The Center’s Continuing Legacy: The Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism throughout the Years

The Center’s Continuing Legacy:
The Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism throughout the Years

I distinctly recall a class in our Development Journalism subject in college where our professor asked what kind of journalism we wanted to practice. My reply was investigative journalism. This arose from reading detective stories from grade school until high school like Nancy Drew, Hardy Boys, Perry Mason, and seeing legal drama series, such as LA Law, and even re-runs of Matlock. I remember that I was always amazed by the logic and meticulous manner they solved the different cases. I never really thought of being a detective or lady cop but I have always been fascinated by the manner the issues are solved by inquisitive minds that unravel evidences in search of the truth.

Little did I know that this simple thought which entered my mind as a teenager has actually been institutionalized through a research paper written by Honorable Rigoberto D. Tiglao (“Office of the Presidential Chief of Staff” Office of the Republic of the Philippines President Web Site. 26 August 2006 ) during his Nieman Fellowship at the Harvard University. The proposal on the establishment of a center to “address the need for newspapers and broadcast agencies to go beyond day-to-day reportage” (Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism Online. 26 August 2006
<>) gave birth to the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ) in 1989 together with his colleagues who are all well-respected Filipino journalists. They are Sheila Coronel, Beting Laygo-Dolor, Malou Mangahas, Lorna Kalaw-Tirol, Howie Severino and David Celdran.

To date, PCIJ has published over 180 articles in major Philippine newspapers and magazines, produced five (5) full-length documentaries and launched more than 20 books about politics & government, journalism & media, the environment, women and special interests. PCIJ’s catchy slogan tells it all: “We tell it like it is… No matter who… No matter what… Journalism with an Impact”

We tell it like it is…

“The PCIJ is unique because of its special focus on investigative journalism. Our organization is funded by a combination of grants, revenues and contributions from individual supporters. Our funding structure allows us to be independent because we are beholden neither to media owners nor to advertisers nor even to grant-giving organizations (the diversity of our funding base allows us to choose the projects we want to do with donors and to set our own terms with them). We are, however, accountable to our board and ultimately, to our readers,” says Sheila Coronel, PCIJ Director (Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism Online. 26 August 2006 < p="4">).

Last year, the Center published the article Health Politics Demoralizes Doctors (Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism Online. 24 May 2005
) One of the examples cited is how barrio doctor Richard Lariosa had to persuade the Tagapul-an, Samar mayor to turn over all the medicine stocks to the rural health unit after being assured that the people would know the medicines came from him. Eventually, Lariosa was assigned to Batanes as the Doctors of the Barrio Leaders for Health concluded the Tagapul-an, Samar mayor had little concern about health. The report has the characteristics of standard PCIJ articles where specific names, places and events are cited leaving no questions unanswered.

As far back as 1997, PCIJ published a guide book, Uncovering the Beat: The Real-world Guide to Reporting on Government (Corotan, Gemma Luz, et. al. Manila: Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism, 1997). In journalism terms, a beat applies to a special area assigned to reporters (Ramirez, Jaime B. Philippine Journalism Handbook. Caloocan City: National Book Store. 1989. 581). It could be an area, e.g., CAMANAVA (CAloocan, MAlabon, NAvotas, VAlenzuela), or a government office, e.g., the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG). In the book’s Foreword, it mentions the specific objective which is “to aid harassed journalists being sent out to the beat and made to report on key issues and crucial events, often with scarce preparation” (Corotan, Gemma Luz, et. al. Foreword. Manila: Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism, 1997. vii.). The book is divided into eight (8) chapters: Law Enforcement, The Courts, Congress, The Presidency, The Economy, The Environment, Education and Health. These are the beats where most of the biggest news regularly originate.

The most striking subtitle within the book is Looking for Pork in the Congress. The book says that “looking for congressional ‘pork’ is done much the same way that one searches for food: by following its aroma and uncovering the pots that may contain it.” The book posts pertinent questions such as “Does any of this amount go directly to the legislators?,” “Is the ‘pork barrel’ always a bad thing?” and even the meanings of the pork’s fancy names. All questions were answered with clear explanations.

No Matter Who...

With the number of newspapers, magazines and tabloids out in the market, publishers strive to make titles of articles as catchy as possible. A publication may have exclusive coverage about a topic that may appeal to the general reading public yet it may not sell much because when it is placed beside other reading materials, it may not “look and sound” as interesting.

