The witnesses of both agencies admitted the issuance of the NTC memo and therefore, also admitted that the Philippine government implemented the censorship against 27 websites. Their testimonies did not contradict Bulatlat’s assertion that the NTC, NSC and former National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr. violated our right to publish, our right to free press and our right to free expression.
The NTC memorandum blocking the 27 websites not only violates the right to publish and the right to free expression of the media outfits and organizations but also the right of their readers and subscribers to access alternative information and analyses, including those not found in other websites.
We, the undersigned, urge the NTC to reconsider its decision and call on President Marcos Jr. to rescind this illegal, unfair and unwarranted restriction on press freedom, the freedoms of expression and association, and the right to due process.
Here’s the timeline of Bulatlat’s fight against one form of state-sponsored censorship.
“Insisting on the blocking of our websites runs counter to the government’s claims of having a vibrant democracy. We call on the Philippine government to stop violating the people’s right to free expression and opinion,” they said.
“We reiterate that Esperon should be held accountable for masterminding the blocking of more than a dozen websites of media outfits and progressive groups.”
“Cyber censorship has no place in a democracy.”
The hearing for the case Bulatlat filed to seek the nullification of the website blocking order starts again on June 15 under a new judge.
“It is an insult to the intelligence and independence of the presiding Judge, and the entire judicial system for that matter.”
A few weeks before the start of the trial, the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) asked the Quezon City trial judge handling the website blocking case to inhibit, saying that she has shown “bias and partiality” in favor of Bulatlat.
Alternative online news Bulatlat assailed the attempt of former National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr. to exonerate himself over his own website blocking order by saying the current security chief should replace him as a defendant.