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[av_heading heading=’Journalists protesting ‘oppression’ in rally’ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=” av-medium-font-size-title=” av-small-font-size-title=” av-mini-font-size-title=” av-medium-font-size=” av-small-font-size=” av-mini-font-size=” admin_preview_bg=”]
BY RANIE AZUE
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January 19, 2018
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BACOLOD City – Media workers in Negros Occidental and this capital city will join a nationwide rally today against what they assert as the “oppression” of the freedom of expression and the press under the Duterte administration.
Journalists under the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines’ (NUJP) Bacolod/Negros Chapter and the Negros Press Club will hold the “Black Friday for Freedom” protest at the Fountain of Justice in front of the old city hall at around 6 p.m.
They will protest the government “crackdown” on media, particularly those critical of the policies of the administration, according to NUJP-Bacolod/Negros chairperson Marchel Espina. Participants will wear black T-shirts.
The protest will be held in light of the Security and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) decision to revoke the certificate of incorporation of the online news site Rappler.
The SEC accused Rappler, which has released reports critical of the Duterte administration’s war on drugs, among others, of using a “deceptive scheme” to circumvent constitutional restrictions on Philippine media ownership.
According to the SEC, Rappler “sold control to foreigners” by issuing Philippine depositary receipts – or PDRs, an investment tool – to Omidyar Network that come with a provision that the news site cannot alter its articles of incorporation and bylaws, among others, without prior approval from the investment group.
Rappler has repeatedly clarified that the news site is “100-percent Filipino-owned” and that the PDRs do not grant their holders ownership and control.
Rappler and several local and international media organizations viewed the decision as the government’s attempt to shut down an independent media organization and an attack on press freedom.
President Rodrigo Duterte had repeatedly railed against the news site, claiming it is “owned by Americans” and calling it a “fake news outlet.” The Office of the Solicitor General was the one that sought investigation into the ownership of Rappler.
Among those that expressed support to Rappler was the Negros Press Club.
“While we recognize the state’s responsibility of upholding our Constitution, as well as the regulation of all businesses, we fear that the act of the Securities and Exchange Commission is a smack against press freedom and freedom of expression,” press club president Renato Duran said in a statement.
“It creates a chilling effect for Philippine media that we will face suppression if we do not bow down to government’s whims and caprices,” Duran said. “We stand by the purpose of which the media exist – to tell the truth at all costs.”
He added: “Suppression of the press and the freedom of expression is a violation of human rights enshrined and protected in our Constitution.”/PN
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