In keeping with the Center’s vision to be a catalyst for consensus that would redound to the promotion of public welfare, PCIJ published the book The Child with a Fish for a Twin (Or How not to Write about Children) (Balgos, Cecile. Manila: Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism, 2001.). The title is deliberately unorthodox to arouse interest on an otherwise uncontroversial yet important issue, the plight of Filipino children. “Ang kabataan ang pag-asa sa kinabukasan,” goes the cliché. It is ironic how little attention is given to children by the media and the government alike.

The United Nations’ most recent statistics (“United Nations’ Millennium Development Goals Indicators.” United Nations in the Philippines. 26 August 2006 ) shows that 27.6% of children under five (5) years old are moderately or severely underweight in the Philippines. No matter how objective a reporter tries to document the plight of children, stories about them are always perceived emotional by the readers. The Child with a Fish for a Twin states the obstacles reporters face when writing about children.

The limited time allotted in gathering data and writing the story means less quality interviews and field research which results to inaccurate news reports. In addition, the primary source of information, the children, are shy and afraid of strangers. To urge the readers who will access the book to spring into action and to be actively involved in improving the living conditions of the children, the book has a directory of government agencies, local and international non-government organizations (NGOs) which they can approach to report injustice committed against children. It also has selected definitions and statistics to further explain terminologies used in the book.

No Matter What...

PCIJ will always be associated with serious, hard-hitting reports which “promote investigative reporting on current issues in the Philippine society.” In addition, it also contributes to promote investigative reporting on “matters of large public interest.” Taking the Filipino culture into account, how Filipinos enjoy a good laugh even through trying times, PCIJ also published Joke ni Erap: A Jokebook to Support Serious Journalism (Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism. Manila: PCIJ, 1999.).

This book was in addition to deposed President Erap Estrada’s Eraption series which he published during the 1998 presidential election campaign period. Joke ni Erap is a product of global exchange. The accessibility of cyberspace is a good medium for all Pinoys dispersed around the world to unite in noisy humor. On its cover, Joke ni Erap irreverently pointed at both Erap and the decorative head of the carabao in front of the passenger jeep and labeled both as Father of Carabao English. Another line printed on the cover is “A Lady without a Lover is like a Joke without Erapsyon.” This is a direct jest to the common knowledge about Erap’s numerous “wives.” The Foreword of the book is aptly entitled “Why a Jokebook?” Its simple reply is “Why not? When all else fails – even this attempt at an introduction – we can always laugh.”

Journalism with an Impact

One political issue that stands out in my mind is the PEA-Amari scam which marred then President Fidel V. Ramos’ credibility. PCIJ’s report PEA-Amari: The Grandmother of all Scams (Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism Online. 26 August 2006
) which won first prize in the 1998 JVO Investigative Journalism Awards quoted full names and the amounts they received in millions of pesos while the negotiations were ongoing. Sheila Coronel and Ellen Tordesillas recreated the events like they were unfolding before the readers’ eyes.

The key person in the transaction, Justiniano “Bobby” Montano IV is described as an aging playboy named after his grandfather, the strongman who held Cavite in thrall from the 1940s to the 1960. A certain Benito Cuevo is depicted as a cagey, nondescript man in his late 60s… a seedy character. Cuevo owns the International Merchandising and Development Corp., a trading company through which some of the Amari commissions were coursed.

While the report mentioned that it was unfortunate the Senate investigation did not pursue President Ramos’ possible role, it also said that it was clear from the Senate hearings that Malacañang’s blessings went a long way in ensuring the deal’s approval. To substantiate its report, the Center was able to quote Senator Franklin Drilon, Chair of the Senate blue ribbon which investigated the deal. He said, “It’s possible DOJ Secretary Teofisto Guingona, Jr. saw the President’s approval in writing and felt he had to sustain the President’s approval.”

President Ramos was not the only Philippine president who was exposed by the PCIJ. In 2000, the Center published a series of astounding reports about then President Erap Estrada’s close to P1 billion worth of land and houses in some of Metro Manila’s poshest and most exclusive districts. They are entitled, The State of the President’s Finances: Can Erap Explain his Wealth? (July 24-25), The Estrada’s Three Dozen Houses: First Family’s Firm Flouts the Law (August 21-22) and Estrada’s Fronts: Cronies and Attorneys (October 23).

In the article The State of the President’s Finances (Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism Online. 26 August 2006 ), a table of Estrada’s assets, liabilities and net worth in millions of pesos is presented. The article urged Estrada to explain how he can support his lavish lifestyle. His statement of assets and income tax return does not provide an accurate picture of the magnitude of the President’s and his families’ wealth.

