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“Our call to drop all charges against Frenchie Mae and to immediately release her is now more urgent than ever.”
The recent conviction of Rappler CEO Maria Ressa and former reporter-researcher Reynaldo Santos Jr. brought to the fore cyber libel as a weapon against journalists.
The issue here goes beyond Rappler as other dominant and alternative news media organizations are also under attack. Ressa only becomes a convenient target because of her high profile. That's what she has in common with ABS-CBN which is a leading network. The chilling effect becomes clear by targeting both of them.
Various groups assailed today yet another attack against press freedom in the country, with a Manila court handing down a guilty verdict against Rappler’s CEO Maria Ressa and their former researcher Reynaldo Santos Jr.
The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) said the trial was "a test run for the latest weapon the State can now wield to intimidate and silence not only the media but all citizens who call out government abuse."
Aside from the complainants, the NLRC decision bolstered the rest of the contractual ABS-CBN workers’ demands for regularization.
“ABS-CBN’s return to the Lopezes was done in accordance with the law, and that is our truth.”
Habang pinagninilayan ko ang mga pangyayaring ito, marahil ay bahagyang natalo ang mga Lopez ngunit mas malaki ang pinsala nito sa mga sambayanang Pilipino kasama kaming ilang libong empleyado. Ito ay dahil sa pinagdamutan na sila ng estado na makakuha ng libangan at impormasyon sa panahon na may kinakaharap na krisis ang ating bansa, lalo na sa mga komunidad na tanging ABS-CBN lang ang napapanood nila sa pamamagitan ng analog broadcast.
Local government executives should keep in mind that that the current national emergency does not empower officials to silence dissent and curtail press freedom, both of which are essential to a functional democracy in which elected officials are duty-bound to defend the Constitution.
“What is wrong and what violation is committed by Radyo Natin Guimba when it only gives voice to the people in order for their appeals and complaints to be heard while they are under quarantine and are unable to work?"
Citing medical studies, psychiatrist Dr. Reggie Pamugas said that work related stress, especially among journalists, is common. Around 86 to 100 percent of journalists are actually exposed to “potentially traumatic events over the course of their careers.”
As we have said, time and again, the fight for the ABS-CBN franchise renewal is a fight for free expression and a fight for all. But Parlade is instead red-tagging virtually everyone and anyone who supports the call for the renewal of the ABS-CBN franchise.
"Shrinking democratic space through the militarizing of the pandemic response as well as not closing the largest media network’s airwaves is a direct affront to civil liberties.”
“Di ko akalain na ang kalayaan na na-achieve natin noong 1986 ay manganganib uli ngayon.” (I did not expect that the freedom we had achieved in 1986 would be threatened once again.)
Online protests were held simultaneously in support of ABS-CBN.
“We are alarmed that soon, other media outlets would follow. Without the freedom of the press, there is the danger of other freedoms to be lost. God forbid, these are the first 'test signs' of curtailing other rights.”
“His ultimate passion was for good governance and his advocacy was to help save the environment. He was a highly principled man who sought refuge in his faith.”
“It is high time that Congress finally hear and approve the franchise of ABS-CBN to undo the damage and attack on press freedom, freedom of expression and freedom of information perpetrated by Malacañang.”
“ABS-CBN’s closure extinguishes the brightest light in our information firmament and leaves smaller ones in darkness and peril.”
"The NTC’s Order has preempted Congressional action in this area exclusively reserved to it by the Constitution and is an exercise of discretion that gravely upsets the constitutional architecture and design.”
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