On the first National Press Freedom Day, journalists highlight the increasing attacks against the Filipino media community and how laws were being used to silence the independent press.
Filipino journalists are questioning the selling of the broadcasting frequencies that were formerly assigned to ABS-CBN, one of the country’s biggest media networks that was shutdown by President Duterte.
A group of Filipino journalists has assailed the series of cyber-attacks that have been targeting the Philippine media and called on government agencies to investigate and stop these attacks.
Rappler CEO and veteran journalist Maria Ressa highlighted the continuing attacks against Filipino journalists as she accepted the Nobel Peace Prize award in Oslo, Norway yesterday, International Human Rights Day.
“It is part of the press’ vital role in a democracy to seek transparency and accountability from government and the SALN is just one of the many effective tools we can use against corruption.”
Journalists and supporters also published via Twitter the names of legislators who rejected ABS-CBN’s franchise renewal, urging voters to boycott the said politicians next year.
“We continue on, but we will never forget.”
A day before the World Press Freedom Day, a former NUJP officer was shot dead in Capiz and a campus journalist’s house was raided in Bicol.
“While a law penalizing red-tagging is welcome, the draconian Anti-Terrorism Act violates our basic human rights, including the right to a free press.”
Ronalyn Olea takes over Dabet Castaneda-Panelo as NUJP secretary general.
“The ordeal of Frenchie Mae is part of the increasing persecution of the critical media by the forces of a government so intolerant of criticism and dissent that the mere exercise of democratic rights is enough for one to be branded an “enemy of the state.”