On March 16, 2020, Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases directed journalists to secure accreditation from the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) within 72 hours to continue with their work during the quarantine period. This policy is effectively ‘prior restraint’ to press freedom as a valid press ID is sufficient to establish the journalists’ identity and work. The Duterte administration remained indifferent to calls for the policy to be rescinded.
Free press is more essential than ever amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Unfortunately, this pandemic is being used by the Duterte administration as a pretext for placing draconian restrictions on the freedom of the press and the people’s freedom of expression. A fake news provision was inserted in the law that gave Duterte additional powers—even if ‘fake news’ does not have a legal definition in the country and will make the government and law enforcement authorities the sole arbiter—even judge, jury, executioner—of what is fake news during this time. If that is not enough, journalists covering a protest condemning the extrajudicial killing of an activist and relief volunteer in Iloilo were arrested along with the protesters calling out impunity on May 1. They were released on bail of P12,000 each, but will still face charges in relation to the country’s antiquated, Martial law-era law against illegal assembly, plus disobedience to persons in authority and quarantine violations and “stay at home” violations under the total lockdown that the whole Iloilo province was placed until May 15.
Journalism serves as a crucial function in times like this, especially when it aims to inform the public about critical information and to monitor government actions.
Freedom of speech, which includes the right to seek, receive and distribute all kinds of information through any media, extends to everyone. Although we recognize that restrictions on movement are necessary to beat the coronavirus, this should not be used as an excuse for cracking down on voices critical of the administration or the work of journalists. Measures to combat the virus must never deter journalists from doing their job or the people from voicing out their situations and protestations.
We applaud our journalists for keeping communities aware and encourage people to voraciously join them in recognizing and discussing issues that need to be addressed and those that need to be raised to the government. Without accurate and reliable information, no crisis can be solved.
As we celebrate World Press Freedom Day during the COVID-19 pandemic and 48 days under total lockdown or ECQ in the National Capital Region and other areas, we are calling on our government to protect our journalists, who are frontliners themselves and vital partners of the nation in the fight against this pandemic.
We also call on the government to release Frenchie Mae Cumpio, detained since February 7 on ‘illegal possession of firearms charges’, whose arrest and continued detention was conducted in similar fashion to the arrests of critics and activists and even drug war killings with “planted evidence” on those who “fought back” (nanlaban). She and around 610 political prisoners in the country are vulnerable to the outbreak in the country’s jails whose authorities reported a 394%-congestion rate in 2019—simply for doing her job, and for the rest, for their political beliefs or association. For being.
Attacks on press freedom and freedom of expression must stop! We stand for a free and independent press!
