "raysabatin@yahoo.ca" <raysabatin@yahoo.ca>; Estrellita
Aguinaldo <agui_star@yahoo.ca>; Tacji6 <tconsunji@rogers.com>; Tony Sicat
<antonio_sicat@yahoo.com>; Tony &
Daisy Ortiz <mercadortiz@hotmail.com>; Geny
Toribio <gtoribio@gmail.com>; Leonora
Taculad <sweetnorababe_1@yahoo.ca>; Fe S. Dela
Cruz <fedelacruz@yahoo.com>; Francis
Rementilla <francis@bodybliss.ca>; "brodsandsis@yahoogroups.com" <brodsandsis@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Thursday,
November 22, 2012 6:13:09 PM
Subject: FW: chihuahua ni caligula
Subject: FW: chihuahua ni caligula
Siya pala ang chihuahua. ha haha. Unbelievable,
Aware of Marquez’s
notoriety in attacking perceived supporters of the Envergas, I emailed a few
friends (whose names I will not reveal at this time) the following day, Nov
23/12, expressing my concern that I will now become a target of attack:
“Thanks. I will likely become a target of Romy Marquez
and Tess Cusipag now, although Ruben whom I've known for years is an old
friend. We'll see. For Marquez to say that I am a "bata" of Enverga
completely misses the point. I wrote PM Harper to thank him on behalf of PAMANA
(I would have liked to thank him on behalf of the ENTIRE Filipino community but
of course I could not) for his gesture in empowering the Filipino community who
can now add their voice to the deliberations in Parliament. This was an
important milestone (no matter who the appointee was). Note that I wrote the letter
in mid-September when everybody else was trying to shoot down the appointment
of a fellow Filipino-Canadian to the Senate, views that I thought were
short-sighted. At the same time I wanted
to re-assure the PM that he has made the right choice, knowing that the
Envergas have enemies who would like nothing better than for the PM to reverse
Jun Enverga's appointment (although
quite remote, a reversal by Harper would have brought severe humiliation to the
Filipino community, not just to the Envergas).”
Sure enough, in the afternoon of Nov 23/12, Marquez sent me an ominous email
inquiring about me and PAMANA, asking questions like, does PAMANA do
fund-raising, etc.
Date: Fri, Nov 23, 2012 at 12:46 PM
Subject: info about pamana
Hi Mr. Magno,
I just learn that there is an
organization called Pamana Cultural Association, which is apparently in
Toronto, and of which you claim to be president.
I've been trying to get some
information about the organization in connection with a story I'm writing, thus
this short email request.
How big is your group in terms of
membership? When was it established? by whom? for what?
Who are your co-officers? Is this a
non-profit charity organization? Do you conduct fund-raisings? for what
projects?
Thanks so much. As I have deadlines for the different news
outlets that I write for, I anticipate your prompt reply.
Best regards,
Romy Marquez
Having been identified as a supporter of Enverga and derided as a
“chihuahua”, can anyone honestly believe Cusipag’s suggestion that Marquez was interested
in nothing more than PAMANA?
4. Cusipag states, “That’s when Oswald
gave him a tongue lashing instead.”
Tongue lashing? Please judge
for yourself the truth and rationality of Cusipag’s assertion. Here’s what I told Marquez in reply:
Sent: Fri, Nov 23, 2012 4:25 pm
Subject: Re: info about pamana
Hi, just about to have supper. Meanwhile, can you clearly describe what your
article is all about? Are you
contacting/featuring organizations similar to ours that are committed to
promoting Filipino heritage (music and the arts), culture and tradition? What are your talking points? What do you
intend to convey with your article (i.e. message) and what do you intend to
accomplish (i.e. objectives)? When and where will your article be
published? This information will allow
me to provide you with relevant material for your article. Will get back to you
after I hear from you.
Nothing could have been more polite.
5.
Cusipag states, “Then
he turned to me with a threatening and abusive email.”
I challenge the accuracy of this statement. Here’s my story.
I forwarded Marquez’s email inquiring about me and PAMANA in a private
email to Cusipag on Nov 24/12 (private, as in I did not copy anybody).
