EDITOR’S NOTE: This is a joint statement of student publications, writers and media organizations of the University.
We, student publications, writers and media organizations of the University of Santo Tomas, strongly manifest our unity with other media organizations in condemning the Duterte administration’s efforts to stifle press freedom in the country.
While freedom of speech, expression, and the press is protected by our Constitution, it is alarming that President Rodrigo Duterte himself—who has repeatedly shown contempt for human rights, rule of law, and checks and balances—is now going after the free press to silence and intimidate critics of his administration.
The revocation of Rappler’s certificate of registration by the Securities and Exchange Commission and the banning of their reporter from Malacañang is the latest and most blatant attack on press freedom—and it seems that these would not be the last.
Aside from Rappler, President Duterte also lambasted and threatened to order the closure of ABS-CBN and the Philippine Daily Inquirer during his Second State of the Nation Address for supposed biased reportage. The license renewal of at least 54 radio stations operated by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, a staunch critic of the administration, is being blocked in the House of Representatives.
Meanwhile, President Duterte’s support for pro-administration bloggers by their appointment to key government positions is a blatant ploy to allow them to manipulate public opinion and suppress dissent by spreading disinformation, attacking journalists online, and discrediting the media.
Despite the formation of the Presidential Task Force on Media Security, the culture of impunity against journalists in the country still continues. It is perpetuated by none other than President Duterte himself, who has verbally assaulted journalists, catcalled female reporters and claimed corrupt journalists deserved to be killed.
Media watchdog Reporters Without Borders declared the Philippines the “deadliest country” in Asia for journalists after recording four journalist killings in 2017. Local media groups such as the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility, the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines, and the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism recorded the killings of six journalists in the first 16 months of the Duterte administration, along with eight attempted murders and death threats, and six major cases of threats from local officials and pro-administration bloggers.
Even the campus press is not safe from the state’s attacks: The College Editors Guild of the Philippines denounced last October the military and police surveillance, harassment, intimidation, and red-tagging of several member publications in Bicol, and several other campus journalists and activists.
Pro-administration blogger and Presidential Communications Assistant Secretary Mocha Uson has publicly attacked the editors of Ateneo de Manila University’s Matanglawin for lampooning her in their satirical issue by posting their personal details on her Facebook page, making them vulnerable to online harassment.
IN THESE CRUCIAL TIMES WHEN OUR FREEDOMS ARE BEING ATTACKED AND THREATENED, WE, CAMPUS JOURNALISTS, WRITERS, AND MEDIA PRACTITIONERS, MUST STAND AND FIGHT TO DEFEND OUR RIGHTS.
We loudly decry President Duterte’s attacks on the press and the administration’s attempts to discredit the media with its active support in spreading online disinformation.
We strongly demand an end to the culture of impunity and violence against journalists and media workers in the country, and we will continue to seek justice for journalists killed in the line of duty.
We vehemently resist efforts to close down media outlets and organizations, which are nothing but blatant acts to stifle press freedom and silence dissent in the country.
To this end, we will continue to uphold the freedom of the press, freedom of expression, and the democratic rights of students, the youth, and the Filipino people in the face of an increasingly authoritarian regime.
We will continue to serve the people and stand for freedom, democracy, and most importantly, veritas: the truth.
INITIAL LIST OF SIGNATORIES
Amierielle Anne Bulan
Editor-in-Chief
The Varsitarian
Philip Jamilla
Executive Editor
TomasinoWeb
Noelle Aetana Malagkit
Chief Communications Officer
TOMCAT
Joshua Carl Palomera
President
Thomasian Writers Guild
Mikkah Factor
Editor-in-Chief
The Flame
Mary Joy Abalos
Editor-in-Chief
La Stampa Tomasino
Ristel Mae Tagudando
Editor-in-Chief
The Purple Gazette
Patricia Lee Yanga
President
UST Journalism Society
Neal Andreu Tayco
President
UST Literary Society
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