“To the Court, any limitation or restriction in the exercise of one’s right, no matter the extent, is a form of deprivation and clearly a violation of such right."
The blocking of the websites occurred in the context of incessant red-tagging.
United Nations Special Rapporteur on freedom of opinion and expression Irene Khan expressed deep concern over recent developments in the Philippines to silence independent and investigative journalism in the country.
“We are not taking all these sitting down. As we always say, an attack on one is an attack on all.”
The Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has called on the Philippine government to restore access to two alternative news sites that were earlier blocked for supposed terror links, saying this is intimidation and censorship.
“This situation is like a throwback to 1972 when Marcos Sr. closed down private media and broadcasting networks and maintained only government mouthpieces."
International media organizations are appalled over the National Telecommunications Commission’s order blocking online access to Bulatlat and fellow alternative news Pinoy Weekly, which the Philippine government accused of having terror links.
Bulatlat has condemned this move as prior restraint against protected speech, adding that this is based on hearsay of National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr.
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