I considered Cusipag a friend as Ruben and I are old buddies going
back to the UP Club days. I thought I
knew her well enough that I could talk straight and to the point.
Subject: Fwd: info about pamana
From: oswaldmagno@gmail.com
Date: Sat, 24 Nov 2012 23:53:32 -0500
I have a sneaking suspicion your star reporter is up to something. He
better not cross me. Remember too, I have the goods on you - your letter to
Kenney, etc. I will expose you if you cross me.
I have over 10000 contacts in cyberspace. I am watching your next moves
and I have already readied my blogsite if you both choose to wage war with
me. You will lose.
Sent from my iPhone
Cusipag replied privately (or so I thought but later learned she had
bcc’d Ray Sabatin who from out of the blue subsequently interjected in the
conversation) on Nov 25/12:
From:
Teresita Cusipag [mailto:balita@sympatico.ca]
Sent:
Sunday, November 25, 2012 12:11 AM
Subject:
RE: info about pamana
Dont threaten me Oswald, I still have that respect left for you but
dont cross my path as well. There is nothing wrong with my letter to Kenny and
that was copied to all our contacts and were all very happy I did it. and If I
ever wrote to the Prime Minister, there is nothing wrong with it as well. You
have 10000 contacts, we have 378,000 in Balita plus Philvoice news. Let's go on
with it. Like I said, dont ever threaten me again.. Let's fight in court if you
can afford it. You think I am one of
your UPAA people who will bow with you. You are wrong. Who the hell do you
think you are?
I replied saying I was not threatening her but was putting her on
notice:
From: oswaldmagno@gmail.com
Subject: Re: info about pamana
Date: Sun, 25 Nov 2012 10:12:51 -0500
Tess, as a lawyer I don't threaten. My training forces me to put people on notice
of what I intend to do if an event takes place.
My wife and I are not friends with the Envergas. We have never been invited to their parties.
I do express my take on events affecting the community from time to time. //
Oswald
Sent from my iPhone
Did I “threaten” Cusipag?
Black’s Law Dictionary defines “threat” as:
“A declaration of intention or determination
to inflict punishment, loss or pain on another, or to injure another or his
property by the commission of an unlawful act.” (underscoring supplied)
There was nothing unlawful in my email.
In essence, it was simply a warning that I would respond, through my
blogsite, to an untoward article written on me and my response would include an
expose of her letter to Federal Minister J. Kenney (again reproduced below for
convenience).
From: balita@sympatico.ca
To: jason.kenney@parl.gc.ca; philvoicenews@aol.com; tennys@rogers.com; myrna.soriano@opg.com; makingwaves8@gmail.com; butchgalicia@yahoo.com
Subject: RE: Prime Minister Harper appoints first
Filipino-Canadian to the Senate of Canada
Date:
Fri, 7 Sep 2012 17:51:16 +0000
Mr.Kenney, Mr.Enverga and his wife still
have outstanding money issues that have to be cleared in the Filipino community
and so far have just been ignoring it.
This appointment came as a shock to us
knowing that an appointee for that high position should have an impeccable
character and reputation.
Anybody can produce a impressive resume like
he did, but did you investigate around? Just inquiring how you missed all the
videos and articles that have been circulating.
Tess Cusipag
Editor and publisher
Balita Media Inc,
A discussion of Cusipag’s motives in sending the above letter to
Kenney is outside the scope of this letter. I’ve included it here only because
it is relevant to an understanding of the so-called threat against her. But as
I have said at the outset, absent any proof of demands made by Balita on Tobias
Enverga, prior to his Senate appointment, to clear specific allegations of
financial improprieties during his term with PIDC, this email from Cusipag to
Kenney may indicate a motive other than to promote accountability and
transparency regarding fundraising events in the community.
6.
Cusipag states, “Of
course, I responded in the same tone.
Romy stood up to defend himself and me, in the same manner and tone that
Oswald dealt with us. Now he resorts to the petition.”
