Illustration by Joseph Luigi Almuena | PCIJ

We join our fellow Filipinos in celebrating the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize given to journalists Maria Ressa and Dmitri Muratov.

We applaud the Nobel Committee’s recognition of the courage not just of these two journalists but of so many others who speak truth to power “in a world in which democracy and freedom of the press face increasingly adverse conditions.”

As Filipino journalists, we are concerned about the fragile state of press freedom in our country, especially as the 2022 elections draw near. The climate for independent reporting is fraught. Lawsuits have been filed in an attempt to silence our colleagues. ABS-CBN, the country’s largest broadcast network, has been shut down. Frontline journalists, many of them just in their 20s and 30s,  bear the brunt. They are moving targets for death threats, insults and unrelenting trolling.

The pandemic has made access to information and to officials particularly challenging. Financially, news organizations are hurting. Politically, their legitimacy is under attack. But so many soldier on, bringing fact-based news and opinion in the belief that truth-telling matters, even in the era of lies and disinformation.

Press freedom in the Philippines is resilient and enduring. This resilience was forged over time, from the struggle against colonial rule, the tyranny of authoritarianism and the challenges of democracy. Filipinos have defended press freedom because they know it is their right and that their hard-word democracy cannot thrive without it.

The coming elections will be a battle between truth and lies. As journalists, we promise to remain true to the standards of fact-based and ethical newsgathering. But we are outnumbered by professional public relations staffs and troll factories. We alone cannot fight the deluge of disinformation in an election where the future of our democracy is at stake.

We, therefore, call on all those running for public office to make clear their stance on press freedom and to be transparent about their public relations efforts. We ask political campaigns to respect the rights of journalists to report freely, without fear or favor. Before his death, Jose Luis Gascon, the late chair of the Human Rights Commission, proposed a Media Safety Unit. We endorse this proposal and hope that the new chair of the commission will be true to its mandate to safeguard our human rights.

We call on social media companies to make their platforms safe for journalists.

Finally, we ask the public to support a free press and journalists who expose lies and stand up for truth.

 

Signed:

Media Organizations

1. AGE Communications

2. Aklan Press Club, Inc. 

3. Altermidya – People’s Alternative Media Network

4. Aninaw Productions

5. Asian Center for Journalism

6. Bicol Express News

7. Bulatlat

8. Calbayog Journal

9. Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility

10. College Editors Guild of the Philippines

11. Daily Tribune

12. Dampig Katarungan

13. Davao Today

14. Freedom for Media, Freedom for All Network

15. Impact Publishing

16. Kodao Productions

17. Manila Today

18. Mindanao News Express

19. MindaNews

20. National Union of Journalists of the Philippines

21. National Union of Journalists of the Philippines-NCR

22. Northern Dispatch

23. Paghimutad

24. Panay Today

25. Panaysayon

26. Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism

27. Philippine Press Institute

28. Photojournalists’ Center of the Philippines

29. Pinoy Media Center

30. Pinoy Weekly

31. Pokus Gitnang Luson Multimedia Network

32. PositivelyFilipino.com

33. Radyo Asenso 106.7 Farm FM

34. Rappler

35. REGINA – University of the Assumption

36. Samar Daily News Online

37. SamarNews.com

38. The News Room Philippines

39. Tudla Productions

40. UPLB Perspective

41. VERA Files

42. Women Writers in Media Now

 

In their individual capacities:

1. Al Alegre, Consortium on Democracy & Disinformation

2. Alfredo Ruzol, ABS-CBN News Digital

3. Amalia B. Cabusao, Mindanao Times

4. Angel Ayala, Bicol Express News

5. Angel Tesorero, Gulf News (UAE)

6. Ann Lourdes C. Lopez, Asian Institute of Journalism and Communication

7. Annie Perez-Gallardo, UP Cebu

8. Ara Eugenio, Reportr (Summit Media)

9. Arlene Pingol Mariposque, GMA 7 Dubai UAE

10. Ariel Sebellino, Philippine Press Institute

11. Ashley Martelino

12. Aubrey Delos Reyes, GMA Network, Inc

13. Balbino “Ka Bino” Guerrero Jr

14. Bart Guingona

15. Beatrice Puente, News5 Digital

16. Ben Balce, Mindanao Gold Star Daily

17. Bernard Testa

18. Bert Basa, Philippine Daily Inquirer (former correspondent)

19. Bess Angelina Zamora, Philippine Press Institute

20. Bhal Cabrera

21. Caesar “Bong” Z. Lacson, Punto! Central Luzon

22. Carolyn Arguillas, MindaNews

23. Carmela Fonbuena, Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism

24. Catalina Ricci Madarang

25. Cherry Mae Salazar, Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism

26. Chi Liquicia, VERA Files

27. Chit Roces-Santos

28. Chris Pagulayan, Photojournalist Center of the Philippines; PRESS Photographers of the Philippines; PLAY Outdoors Media

