“We are alarmed that soon, other media outlets would follow. Without the freedom of the press, there is the danger of other freedoms to be lost. God forbid, these are the first ‘test signs’ of curtailing other rights.”
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.
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.
“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.
Frenchie also exposed the terror caused by military encampment in 167 communities in the region under the guise of “community support program.”
By JANESS ANN J. ELLAO Bulatlat MANILA — Alternative media groups that were subjected to relentless cyberattacks last year were vindicated with a “small victory” after two tech companies, whose infrastructure were used to carry out the incursions, agree to support press freedom and put in place an effective mechanism to prevent a similar situation.…
The National Union of Journalists in the Philippines (NUJP) described the SolGen’s move as an “obvious attempt to not only silence ABS-CBN but also those who opposed the government’s push to shut it down.”
“…the attempt to close down ABS-CBN is a direct attack against the shared freedom of all citizens, for silencing the network is similar to depriving the Filipino citizens of their source of news and information.”
This powerful video pays tribute to all Colombian journalists who have been threatened, attacked, or murdered because of their work, highlighting the ongoing search for justice in the cases of Jineth Bedoya, Edison Molina, and Guillermo Cano.