At least 20 media workers from various campus publications and community media outfits were arrested while on coverage on Sunday, November 15, at Sucat People’s Park Muntinlupa.
The journalists were covering the Lakbayan ng Timog Katagalugan which was originally set to continue towards the Kampuhan in Liwasang Bonifacio today. Mass arrests have followed while the organizers of the group were still in the middle of negotiating with the police to let them continue their protest.
Suppresing dissent
As of press time, publication members from the UPLB Perspective, The Staple, Philippine Collegian, CCC The Sentinel were confirmed to be among those arrested. Meanwhile, 3 journalists from Southern Tagalog Exposure (STex), 3 coordinators from College Editors Guild of the Philippines ST and journalists from Parañaque and UP Baguio were also apprehended.
Alternative media alliance Altermidya Network condemned the police violence against the protesters and journalists.
“These incidents raise serious concerns about the safety of journalists covering public demonstrations and the conduct of police operations during the ASEAN Summit,” the network said in a statement.
Altermidya also added that several cases of harassment and manhandling of journalists were also documented during the morning protest at Liwasang Bonifacio.
“The government cannot claim to uphold democratic freedoms before the international community while police forces suppress public demonstrations and interfere with journalists documenting events on the ground.
Security preparations for an international gathering do not suspend constitutional rights. Freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, and press freedom must be respected, including when citizens express opposition to government policies and international agreements,” it furthered.
Meanwhile, the College Editors Guild of the Philippines (CEGP) also condemned the police operations against protesters and members of the campus press.
“The Guild vehemently condemns the mass arrests carried out by state forces, as these constitute clear violations of press freedom and attempts to suppress coverage of Lakbayan and Kampuhan, where people from different sectors are expressing their rejection of Pax Silica and Trump’s visit.
These mass arrests, acts of hamletting, intimidation harassment and attempted arrests for over 24 hours are deliberate crackdowns on freedom of expression. Not only are those who participate in the protests being targeted, but publications that highlight the grassroot struggle of those who are affected by Pax Silica. This stems from Marcos’ overkill order of police deployment to silence peaceful dissent,” CEGP said.
Calls for independent investigation, unconditional release
Following the arrests, press freedom advocates called for the immediate and unconditional release of journalists and protesters nabbed during the police operations.
“We demand that the Philippine National Police disclose the whereabouts and legal status of all those arrested, guarantee their safety, and ensure their immediate access to legal counsel.
We also demand an independent investigation into the arrests, the harassment and manhandling of media workers, the attempted arrests of campus journalists, and other reported acts of police violence against journalists and protesters. Police personnel found responsible for unlawful actions must be held accountable,” it said.
It also called for the support of fellow media organizations, campus publications, press freedom advocates, and other human rights group to stand with their detained and harassed colleagues and to defend the people’s right to know.