I challenge this statement not only because it is dishonest but also
because it trivializes the petition with the insinuation that it arose from a
personal squabble between me, Cusipag and Marquez and that I am using it to hit
back at Balita after being written on by Marquez. Cusipag’s insinuation is false and not
supported by the facts.
The record shows that the very first article Marquez wrote on me – Threat, Intimidation by the Arrogant Gasbag,
was disseminated on December 7, 2012 while the petition resulted from a meeting
on December 4, 2012 of twelve individuals who were genuinely concerned with the
negative impact on the community of scathing and persistent articles targeting
certain individuals in the community and who, after deliberation, decided as a group to lodge a formal complaint
with the PPCO.
The above timeline evidences that, days before Balita, through
Marquez, launched a vitriolic attack against me personally with the
above-mentioned article, the petition was already a fait accompli. Was there a reason for me to get back at Balita,
through a petition or otherwise, before I was written on? None.
Therefore, any suggestion that the petition is illegitimate, being
the result of a personal squabble between me and Cusipag, cannot be given
serious consideration by PCCO.
It is irresponsible in my view for Cusipag and others in her media
organization to insist on painting me as the initiator, instigator, mastermind
or leader of the petition – none of which is true – and obstinately fail or refuse
to recognize the petition for what it is – a
broad-based petition that has been endorsed by over 60 members of the Filipino
community.
Their refusal to acknowledge the petition as a community-based
petition, rather than a personal petition, has led to repeated and persistent
injurious personal attacks against me including being called or depicted a liar
by Marquez.
Indeed, there have also been suggestions from the Balita
organization that the petitioners are friends or supporters of the Enverga
couple or alumni colleagues of some of the petitioners who are expected to lend
their support no matter what. Such
suggestions insult the integrity and character of each one of those who, at
great risk to themselves, took courage to endorse the petition.
Before I leave this topic, allow me to draw your membership’s
attention to an on-line petition that has so far gained over 300 signatories. http://petition.fairjournalism.info.
This is a further manifestation of the community’s growing awareness of the
issues, its interest in the promotion of excellence in journalism, and its concern for fair, ethical and
responsible reporting, which should not be ignored by PPCO.
7. Cusipag states, “The
Petition that was originally received by PPCO under Ricky Caluen was dishonest,
deceitful and fraudulent; two individuals have since renounced the inclusion of
their names, without their knowledge and consent.”
Cusipag suggests that the legitimacy of the petition is vitiated by
the inclusion of two individuals who have since renounced their support for the
petition, and for this reason, PPCO should not entertain the petition.
While the exact circumstances under which the two individuals
decided to renounce their support for the petition have yet to be determined,
experience tells us that it is normal for persons to disclaim support or even
knowledge of petitions to which they initially lend their names, after
subsequently coming to a full realization of the potential adverse consequences
to themselves and/or after being threatened.
In the case of the petition now before PPCO’s governing body, common
sense serves as an important guide.
Reason will tell you that the petition stands even if there is only one
signatory.
Even if it is granted that two individuals have indeed renounced
support for the petition, such renunciation does not render the petition
invalid. It is such an insignificant
number compared to the remainder of signatories who have not renounced their
support for the petition. Even laws
passed by Parliament are not rendered invalid by the mere fact that a portion
of such laws are later ruled unconstitutional.
To adjudge the petition invalid in such a situation would be to disenfranchise
the overwhelming majority who signed the petition. Reasonable persons would not consider that a
fair result.
8. Cusipag states, “Oswald
has this dirty reputation with his petitions. In a previous petition submitted to UPAA
against another member he had included dead people as
signatories. How truthful can this
person be? (underscoring supplied)
I do not know where Cusipag and Marquez get their stories from but
it sounds like they are getting them from an unreliable source. The falsity of the quoted statement is another
evidence of Balita’s sloppy, biased and untruthful investigative reporting.
