On January 13, Manila Today in cooperation with Tudla Productions and the Free Lady Ann Salem Network spearheaded a lawfare forum and conversed with journalist and professor Danilo Arao and Salem’s legal counsel Atty. Kristina Conti regarding the state of the media and the dangers of the Anti-Terrorism Act towards journalists and truth-tellers.
“Icy was not targeted because she was Icy, but because of the nature of her work.” This was the consensus.
Lady Ann ‘Icy’ Salem is a Filipino journalist and editor of Manila Today, an alternative media outlet which was red-tagged during a Senate hearing held in December 1 last year. Nine days after her publication was red-tagged, she was arrested under alleged charges alongside six other unionists. Policemen entered her home in the wee hours of the morning and produced firearms and explosives from her belongings while her back was turned.
She worked in alternative media, which gave weight to the stories of the marginalized and underrepresented, and her stories often led to the criticism of systems and institutions that have failed to perform to their mandate of service.
It was this nature of her work, which, according to Prof. Arao, threatened “corrupt and repressive” state elements.
Alternative media outfits have always been staunch defenders of press freedom and democracy, and ensured accurate reportage alongside amplifying marginalized voices.
Red-tagging and harassment of alternative media reporters is not a new phenomenon.
It is further intensified during the Duterte administration with the establishment of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict and the passage of the Anti-Terrorism Act–a rehash of the 2007 Human Security Act–which has vague and sweeping definitions of terrorist acts. It criminalizes not only harmful physical acts, but could also be interpreted to hamper free speech and the right to organize.
“Ang ATA ay nakitaan namin at least ng dalawang provisions na delikado, lahat ng nangyayari sa media lalo na sa alternative media ay may political context at ang ATA ay part din ng political context,” said Atty. Conti.
However, Prof. Arao and Atty. Conti maintain hope–these laws and the culture of impunity prevailing today could and should be challenged. Education of oneself and others, along with organized and collective action is key.