29. Christa I. De La Cruz, SPOT.ph

30. Christian Deiparine, Philstar.com

31. Cora Lucas, Philippine Daily Inquirer

32. Dana Batnag

33. Danilo Araña Arao; Bulatlat, Kodao and Pinoy Weekly

34. Dante Dapitan

35. Daphne Rashid-Tadeo, REGINA-University of the Assumption

36. Denison Rey Dalupang, Philippine Daily Inquirer

37. DJ Yap, Philippine Daily Inquirer

38. Doming Sacote

39. Ed Lingao

40. Edwin P. Galvez, BusinessMirror

41. Elena Pelari

42. Elmer Valenzuela, PonD News Asia

43. Ezra Acayan

44. Felipe F. Salvosa II

45. Felix D. Cuntapay Jr., Balitang Hilaga news correspondent

46. Felix Espineda, Jr., Bicol Express News

47. Floreen Simon, Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism

48. Francis Allan L. Angelo, Daily Guardian

49. Franco Luna, Philstar.com

50. Frank Cimatu, Baguio Chronicle and Cordillera News Agency

51. Gab Humilde Villegas, Daily Tribune

52. Gaea Katreena Cabico, Philstar.com

53. Gang Badoy Capati 

54. Gemma Nemenzo, PositivelyFilipino.com

55. Glenn Ray Roluna

56. Hector Lawas

57. Ian Cigaral, Philstar.com

58. Inday Espina-Varona

59. Isabella Perez-Rubio, Philstar.com

60. Jane Uymatiao (blogger)

61. Jeline Malasig

62. Jervis Manahan, ABS-CBN News

63. Jester Delos Santos

64. Jimmy Domingo, Journalism Studies Assocation of the Philippines

65. Jo-ann Maglipon

66. Joanna Aglibot, Philippine Daily Inquirer

67. Joel S. Mataro

68. Joey Natividad, Bicol Express News

69. John Bello, Opinyon Quezon

70. John Nery, Rappler

71. John Ray Luciano

72. John Reczon E. Calay

73. Jonathan de Santos, NUJP and Philstar.com

74. Jonnel Pelari

75. Jose Ma. D. Nolasco, Philippine Daily Inquirer (retired executive director)

76. Joseph Edward Dela Cruz, REGINA-University of the Assumption

77. Josephine M. Mendoza

78. Julie S. Alipala, Philippine Daily Inquirer

79. Kara Magsanoc Alikpala

80. Katrina Hallare, OneNews.PH

81. Katrina Ventura

82. Kenneth Roland Guda, Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism

83. Kristofer Purnell, Philstar.com

84. Leilani Chavez

85. Lita Jane Cadalig, Baguio Midland Courier

86. Lourdes Escaros

87. Luis Liwanag

88. Luis V. Teodoro

89. Ma. Ceres P. Doyo. Women Writers in Media Now

90. Ma. Diosa Labiste 

91. Marchel Espina, Digicast Negros

92. Maria Karina A. Bolasco

93. Maria Lolita S. Lachica, Independent Documentary Producer

94. Marian Pastor Roces

95. Marites D. Vitug, Rappler

96. Mark Ernest Famatigan, UPLB Perspective

97. Martha Teodoro

98. Melinda Quintos de Jesus, Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility

99. Mia Noelle Rodriguez

100. Michael Navarro, Mindanao News Express TV

101. Michelle Zoleta, Quezon Chronos Publication

102. Minerva Z. Arceo, Pampanga Press Club. 

103. Mona Lisa Yuchengco

104. Neni Sta. Romana Cruz, Women Writers in Media Now

105. Nicko Talavera, ONE News PH

106. Noemi L. Dado

107. Patricia Baes, Spot.ph

108. Patricia Lourdes Viray, Philstar.com

109. Paulynn P. Sicam, Women Writers in Media Now

110. Perfecto Caparas, Pinoy Publiko & Pressenza

111. Peter J. G. Tabingo, Malaya

112. Pia Regalado, Reportr.World

113. Prinz Magtulis

114. Raffy Lerma

115. Raffy Tima

116. Rameses Javier Casten, Ram Speaks

117. Ramon R. Tuazon

118. Ramon Royandoyan, Philstar.com

119. Raymund B. Villanueva, Kodao Productions

120. Red Batario, Center for Community Journalism and Development

121. Renz Sumalinog

122. Rey J. Garcia,  The Mindanao Observer

123. Rhovin Luke Maglaqui, Philstar.com

124. Ricky Bautista, Samar Weekly Express and National Union of Journalists of the Philippines

125. Ricky Rivera, Impact Publishing

126. Rigie Malinao, Samar Daily News Online

127. Rizal Raoul Reyes

128. Robert Jaworski L. Abaño, Philippine Daily Inquirer

129. Roby Alampay, PumaPodcast

130. Rochit I. Tanedo, Women Writers in Media Now

131. Roel Hoang Manipon, Daily Tribune

132. Romidor Gloriane, Bicol Express New

133. Rommel Lopez, PressOne.ph

134. Rosette Adel

135. Rowena Paraan, ABS-CBN

136. Roy Narra, One News/One PH

137. Ryan Christopher J. Sorote, DYWC TeleRadyo – Negros Oriental

138. Sean Rafio, Daily Guardian

139. Shawn Yao, ONE News PH

140. Shayla Pereyra, College Editors Guild of the Philippines

141. Sheila Coronel, Women Writers in Media Now

142. Sol Juvida

143. Sonia Capio, NUJP Nueva Ecija

144. Sonny Fernandez, National Union of Journalists of the Philippines

145. Ted Aldwin Ong, peoplesdomain.net

146. Tess Bacalla

147. Therese San Diego Torres

148. Tita C. Valderama

149. Tonette Orejas, Philippine Daily Inquirer

150. Tony La Viña, PinoyMedia Center

151. Vergel Santos

152. Villamor C. Visaya Jr., Philippine Daily Inquirer and Luzonwide News Correspondent Publishing

153. Vince Jacob A. Visaya, The Manila Times and Luzonwide News Correspondent Publishing

154. Virgilio Cuizon, TFC NEWS

155. Xave Gregorio, Philstar.com

156. Yvonne T. Chua, University of the Philippines