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What press freedom?

Twenty-three Filipino journalists have been slain in the last three years, 66 since democracy was restored in 1986. As the world celebrates World Press Freedom Day on May 3, a Dipolog broadcaster was shot — the latest victim of attacks against journalists in this country.

Three journalists were murdered in the first three months of 2005; four others survived assassination attempts but suffered serious wounds. And yet, we still hear the myth: The Philippines press is one of Asia’s freest. Philippine media is noisy; reportage and commentary are robust, sometimes to a fault. Overworked, underpaid ­ sometimes, not paid at all ­ majority of Filipino journalists continue to serve as watchdogs of society. Harried and often times harassed, and frequently bereft of opportunities to improve professional skills, they continue to uncover anomalies in government and the private sector.

They report on long-running conflicts that have cost the lives of tens of thousands of Filipinos and give voice to peacemakers, marginalized sectors and others who have fallen by the wayside of development. That Philippine media is flawed is not in question. That there is corruption within our ranks is an acknowledged truth. That many journalists open themselves to conflict-of-interest situations is likewise true. Many Filipino journalists, more than half of this country’s media workforce, do not receive the benefits of regular wages or social welfare. They work in dangerous situations without logistics support.

When they are harassed, threatened, wounded or killed, there is little support they can expect from their employers or media partners. But time and again, Philippine media remains the last recourse of citizens who find the road to justice and good governance blocked by rapacious or abusive government officials and their patrons in the private sector. This is why journalists are being killed in this country, together with activists, human rights workers, environmentalists, anti-corruption advocates, lawyers and judges. The guns are trained on those who stand between the people and those who seek to trample basic civil liberties, loot public coffers and the communities’ natural resources, or who seek to establish criminal dynasties.

The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines believes there can be no press freedom if journalists exist in conditions of fear, poverty and corruption. Neither can there be genuine democracy in a country whose citizens exist under the same conditions. If the Philippine press is free it is because generations of journalists have fought for press freedom. If the Philippines remains democratic it is because its citizens have valiantly fought a dictatorship and shown the political will to resist and oust those who would subvert democracy in this nation. The struggle continues today.

Those who want the attacks to bring on a chilling effect on Philippine media will find journalists more determined to unearth the truth. And as journalists unite to defend press freedom from other encroaching dangers, including government attempts to gag media under the guise of its anti-terrorism campaign, they are likewise working with civic groups, non-government organizations and people’s organizations defending Philippine democracy. While we in media mourn for our murdered colleagues—and for all those murdered because they fought for justice—we send a strong message to the enemies of press freedom: We will not be cowed. We will not be silenced. You will not steal democracy from the Filipino people. #

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