It was September 1972. You worked at a radio station in Metro Manila as a news director. Things were going smoothly on air. That was until you heard banging on the door. A flood of armed men stormed into your station and arrested every one of your staff, including you. The dead light of the ON AIR sign was the last thing you saw.
That was the reality of Filipino journalists during Martial Law. Upon declaration on September 21, 1972, then president Ferdinand Marcos ordered the closure of privately-owned newspapers, magazines, radio and television facilities, and other media communications (Tuazon, n.d.). It was the end of the golden age of Philippine journalism.
The press hadn't fully recovered after Martial Law. Yes, the Philippine Press Institute was re-established in 1987 during Cory Aquino's time (CMFR Staff, 2007). But the Philippines couldn't reclaim the glory of being the "freest in Asia." During Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's time as president, journalists had to deal with violence and defamation lawsuits in an attempt to silence them (Freedom House, 2009). Fast forward today; it is no secret that current president Rodrigo Duterte isn't afraid to shut down (CBS News, 2018) and red-tag (HRW, 2022) journalists he disagrees.
Tyrants are terrified of press freedom. Nothing must stand in their way at producing an image of perfection and control inside and outside the country. Unfortunately, this happens at the expense of their citizens. But journalists stand in their way at achieving total dominance. The more knowledgeable people are with the government's schemes, the less likely they will fall for them. So to gain the upper hand, the authoritarians have to snuff those who are unafraid to talk back.
But according to Article III of the 1987 Constitution, Filipinos have the right to freedom of speech, expression, free press, and the freedom to assemble and petition the government to redress grievances. And no law should stand in the way (Ph. Const. Article III). Every Filipino has the right to speak when there is injustice and mistreatment from the government. Likewise, the media has the right to report and critique the activities of national leaders.
If the government continues to use its powers to censor free speech, everyday citizens will be the most affected. Ignorance of current affairs can spread deadly misinformation. The poor will continue to become poorer, and the foolish will continue to be fooled.
Citizens are not powerless, though. We live in a democratic country where the vote of the many will determine the few who will lead. Every Juan, Maria, and Pedro can stop tyrannical rulership with their choice.
In this upcoming election, Filipinos are challenged to use their choice wisely. Everybody has the ability to bring back the golden age of journalism and press freedom in the Philippines and say goodbye to dictatorship, censorship, and cruelty.
There are many factors in determining who your new leader will be. But if you wish for a free country, pick a leader who is not afraid of ink.
Entry for White & Blue 68th Anniversary Journalism Contest
References
The 1987 constitution of the Republic of the Philippines – article III: GOVPH. Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines. (n.d.). Retrieved March 10, 2022, from https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/constitutions/the-1987-constitution-of-t he-republic-of-the-philippines/the-1987-constitution-of-the-republic-of-the -philippines-article-
iii/#:~:text=No%20person%20shall%20be%20deprive d,equal%20protection%20of%20the%20laws.
CBS News. (2018, January 17). Rappler shut down after reports critical of Philippine leader. CBS News. Retrieved March 10, 2022, from https://www.cbsnews.com/news/philippines-rappler-critical-reports-rodrig ue-duterte-free-press-concerns/
CMFR Staff. (2007, September 1). Back to the past: A timeline of press freedom. Center For Media Freedom and Responsibility . Retrieved March 10, 2022, from https://cmfr-phil.org/media-ethics-responsibility/ethics/back-to-the-past-a- timeline-of-press-freedom/
Freedom House. (2009, May 1). Freedom of the press 2009 - Philippines. Refworld. Retrieved March 10, 2022, from https://www.refworld.org/docid/4b2741fdc.html
Human Rights Watch. (2022, January 17). Philippines: End deadly 'red-tagging' of activists. Human Rights Watch. Retrieved March 10, 2022, from https://www.hrw.org/news/2022/01/17/philippines-end-deadly-red-tagging -activists
Tuazon, R. R. (n.d.). The print media: A tradition of freedom. National Commission for Culture and the Arts. Retrieved March 10, 2022, from https://ncca.gov.ph/about-ncca-3/subcommissions/subcommission-on-cu ltural-disseminationscd/communication/the-print-media-a-tradition-of-free dom/
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