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Like other human rights defenders, journalists writing about human rights have been treated as targets by those who have no respect for life and liberties of the Filipino people.
Although this law has been amended by Republic Act no. 10640 in 2014, journalists are still being pressured into signing their names as witnesses in anti-drug operations, sometimes even without them actually witnessing the operation, in exchange for the information they would need for their stories.
"We need to speak up and say what really happened, they [officers accused] should be held accountable for the offenses they have made."
The petitioners called on legislators to “consider the greater good while upholding the right of media/art organizations to decide the path it should take as part of its constitutional right to freedom of speech, of expression and of the press.”
“What they did made me like a criminal. They took my mugshot, my fingerprint…I could not just let it be,” -- Margarita Valle
According to news report, the CIDG said that Valle’s arrest was a case of mistaken identity.
The NUJP said that while it was important to secure the country and the people from the threats of terrorism, the bill would only do more harm than good by pushing the people to surrender their rights and liberties as citizens of a democratic country.
"It is our way of keeping the fight for justice alive, as well as condemning all violations of human rights. And hopefully, before all our candles run out, justice would be given to all victims.”
“The reason why government regard the free press as the enemy is because the government fear the free press of its power.”
"The Duterte administration uses the entire coercive power of the State to attack and quell the independent press and these attacks are instigated and led by the madman in Malacañang Palace himself."
With the call #FightBack, journalists, artists and advocates will highlight the defense of press freedom and free expression amid all forms of repression.
The ban extends to any journalist who would write or broadcast anything that the President deems to be 'fake news.’
“There is no singular, proven fact in that hogwash.“
“This is a very great concern for the CPJ and the international community, because the Philippines has long enjoyed a very robust free press. We are concerned that not a lot is being done to protect your (Filipino journalists) ability to work without fear of retribution, prosecution, and attack."
“PCIJ had wished only for the Dutertes to offer clear, direct, straightforward replies to our queries.”
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.
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