This story
was taken from Bulatlat, the Philippines's alternative weekly
newsmagazine (www.bulatlat.com, www.bulatlat.net, www.bulatlat.org).
Vol. VI, No. 4, February 26 - March 4, 2006
Rescind Proclamation 1017, End the Assault on the
Media Posted by Bulatlat © 2006 Bulatlat
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Alipato Publications Permission is granted to reprint or redistribute this article, provided its author/s and Bulatlat are properly credited and notified.
Media were among the first targets of Ferdinand Marcos when he declared Martial
Law in 1972. The news blackout allowed him free rein to round up political
opponents and strip the rest of the nation's citizens of their civil liberties.
Once again, the media were among the first casualties as President Gloria
Macapagal-Arroyo declared a state of emergency. Proclamation 1017 accused media
of having "recklessly magnified" claims of anti-Arroyo forces.
In the early morning of February 25 – the anniversary of the 1986 People Power
EDSA uprising – policemen raided the offices of the Daily Tribune and have since
been stationed there. PNP Director General Arturo Lomibao recommended state
control of the newspaper. He further warned that all of Philippine media face
the same fate unless they
obey government "standards," with police doing the evaluation of news coverage
and commentaries.
Meanwhile, the National Telecommunications Commission warned broadcast media
that it would shut down radio and TV stations inciting the people to sedition
and/or rebellion.
Proclamation 1017 is thus a continuing threat to the Bill of Rights, the
Constitution, and democracy, of which press freedom is a cornerstone. As
responsible media professionals, we are aware of the crucial role of free media
in providing a free people the information
they want and need.
We therefore demand that Proclamation 1017 be immediately rescinded.
We demand the immediate halt to assaults on the media and press freedom.
We demand immediate withdrawal of troops from the Daily Tribune and other media
offices.