FEBRUARY 2020

EDITOR’S NOTE: This is a joint statement of student publications and media organizations of the University of Santo Tomas. 

Today, we are witnessing another brazen attack against the press.

As members of the Thomasian community, guided by the virtues of veritas in caritate, we, the student publications and media organizations of the University of Santo Tomas, strongly condemn the recent attacks of the Duterte administration on the media especially on ABS-CBN.

Despite the protection of freedom of expression in  the 1987 Constitution, President Duterte and his lapdogs continue to find themselves stuck in an endless loop of scrutinizing various media institutions. 

From the harassment of campus publications up to threats of revocation against the mainstream media, it is clear that the Duterte administration is not an ally of the press.

In an attempt to hasten the franchise revocation of broadcast network ABS-CBN, Solicitor General Jose Calida filed a quo warranto petition against broadcast network ABS-CBN, last February 10, 2020. Tagged by Calida as a “very urgent omnibus motion”, the petition was filed in the Supreme Court due to the network giant’s “unlawful exercise of legislative franchises.”

The actions of the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) and the tolerance of the Duterte administration towards this matter is a grave disrespect to press freedom. The maneuver of the OSG sets a dangerous precedence in the future, where the legalese is bent to further suppress the media. 

Censorship has always been the weapon of dictators. In fact, the actions and policies of the current administration strongly live by the Marcosian playbook—where the truth has no place in the society. 47 years ago, the ABS-CBN found itself in the same situation when its channel 2 was shut down after it was seized by the military a day after the declaration of Martial Law. For 13 years, Filipinos lived in the darkness and silence of Martial Law. Any form of criticism was suppressed. The media became a propaganda tool of the government. Behind the “discipline” and “order” are the shadows of cruelty not just on the media but also on the Filipino society. If the Duterte administration can easily threaten network giants, the harm it can conflict to small-scale publications, to human rights defenders, to common Filipinos, is insurmountable.

The crackdown on ABS-CBN not only affects the operations of media in the country but also displaces tens of thousands of employees. Last 2017, Sandy Prieto of the Philippine Daily Inquirer also found herself in the same situation into giving up her family’s 25-year control of Inquirer after pressures from Duterte’s administration, and was ultimately sold to Ramon S. Ang, a business tycoon and close friend of Duterte. Last 2019, Rappler CEO Maria Ressa was arrested for the alleged violation of the Anti-Dummy Law and “cyber libel” charges in 2012. A few weeks ago, a community journalist along with four human rights workers were arrested for alleged possession of firearms and explosives. These recent attacks are reminiscent of the Marcos regime; that era itself marks the rape of the Philippine press.

Our duties and responsibilities as media practitioners are tantamount to our role as the Fourth Estate, which refers to our capability to evaluate and check the government’s performance. Without critical engagement and discourse, the state is free to tamper with our rights without hesitation. Refusing to fight for our rights as campus press further amplifies the systemic aggression that plagues the newsroom we belong to. 

Once more, we vehemently condemn President Duterte’s attempts in silencing the press and the administration’s reliance on misinformation to advance its own version of truth.

Amidst the ongoing firestorm that threatens freedom of the press, let us be reminded that we must uphold the truth to protect the sanctity of the freedom of speech and of expression.

RABIN P. BOTE

President, TomasinoWeb

JOHN AARON C. PANGILINAN

Executive Editor, TomasinoWeb

JEFSON ROMEO B. FELIX

EIC, Purple Gazette

JAMES EDVER O. MERCADO

President/Director, UST Tiger S.H.O.O.T.

CLARENCE PRYCE O. ALMAZAN

President, Performing Arts Guild

LOUISE JULIE W. PABICO

Editor-in-Chief, UST College of Science Journal 

BERNICE KYRENE P. GUTIERREZ

Editor-in-Chief, Accountancy Journal

PEACH ARIANNA P. MANOS

Associate Editor, The Flame

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EDITOR’S NOTE: This is a joint statement of student publications and media organizations of the University of Santo Tomas. 

We, the student publications and media organizations of the University of Santo Tomas, strongly commit to hold the line along with other media organizations amidst the Duterte administration’s efforts to curtail the freedom of speech and expression. 

As we commemorate the tenth-year anniversary of the Maguindanao massacre, numerous human rights violations against journalists and media organizations still remain at large. 

The arrest of community journalist Anne Krueger was one of the latest attacks on press freedom — a trend the administration is deemed to repeat regardless of criticism from local and international media. Krueger was unlawfully arrested with 56 others through simultaneous raids on various offices in Bacolod City under the pretext of communist subversion.

Minutes before her arrest, Krueger hosted a live broadcast on Facebook showing the irregularities committed by authorities through planting evidence to justify the arrest of other progressives. She is also one of the founders of Paghimutad, an alternative media organization covering the ongoing bloodshed in Negros.

