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“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.”
The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines assailed the NTC order, adding that it would "do no good to the Filipino people if the country’s biggest media corporation, one that is relied upon by a great number of the people during this pandemic for news, entertainment and relief delivery, if it ceases operations tomorrow."
“In this time of crisis, asserting our right to free expression is crucial. During these dark times, our voices need to be heard, not stifled.”
Northern Dispatch believes that the attack is state-perpetrated, noting that the media outfit and their staff members were also subjected to intense red-tagging by military and its army or trolls.
“I condemn in the strongest possible terms those who are behind this crime against free speech.” -- Philippine Graphic editor in chief
In this timeline, Bulatlat enumerates all attempts to curtail free speech and press freedom since the country is placed under the enhanced community quarantine due to COVID-19 pandemic until before President Rodrigo Duterte delivers his fifth State of the Nation Address.
A journalist based in Hong Kong who writes for a leading international magazine sent these questions on press freedom under the Duterte administration. Please allow me to share the short answers.
It comes as no surprise that the current lockdown has become a de facto crackdown for some of those who dare speak up against the government.
“This is a marching order for law enforcement authorities to use their weapon against the people unlawfully and without basis.”
“May we point out that the responsibility of the PCOO nor the PIA is government communication and information dissemination, not media accreditation and, certainly, not regulation.”
"The Duterte administration utilizes 'fake news' as a tool to silence dissent by spreading lies using an army of trolls, to present ‘alternative facts’ and justify the repressive policies and programs of the government."
While we acknowledge the need to fight disinformation in this time of crisis, we fear the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act will only end up criminalizing free speech. We assert that the best way to fight disinformation is through education and the truth.
Ending impunity entails collective action and the resolve to change the oppressive social system that engenders culture of impunity. We're definitely not there yet but there are efforts to do so. There is no clear timeline as to when this can be achieved as it depends largely on the victory of the people's movement, not just the journalists and news media organizations acting as a small sector.
“TAG expresses its strong disappointment at this lousy treatment of the network’s talents, our colleagues, the network’s biggest assets, and yet, these are the very same people with no hazard pay nor allowance during these times.”
Amid our continuing coverage of the COVID-19 pandemic, Bulatlat denounces the discrimination against the alternative media perpetuated by the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) and the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF)
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