The Supreme Court is hearing oral arguments on petitions against the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) of 2020. We, editors and reporters of news organizations around the Philippines, join the voices of various sectors opposing provisions of the law that trample upon fundamental freedoms, including the freedom of the press.
Section 9 of the ATA proscribes speech, proclamations, writings, emblems, and banners that fall under the new crime of “inciting to terrorism,” imposing a penalty of 12 years in prison. As the law fails to provide a clear definition of terrorism and is vague about what constitutes acts of terrorism, Section 9 could make media practitioners vulnerable to wrongful charges and arrests, producing a chilling effect on all media practice.
Government’s assurance that protection clauses are in place fly in the face of the experience of news organizations and journalists who have been red-tagged and branded as “terrorists” by government and security officials. With the government’s anti-insurgency campaign causing a rise in killings of activists, we fear for the safety of our colleagues.
We call on the government to uphold the freedom of the press. We demand that the rights and safety of journalists and media houses be respected and protected at all times. Many of us have seen how efforts to go after “enemies of the people” have led to zealous securitization of the government’s response to the problems of the country.
The ATA will not succeed in reducing the threat of terrorism with over-reaching prohibitions on expressive as well as political freedoms. It will reduce this country to a field of submissive and unquestioning individuals, to be herded like sheep by the police and the military. We reject the Anti-Terrorism Act!
Signed:
Media Organizations
1. Tess Bacalla for Asia Democracy Chronicles
2. Felix Espinida Jr. for BicolExpress.Net
3. Len Olea for Bulatlat
4. Red Batario for the Center for Community Journalism and Development
5. Melinda De Jesus for Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility
6. Francis Allan Angelo for the Daily Guardian
7. Carolyn Arguillas for Mindanews
8. Herbie Gomez for the Mindanao Gold Star Daily
9. Mike Navarro for Mindanao News Express
10. Jonathan de Santos for the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP)
11. Carmela Fonbuena for the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ)
12. Ariel Sebellino for the Philippine Press Institute (PPI)
13. Ezra Acayan for the Photojournalist's Center of the Philippines (PCP)
14. Glenda Gloria for Rappler
15. Bobby Labalan for Sorsogon Organization of News Writers, Announcers and Reporters (SONAR) and the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines-Sorsogon
16. Lucia Tangi for the U.P. Department of Journalism
17. Ellen Tordesillas for VERA Files
18. Sol Juvida for Women Writers in Media
In their individual capacities:
1. Michelle Abad, Rappler
2. Julie Alipala, Philippine Daily Inquirer – Mindanao
3. Patricia Aquino, Pumapodcast
4. Ana Corina Arceo, Rappler
5. Jez Aznar
6. Samantha Bagayas, Rappler
7. Rhaydz Barcia, Manila Times and Rappler
8. Bernice Beltran, PCP
9. Karina Bolasco
10. Jairo Bolledo, Rappler
11. Lian Buan, Rappler
12. Kaye Cabal, Rappler
13. Gaea Katreena Cabico
14. Bhal Cabrera, Mindanao News Express
15. Amalia Cabusao, PPI
16. Gerg Cahiles
17. Gerard Carreon, PCP
18. Mara Cepeda, Rappler
19. Adelle Chua
20. Ian Nicolas Cigaral
21. Alec Corpuz, PCP
22. Sheila Coronel
23. Cong B. Corrales, Mindanao Gold Star Daily
24. Neni Sta Romana Cruz
25. Bea Cupin, Rappler
26. Noemi Lardizabal Dado
27. Camille Diola
28. Jimmy Domingo, PCP
29. Ceres Doyo
30. Camille Elemia, Rappler
31. Maria Elena Catajan
32. Paterno Esmaquel, Rappler
33. Marchel Espina
34. Nonoy Espina, NUJP
35. Sharlene Festin, PCP
36. Chay Hofileña, Rappler
37. Karol Ilagan, PCIJ
38. Mila Garcia
39. Jodesz Gavilan, Rappler
40. Miriam Grace Go, Rappler
41. JC Gotinga
42. Xave Gregorio
43. Kenneth Roland Guda, PCIJ
44. Jules Guiang, Rappler
45. Carljoe Javier, Pumapodcast
46. LeAnne Jazul, Rappler
47. Jee Jeronimo, Rappler
48. Sol Juvida
49. Victor D. Kintanar, PCP
50. Dwight De Leon, Rappler
51. Marguerite de Leon, Rappler
52. Raffy Lerma, PCP
53. Ed Lingao
54. Barnaby Lo
55. Rommel Lopez, PressOne.ph
56. Franco Luna
57. Pauline Macaraeg, Rappler
58. Joan Maglipon
59. Bonz Magsambol, Rappler
60. Prinz Magtulis
61. Julius Mariveles, Digital News Exchange
62. Bullit Marquez
63. Allan Mediante, BusinessWeek Mindanao
64. Manny Mogato
65. Joey Natividad, Bicol Express News
66. John Nery, columnist, Philippine Daily Inquirer
67. Joyce Pañares, Manila Standard
68. Bella Perez-Rubio
69. Chris Quintana, PCP
70. Pia Ranada, Rappler
71. James Relativo
72. Maria Ressa Rappler
73. Carmela Reyes-Estrope
74. Jojo Riñoza, PCP
75. Rick Rocamora, PCP
76. Glen Ray Roluna Mindanao News Express
77. Chery Salazar, PCIJ
78. Mark Z. Saludes, PCP
79. David Santos
80. Basilio Sepe, PCP
81. Fernando Sepe Jr., PCP
82. Raisa Marielle Serafica, Rappler
83. Paulyn Sicam
84. Floreen Simon, PCIJ
85. Rambo Talabong, Rappler
86. Maria Tan, PCP
87. Rochit Tanedo
88. Cristina Gratia Tantengco, Pumapodcast
89. Raffy Tima
90. Sofia Tomacruz, Rappler
91. Bernadette Uy, PCP
92. Inday Espina Varona
93. Chito dela Vega, Rappler
94. Daniel Vicedo, PCP
95. Pau Villanueva, PCP
96. Patricia Lourdes Viray
97. Sofia Virtudes, Rappler
98. Villamor C. Visaya Jr., Philippine Daily Inquirer – Luzon
99. Marites Vitug, Rappler