Through President Duterte’s Executive Order No. 70, a Whole-of-Nation approach was used by the administration to wrongfully tag progressive groups and human rights workers as members of the New People’s Army (NPA). 

Meanwhile, Negros-based broadcaster Dindo Generoso was the 14th journalist to be murdered under the Duterte administration and the 187th since 1986. He was shot by assailants last November 7 while driving on his way to host his radio program.

Earlier this year, the Duterte administration claimed the existence of an ouster plot that is allegedly supported by journalists, lawyers, and various critics. Organizations such as Rappler, Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism, Metro Balita, and National Union of Lawyers in the Philippines, are one of those included in Duterte’s destabilization matrix.

In line with this, campus publications are unsafe from repression. Last November 16, an individual forcibly tried to enter the office of the Philippine Collegian, the University of the Philippine’s official student publication in order to conduct surveillance and inspections for an unknown reason. 

Aside from committing human rights violations against media practitioners, the Duterte administration is notorious for utilizing massive troll farms to combat the truth. A 2017 study of the University of Oxford included the Philippines in a list of countries with governments that utilizes social media manpower to bend public opinion. Data-mining firm, Cambridge Analytica and its parent company once claimed in an already archived article that it helped rebrand Duterte as a “strong, no-nonsense man of action” that would deliver the Philippines from crime. Last month, Facebook removed various Duterte-leaning pages for violating its terms and agreements on spam and authenticity.

WE, THE CAMPUS PUBLICATIONS AND MEDIA ORGANIZATIONS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF SANTO TOMAS, MUST STAY TRUE TO OUR SERVICE FOR TRUTH AND OPPOSE FALSE PROPAGANDA.

American-based non-profit organization Committee to Protect Journalists declared the Maguindanao massacre as the “single deadliest event for journalists”. Ten years after its aftermath, justice is yet to be served. 

As Duterte approaches his fourth term in his presidency, bloodshed and violence against the media remain prevalent.

We, campus media organizations, amidst all the efforts to curtail our freedom, should always stand firm to stand by the truth and to hold the line.

Veritas in Caritate.

SIGNATORIES

RABIN P. BOTE
President
TomasinoWeb

JOHN AARON PANGILINAN
Executive Editor
TomasinoWeb

LOUISE JULIE W. PABICO 
Editor-in-Chief 
College of Science Journal 

BERNICE KYRENE P. GUTIERREZ
Editor-in-Chief
Accountancy Journal

PEACH ARIANNA P. MANOS
Associate Editor
The Flame

VES EVA REVLINE A. DILLA
Editor-in-Chief
La Stampa

JAMES EDVER O. MERCADO
President/Director
UST Tiger S.H.O.O.T

Patrick M. Demition
President/Artistic Director
Teatro Tomasino

Loraine B. Villarina
President
UST Literary Society

Clarence Pryce O. Almazan
President
Performing Arts Guild

Xyvel Vincent S. Niez
Editor-in-Chief
Commerce Journal

Jefson Romeo B. Felix
Editor-in-Chief
Purple Gazette

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It’s time to set sail and start your worldwide journey! AIESEC in the Philippines is back, and this time it’s national!

For the first time, AIESEC in the Philippines will hold a National Global Village with a theme “Journey With A Why” wherein participants can experience a whole day of cross-cultural exchange, be given the opportunity to catch a glimpse of the world’s rich cultures, and embark on an adventure where opportunities to develop the world and improving one’s self awaits.

This August 31, AIESEC in the Philippines will bring the world much closer to the Filipino youth at Eastwood Mall Atrium wherein they can experience interacting with youth from other countries who are currently here in the Philippines for volunteer work for the projects of AIESEC Philippines and its local chapters from other universities.

Over 10 from other 120 countries in partnership with AIESEC are expected to participate in the event.

Organized by the largest youth-led organization AIESEC, the National Global Village encourages the next generation of Filipino game-changers to know their why as they take on their AIESEC journey, and build the foundations of a more Globally Competitive Philippines.

Experience what the world can offer you by visiting our cultural booths, having a taste of multi-cultural foods, sign up at our exchange booths, and have some fun because we’re going to have some cultural performances that will showcase the cultures of different countries.

Watch out for live performances from local bands such as The Clamshell Boxes, Paper Satellites, Sofa Sky, Crescent City, Mt. Lewis, and Submission PH!

In a world where misunderstanding takes place because of misinformation and ignorance of other people’s beliefs and values, AIESEC in the Philippines hopes to immerse the Filipino youth to the diversity of the world’s cultures to combat conflict and violence through understanding and embracing cultural differences.

The event is happening on the 31st of August 2019 at the Eastwood Mall Atrium from 11AM-9PM!

Let’s dream our why together, visit the National Global Village!

Facebook: AIESEC in the Philippines
Twitter: AIESECinPHL
RSVP: https://www.facebook.com/events/415851205666851/

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