The University’s journalism professors slammed the recent order of the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) to block access to certain websites including independent media outlets Bulatlat and Pinoy Weekly.
NTC was asked by the outgoing National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon on June 6 to block websites that are allegedly “affiliated to and are supporting” terrorist organizations, specifically the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), New Peoples’ Army (NPA), and National Democratic Front (NDF).
Esperon’s request, which listed 28 websites, had all been blocked without prior warning.
“Bulatlat and the groups in the NSC [National Security Council] list were never informed of the said blocking request,” Janess Ellao, a reporter from Bulatlat wrote.
Since June 17, the 21-year-old alternative news outlet has been inaccessible to its subscribers using PLDT and Smart Communications. After writing to NTC, it was only then that they learned from a reliable source that the national security adviser made such a request.
Journalists around the country, including several professors from the University’s journalism program, aired their concerns with regards to the issue.
For Asst. Prof. Jeremiah Opiniano, democracy values freedom of expression regardless of a news outlet’s political leaning.
He added that media outlets being “designated” by the NSC is something to be concerned about.
“Regardless of a news outlet’s political leaning (extreme left to left – where the listed news outlets may be categorized; extreme right to right – where the pro-government news outlets fall under), a democracy like ours values freedom of expression,” Opiniano said in an interview with TomasinoWeb.
“We let these news outlets provide the public with the information that may help people make important life decisions, from daily purchasing necessities to voting during elections,” he added.
Marishelle Medina, another faculty member of UST Journalism, echoed Opiniano’s statement, giving emphasis on being able to “at the very least question [the] government and all its stakeholders’ actions.”
“One of our roles as journalists and as Filipinos (especially as Filipinos) is make the government accountable — or at least provide readers the means that will allow them to do so,” she said in an interview.
“Information is a very important commodity, and it has to be shared if we are to achieve genuine change and unity. It has to be inclusive, not exclusive,” she added.
For Ramon Royandoyan, another Journalism professor, this is the Duterte administration’s “direct attack to constitutionally protected rights” and would continue to send chilling effects to how journalism is practiced in the country.
“This would cloud Philippine journalism’s struggles to regain the public’s trust and beat back propaganda and disinformation,” he said in an interview.
“Whether we like to admit it or not, the Philippines is still home to a vibrant democracy that should remember it needs to uphold the value of a free press. Journalism is not a crime,” he added.
Aside from journalists, several human rights groups and organizations also expressed concern on the issue, calling it an attack on freedom of expression and information.
What is the basis?
In an interview, UST Journalism program coordinator Felipe Salvosa II questioned Esperon’s basis of his accusation.
“The accusation of being involved in terrorist activities is a heavy one. Was due process observed? Did the NSA ask these news organizations to explain, or tell them what’s wrong with their work?” Salvosa said in an interview with TomasinoWeb.
On June 23, Esperon defended the blocking of the sites, affirming that all mentioned in the request were affiliated with the communist insurgency.
This was debunked by the CPP-NPA in an earlier statement saying that only seven of the 28 websites mentioned are affiliated with them.
In Esperon’s request, the national security adviser claimed that these websites “have established pervasive online presence” to publish “propaganda and misinformation campaigns” against the national government.
He utilized the designation of the Anti-Terrorism Council (ATC) on the CPP-NPA-NDF as a terrorist organization as a basis to block the said websites.
Designation, as defined in Section 25 of the Republic Act 11479 or the Anti-Terror Law (ATL), is the power given to ATC to “designate” or identify certain individuals, groups of persons, organizations, or associations as terrorists without any court order.
However, in section 6.4 of the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of ATL, the effect of designation is only to freeze the assets of the subject being designated. The IRR also does not indicate any provision that allows blocking of websites.
It also must be noted that Bulatlat and Pinoy Weekly, which report about human rights and issues of the marginalized, are not designated as terrorists by the ATC.
As of writing, the websites of Bulatlat and Pinoy Weekly remain inaccessible. A “mirror site” is provided for users to continuously access Bulatlat despite the recent incident.
Ian Patrick Laqui
Reports Editor, Reports Writer
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Justine Xyrah Rennzel Garcia
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