WHO WE ARE
Probe, an independent media production company, is one of the pioneers in documentary producing in the Philippines since its inception in 1988. Founded by University professor turned broadcast journalist, Cheche Lazaro, Probe is the producer of trailblazing shows such as The Probe Team, 5 and Up, Cheche Lazaro Presents, Art-Is-Kool, Journo and more.
In its more than 30 year - run as a production company, Probe has put together an extensive collection of archival material. Probe Archives is now digitally converted and made accessible to the general public, most especially the new generation. Through Probe Archives, it is our hope that our content will encourage the younger generation to revisit history and help them fight disinformation.
OWNERSHIP AND FUNDING INFORMATION
Probe.PH is owned and operated by Probe Productions Inc., registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) of the Republic of the Philippines (Company Registration No. 151553) on 5/24/1988 with editorial and business offices at 16B Belvedere Tower San Miguel Ave, Pasig City.
Probe is an independent media production company whose directors and shareholders are private individuals. Funding for the company comes from selling and licensing of archival footage, content production and management for local and international television networks and organizations, monetization of social media content and grants.
The board of directors of Probe do not exercise editorial control over Probe's content.
DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS
Cecilia L. Lazaro
Delfin L. Lazaro
Jennifer R. Aquino
Cristina L. Yuson
Ma. Caridad D. Gonzales
THE TEAM
Cheche Lazaro
Cheche Lazaro is the founding President of Probe Productions Inc. and Probe Media Foundation Inc. (PMFI). She was given the "Gawad Plaridel Award" by the University of the Philippines for her significant contributions to local television and broadcast journalism. She has received two doctorates of humanities (honoris causa) from the Philippine Women's University and the Ateneo de Naga University. Cheche is also the recipient of the Marshal McLuhan Fellowship.
Jen Aquino
Jen Aquino is a Filipino journalist with 12+ years of combined practice across different aspects of media production, producing content including news, factual features and fact-checking.
Currently, she supervises and manages all production work and operations at Probe.
Julie Nealega
Julie has dedicated more than a decade of her journalism life working passionately on stories that matter for her fellow Filipinos. Currently, she is on top of all archive - related work of Probe, working to make content and history more accessible to the younger audience through Probe Archives: History On Reel.
Khimberly Garma
Khimberly is Probe's Assistant Archivist and Production Assistant. She assists in all fact-check work of Probe. She is a BA Journalism graduate of Cavite State University.
POLICY ON CONFLICT OF INTEREST
No director or employee of the Company should place himself in a situation where his personal interests conflict with the best interests of the Company. Thus:
- Directors should disclose his interests, if any, in any entity with which the Company has dealings of any kind or nature. In the event the Company has a transaction with an entity in which the director owns an interest of 5% or more, the transaction must be approved by the Company’s Board of Directors in a meeting in which the Director is not present.
- The Company shall comply in all respects with the provisions of the Corporation Code of the Philippines on doing business with companies with interlocking directors.
- Employees should avoid all instances of self-dealing. Moreover, if the Company In the event the Company has a transaction with an entity in which the director owns an interest of 5% or more, the transaction must be approved by the Company’s Board of Directors in a meeting in which the employee is not present.
- In any other instance where the Company or the employee for any reason believes that the Company’s interest is in conflict with the employee’s interest, the employee shall voluntarily disclose his interests in the matters at hand and recuse himself from the matter subject of the conflict, or may be required to do so by the Company.
- Employees who are engaged in full-time work with the Company shall not have any other work for any other entity except with the prior written consent of the Company. Moonlighting shall likewise be considered a conflict of interest.
- A Director or employee of the Company shall not use any confidential information gained in the course of employment for his personal advantage and/or to the prejudice of the Company, whether during or after his employment. Directors and employees shall abide by the Company’s policy on the handling of confidential information and data privacy, and shall abide by all applicable laws in this respect.
GIFTS AND INDUCEMENTS POLICY
The Company extends business opportunities to partners who are qualified to provide the company's needs and who can offer the company the best value for money. The Company generally seeks to isolate its procurement process from improper influence and protects its employees from social engineering and other efforts to improperly influence the procurement and decision-making processes of the company. Thus:
- Employees shall not receive sums of money, consideration, or gifts from vendors or business partners except for gifts of nominal value during social occasions such as Christmas or New Year when it is customary to receive token gifts as a matter of custom or courtesy. "Nominal Value" for purposes of this policy means a gift not exceeding Php 2,000.00 in value.
- Gifts received other than as provided in this policy must be courteously returned. Where gifts that exceed nominal value have been delivered or given in a manner where they are impossible to return, the same shall be surrendered to the Company for the Company's Human Resources Department to either effect the return or dispose of.
- Gifts that exceed nominal value which are received from vendors, potential vendors, or business partners in the course of raffles, sports tournaments, or events hosted by the vendors, potential vendors, or business partners shall be declared by the employee to the Company. The HR Department shall inform the employee of the disposition of such gifts and the employee shall comply with the instructions of the HR Department in this regard.
- Directors and Employees of the Company shall not seek personal opportunities with the Company’s business partners in consideration of giving the business partner business with the Company; this includes requesting accommodations, employment, or business for oneself or one's relatives, or requesting that any form of gift, accommodation, or consideration be extended to oneself or one's relatives.
- The Company's bid documents shall include a notice to vendors containing a clear policy against gifts and inducements. Where a vendor has been conclusively found to have violated the Company's gifts and inducements policy, the business with the vendor shall be terminated.
PENALTIES FOR VIOLATION
- Violations of the policies on conflict of interest and gifts and inducements shall be grounds for termination of the employee.
- Directors who violate the policy shall be subject to whatever disciplinary action is imposed by the Board of Directors on them, in accordance with the Corporation Code.