Inquirer, TJ Burgonio, Donna Pazzibugan and the Weasel Words

Dear INQUIRER,

Philippine Daily Inquirer, please remind TJ Burgonio and Donna Pazzibugan (and possibly, Amy Remo) to raise important questions to clarify unclear statements of a source. In their 11/06/2009 article Palace Rejects Talk with Oil Companies, they write:

Malacañang on Thursday rejected the appeal of oil companies for a dialogue with President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on the possible recall of an executive order freezing fuel prices in Luzon, which remains in a state of calamity. But Justice Secretary Agnes Devanadera indicated that the order may soon be lifted in specific areas as the government and oil firms try to reach an agreement on a mutually acceptable response to the devastation wrought by successive storms.

ABS-CBN, please tell Gigi Grande to please …

Dear ABS-CBN and Gigi Grande,

Please change the title of this article: Labor attaché may be recalled due to ‘unpaid obligations’, ‘deceit’.

In the report Grande said:

AUSTRALIA – The Philippine Embassy in Australia has recommended the immediate removal of Labor Attaché Victor Julio Ablan from office. Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Franklin Ebdalin said the recommendation was made in early October due to Ablan’s alleged “unpaid obligations” and “deceit”.

Would it be better to remove the weasel words “may be” from the title and change it to “Immediate Removal of Labor Attache Recommended” or something to that effect, without the “may be” …

I could be wrong.

Again,
Its Me.

ABS-CBN and Belo

Despite the business relationship of ABS-CBN and Belo, ABS-CBN reports that Belo faces criminal raps. The report says:

MANILA – The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on Thursday filed a string of criminal complaints against celebrity cosmetic surgeon Victoria “Vicky” Belo and two other doctors for a botched butt augmentation procedure.

The bureau said estafa was filed against Belo and doctors Ronaldo Cayetano and Francis Decangchon for deceiving Josefina Norcio into paying P250,000 for the butt operation, which went wrong.

Good Job! Sounds impartial to me!

ABS-CBN: Weasel Word Alert!

Dear ABS-CBN,

In “Pro-Noy Celebrities Defended” , Reyma Buan-Deveza writes:

Osorio also downplayed speculations that ABS-CBN was favoring Noynoy. The speculations cited the network’s purported too much coverage of his activities. Some also said that the senator allegedly gets too many airtime on ABS-CBN because his sister is a contract star of the network.

I remember my teacher telling me to be careful about Weasel Words. Maybe you should remind Reyma to avoid using weasels.

Weasel Word Alert: Who are these “some” … The people need to know!

Salamat Po,
Ako Pa Rin

P.S.

Ano po ba ibig sabihin ng ABS-CBN news website kapag sa ilalim ng article nakalagay ay: -With a report from Bernie Franco, ABS-CBN.com. Ibig sabihin po ba nito ay si Bernie Franco din ang nagsulat, or tumulong magsulat, or nagprovide ng information?

ABS-CBN and Reyma Buan-Deveza: Wikipedia, Again?

Dear ABS-CBN,

Please tell Reyma Buan-Deveza to stop using Wikipedia as a source. In her “If Noynoy wins, will Kris act as First Lady dated 11/03/2009″, she writes:

According to Wikipedia, a first lady, traditionally the spouse of the sitting president of the country, has no official duties. She nonetheless attends many official ceremonies and functions of state either along with or in place of the president. The first lady also frequently participates in humanitarian and charitable works, Wikipedia said.