Stand by the press, protect media workers

Statement of Ilonggos Against Terror Act, a broad coalition of cause-oriented groups in Iloilo City and province

The Philippines has experienced several episodes of government curtailing the freedom of speech and expression. These episodes were highlighted during the Martial Law days of Marcos and of present, the “war path” of the Duterte administration. While both regimes are comparable for being oppressive and authoritarian, the current may be said to be more deplorable in stifling people’s rights.

The attacks on several media entities and personalities by the Duterte government manifest how allergic this administration to critical reporting. And the number of attacks increases day by day – becoming more vindictive, vicious and at most times, bloody! Literally and metaphorically.

The position of the media, or the Fourth Estate, balances the power between the departments of government and that of the governed.  Given this position, it is imperative that the press should be defended from the powers that wanted its freedoms curtailed, if not, silenced.  Every decent person should always come to aid of a media entity whose basic right of free speech and expression is being suppressed. The essence of real democracy is a striving media which is not only free to praise, but more importantly, gallant and unabridged in its criticisms.

Of late, the country bore witness on how the “powers-that-be” used their political strength in the House of Representatives to silence an entity perceived as an “enemy” of the President!  In a historic Committee vote that ended the Lopezes bid to renew the franchise of ABS-CBN, we are sent back in the dark time of Martial Law when the same family was deprived of their better share of the business.  But this time, it was not through the use of force nor military power, but by a blatant exercise of political maneuverings just to give legal color to the act.  Perhaps, it was also partly of the Lopezes own misgivings that made the maneuver possible. It didn’t help that, as the company itself would be the first to admit, ABS-CBN is hardly a shining example of promoting and protecting workers’ rights.

Noteworthy is the fact that beyond the slogan of ending the Lopez oligarchy, a more chilling effect is felt by other media entities and personalities.  The actions and the words blurted out in the committee hearings reeks of vengeance and thirst for blood.  While a lot of media blood has been literally spilled over the course of years, the splattering of that of “nobles” in the business creates a more striking message.  And that message is simple – do not cross the path of this administration!

Strikingly, though, is the effect of media repression and the curtailing of the freedom of the press.  This is because the direct casualty in these attacks on the media are the very media workers and their brood.  For every media worker felled by a bullet, a family grieves and loses hope for a future dreamt.

For every media entity felled by the cunning acts of Congress, thousands of workers and families bear the risk of uncertainty. In fact, the thousands of workers in ABS CBN who are now being retrenched due to the franchise denial are left to the mercy of the present pandemic.

Thus, as we stand to defend the right to free press and expression, let us not forget the more ardent call to protect the rights and welfare of every media worker.  A media entity slew by the sword of politics brings to the grave its workers that give it life.

Finally, we call upon our media practitioners.  This trying time calls for a more valiant stand!  The Duterte administration will do everything in its power to suppress our rights to free speech and to express redress.  Truth be said, the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 was specifically meant to do this.  It was crafted to silence dissent, criticism and even the simplest expression not acceptable to the current administration.

Let us not allow ourselves cower from these attacks!  We have proven that in a real democracy, it the voice of the media, echoing the voice of the people, that matters the most!

Together, let us STAND BY THE PRESS AND PROTECT OUR MEDIA WORKERS!