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In this report, we take a second look on the charges filed against IT companies IP Converge and Suniway Group of Companies. The National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers provided legal assistance to the alternative media outfits.
Alternative media outfits identified two companies behind the intense cyber attacks against them since December.
International media watchdog Reporters Without Borders has included in their website mirroring campaign two Philippine alternative news websites, Bulatlat and Kodao Productions, following the intense cyber-attacks since December.
By targeting the Philippine alternative press, however, those behind the attack inadvertently highlighted its role in shaping public opinion.
“We have reason to believe that the Duterte administration has orchestrated this cyber attack on websites of critical and independent media as part of its efforts to silence criticism and dissent against it,” said Ronalyn Olea, managing editor of Bulatlat.
Since December, Bulatlat and several alternative media outfits have been experiencing a series of Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks, where the server of a website is maliciously being overloaded to shut it down.
“Truly, without their work, petitioner GMA would have nothing to air, hence the private respondents' services in the former's television program were unquestionably necessary and essential.”
“If we recall, during the Marcos dictatorship, the first thing he did was to suppress the media.
The statement, issued by the Negros Press Club and the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines – Bacolod Chapter demanded that “authorities – both law enforcement and the civil government – uphold the rule of law and ensure the safety of all citizens, especially the innocent” by investigating and prosecuting those responsible for creating and spreading the lists.
"This government, led by a man who has proven averse to criticism and dissent, now proves it will go to ridiculous lengths to forcibly silence a critical media and stifle free expression and thought."
“We remember Ampatuan Massacre but we have to bring back the rage.”
“That the state news agency, which is under the supervision of the Presidential Communications Operations Office, saw fit to run this utterly malicious and false story clearly proves that this is, indeed, an orchestrated campaign to vilify and silence not just the NUJP but the independent and critical press, involving no less than the Government of the Republic of the Philippines.”
“The best way to ensure safety, really, is for government to do its job to protect each and every citizen of the country and stamp out the culture of impunity that has emboldened not only those who wish to silence the independent media but also suppress other basic rights."
“With at least 12 colleagues slain under the watch of a president who has actually justified the murder of journalists--remember “Just because you're a journalist you are not exempted from assassination, if you're a son of a bitch?"--and openly and constantly curses and threatens media, we are taking this matter very, very seriously.”
“And while a closure to this tragedy is most welcome, we stress that it should not in any way detract from the State’s continued accountability for its continued failure to bring an end to the threats and attacks against journalists and to give justice to the more than 100 other victims of media killings since 1986."
Since October 2017, Radyo Lumad has been on air eight hours a day, five times a week.
Katribu hopes to encourage more journalists to write about indigenous peoples’ struggles and aspirations.
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