If Cusipag and Marquez were only interested in pursuing the truth
and acted with due diligence instead of waging a vindictive campaign of
vilification against me, based on their suspicions that I have initiated or
masterminded the present petition, they would have known first, that the earlier petition
on its face was broadly based like the present petition. It was not the work of one individual alone; second, that there were eight sponsors
(as opposed to ordinary supporters) to that petition four of whom were past or
former Presidents of the association; third, that there was only one deceased signatory (not several as falsely
suggested), the inclusion of whose name arose from a misunderstanding between an exuberant supporter and her
sorority President who provided the list of supposed supporters to the petition;
fourth, as already implied I was not directly or personally responsible
for including the name of the deceased signatory; and fifth, the name of the deceased “signatory” was removed after the unintentional
anomaly was discovered by the erring person.
Cusipag’s impugning my character and integrity in this instance and
in other writings based on false and inaccurate information is defamatory.
9. Cusipag states, “We
are trying to make the Enverga couple accountable for their deeds in the
community, specially now that he has been appointed to the Senate.”
I simply do not understand this statement. What deeds?
Who is making the accusations? Do the accusations have any basis or are
they mere suspicions? Is there even prima facie evidence that laws have been
violated, sufficient to lay accusations on someone’s doorstep? And how does one go about making people
accountable? By putting them down? I am no defender of the Envergas but Cusipag’s
statement seems indefensible in light of:
o
Cusipag’s letter to Kenney
mentioned above,
o Cusipag’s not so public efforts
to widen coverage of Balita’s baseless accusations on Sen. Enverga with the
mainstream media such as the Globe and Mail, and
o
Other actions that I am not at
liberty to reveal at this time but otherwise are known to Cusipag.
As a member of the Filipino community, I would like to know how the
above actions advance Cusipag’s avowed campaign for accountability in
fundraising activities. It bears asking: are these efforts not indicative of objectives
other than getting to the bottom of alleged financial irregularities? I ask this question because I fail to see the
connection between these efforts and Cusipag’s so-called crusade for
accountability on financial matters in the community. Cusipag should come out
into the open, be transparent and explain her actions to the community. Only then will we be better informed and able
to judge the propriety and reasonableness of those actions.
10.
Cusipag states, “The
petition wants us to stop, we will not.”
This statement needs to be challenged because it is vague and wide
open to interpretation. If Cusipag is
saying that the petition is aimed at preventing Balita from investigating,
writing and publishing wrong-doing in the community, I can categorically state
that there is no basis for such a statement.
The petition is not about stopping Balita, or any media organization
for that matter, from writing future stories about any subject under the sun,
including alleged irregularities by Cusipag’s rival in the beauty pageant
business, Rosemer Enverga.
The petition is about a series of writings that have already been
published and that a section of the community has found to be profoundly
disturbing and not consistent with ethical and socially responsible journalism,
and about examining those writings to determine if the ethicalguidelines for journalists set out in PPCO’s constitution and other
generally accepted ethical standards have been violated or if the writings
taken together constitute media harassment.
11.
Cusipag states, “Why
give a dubious Oswald Magno that importance?
Why even entertain his petition?
It will only add more to his bloated ego. The only reason he is doing it is he was hurt
that he found his match on Romy Marquez.” Etc.
Cusipag’s ad nauseum arguments
referring to my person do not contribute to a calm and reasoned disposition of
the issues raised in the petition and I request you and the rest of the
governing body to focus instead on the merits of the petition. In considering the petition, you give
importance not to me, since it is not my personal petition, but to all members
of the community who value fair, balanced, ethical and socially responsible
journalism.
To summarize, the petition did not
the result from a personal dispute between me and Cusipag/Marquez. It proceeded from a collective belief that
news articles and commentaries that demean and ridicule members of the
community, on the basis of dubious accusations that are not supported by
evidence, discredit the community itself, destroy its cohesiveness, set back
community building efforts and do not serve its best interests.
Winston Churchill once observed that truth is
incontrovertible. No matter how one
bends it, maligns it, or denies it, it will always be there staring back at
you.
I hope this submission clarifies matters and will serve
as a guide in your deliberations.
I thank the PPCO members for their patience in dealing
with this difficult, but important, issue which means a lot to our community.
Sincerely,
Oswald Magno
cc. PPCO
Members