JARIUS Bondoc, JP Fenix and Joe Torres are veteran investigative journalists whose works have opened to public scrutiny some of the most evidently illegal and patently immoral acts and deals by the biggest names in Philippine politics and business. While going around in similar circles throughout the early days of their individual careers, the three only got together professionally in 1997 in the weekday newsmagazine Isyu which Bondoc published.

Isyu eventually folded up after a newly elected President Joseph Ejercito Estrada, vindictive over the hard time he had with the publication’s exposés, used a so-called anti-pornography drive to confiscate copies from newsstands.

Bondoc, Fenix and Torres then formed BFT Associates and produced radio programs for Radio Mindanao Network’s Manila AM station, DZXL. These included the consumer-oriented noontime daily Customer Service, Hello featuring Joe Torres and Marissa Bondoc, the early morning political commentary Mainit na Isyu with Jarius Bondoc, the Saturday news wrap-up and commentary Isyu sa DZXL and the early morning Sunday talk show Get Real on XL with JP Fenix.

        The three took a breather from radio after the network undertook a nationwide reorganization and was relaunched as RMN News. However, the recent crisis in the Estrada Presidency and the resurgence of civil society in the protest movement brought the three back on air with Subukán sa 558.