The Estrada’s Three Dozen Houses (Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism Online. 26 August 2006 ) revealed how the JELP Real Estate Development Corp., a company owned by the Estrada family which built 36 two-storey townhouses on a one-hectare lot in Antipolo, committed eight (8) major licensing violations according to Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board (HLURB) Licensing Division’s Technical Services Assistant Chief Magdalena Vergara. Among JELP’s basic offenses were not securing zoning and building permits, environmental clearance certificate and the license to sell.

The article Estrada’s Fronts: Cronies and Attorneys (Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism Online. 26 August 2006 ) has a table entitled Houses Fit for a President? which shows properties owned by President Estrada citing house and lot addresses, lot sizes in square meters, estimated market values, construction costs based on estimates by various builders and purchase dates. It was concluded by stating the profiles of Estrada’s front men, real estate developer Jose Luis Yulo, businessman Jacinto Ng, and Puregold Duty-Free Shops owner Lucio Co.

This series of articles is consistently cited in broadsheet and online publications as the start of the downfall of Estrada’s administration. The top major daily, Philippine Daily Inquirer, was urged to create the Web site Bad Times: Estrada under Siege (http://www.inq7.net/jueteng/) on October, 2000 to gather all published materials about the topic in one site.

The Consequences

As the Center believes that the media should be a catalyst for social debate and consensus by providing the bases for arriving at informed opinions and decisions, it went a step further, shared research techniques and tips on accessing information to its Web viewers. PCIJ equips the citizenry with a channel where they can exchange information and insights through a blog it aptly calls Inside PCIJ. A blog is a Web site that provides a venue for commentaries or news and information about a particular subject (Wikipedia. 26 August 2006
). On April 4, 2005, the Center launched the first institutional blog ever set up by a media organization in the Philippines. (Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism Online. 26 August 2006 ). A total of 17 bloggers posted comments within 3 days after its launch. Bloggers are persons who express themselves via online media (Civilities, Media Structures Research 26 August 2006
). In this Web site, topics are categorized into Charter Change, Access to Information, Arroyo Impeachment, Investigative Reports, Media Issues (including Journalist Killings) and Political Humor, among others.

The most commented topic is Palawan Radio Journalist Killed (Inside PCIJ. 22 May 2006 ). It is about the murder by shooting of hard-hitting radio commentator Fernando Batul of Puerto Princesa, Palawan. No less than 521 comments are posted, the most recent of which were written two (2) months later. Alecks Pabico, PCIJ’s online manager, responsibly closed the post for comments as he judged that all arguments and counter-arguments have all been exhausted… rather than add to the animosity caused by reckless accusations from both sides, which add up to nothing.

No matter how well-researched and documented articles are, people mentioned within them find ways to stop the Center. On November 5, 2005, the Philippine Daily Inquirer posted on its front page Court Orders 'Libelous' Item Deleted from PCIJ Website. The article is about the stand-off between the controversial “Hello, Garci” digital audio engineer Jonathan Tiongco and the PCIJ. The Center received the first legal action and first temporary restraining order (TRO) issued against a blog in the Philippines. In April, 2006, The Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility (Center for Media Freedom Online 26 August 2006 ) reported six (6) additional lawsuits filed by Jonathan Tiongco. Investigations into the case are still ongoing.

We tell it like it is… No matter who… No matter what… Journalism with an Impact

The Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism is able to publish hard-hitting articles because its funding is beholden neither to media owners nor advertisers. The Center is able to maintain its credibility and to hold the interest of the reading and viewing public about an issue because reports cite specific cases together with the complete names of people involved. It also urges the citizenry to be actively involved as it collates and presents pertinent information about offices and organizations that are handling specific cases. Mass media has the power to arouse the interest of the public regarding a topic which may be of national importance yet considered to have little appeal depending on the presentation of the subject matter.

Journalism with an impact means opening the minds of the people to questioning the state of affairs of the nation. The Center even went as far as sharing coverage techniques so the public can be involved in searching for the truth and not passively accepting reports seen on the television, heard on the radio or read in the papers. As a result, the boundaries of the role of the media were pushed to provide the venue where opinions may be exchanged. This should still be responsibly regulated by the owners of the forum, however, so as not to lose sight of the original focus. As new ways of expressing opinions are introduced, some legal boundaries may be tested. These are all consequences of searching for the truth by the inquisitive minds that are presented with fascinating evidences.