Statement
May 17, 2012

The more things change, the more they remain the same. This is the grim realization as we lay our colleague, Mati City’s Nestor Libaton, to rest today.

This could not be truer for the independent Philippines press under President Benigno Aquino III, who promised to be the exact opposite of his predecessor.

Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, of course, presided over the bloodiest period thus far for Filipino journalists and media workers, with 140 perishing under her watch, including the 32 who died in the November 23, 2009 Ampatuan massacre, the single deadliest attack on the press ever.

Alas, under the current president, the frequency not only of media killings but all assaults, physical and otherwise, on the press has hardly abated.

Even before Mr. Aquino marks his second year in office, 12 journalists and media workers have already been murdered, or roughly one every two months.

Overall, this may still be half the death rate under Arroyo.

But this year, we have lost five in as many months: General Santos’ Christopher Guarin on January 5, Davao City’s Aldion Lavao on April 8, San Pablo City’s Michael Calanasan on April 24,Koronadal’s Rommel Palma on April 30, and Mati’s Nestor Libaton on May 8 – the last three killed within just 15 days.

The numbers might have been worse had the attempts to kill Fernan Angeles of Pasig last March 12 and Iloilo City’s Fernando Gabio on March 3 succeeded.

There has also been a spike in threats and harassment, with at least 13 cases reported to us, two of these – in Cotabato City and Northern Samar – targeting not individuals but whole groups of journalists.

These include the recent resumption of death threats against Cagayan de Oro broadcaster Michael James “Dacoycoy” Licuanan, who survived an assassination attempt in November last year, and the May 10 threat against Mati’s Lito Labra after discussing illegal mining, illegal logging and the murder, just two days earlier, of Libaton.

At least six libel cases, which are mostly intended to muzzle the media rather than seek redress, have been filed, including the P100-million suit by Iloilo City Mayor Jed Mabilog against a columnist and his editor, and the P75-million suit by Manny Pacquiao against NUJP General Santos chairman Edwin Espejo. Bombo Radyo’s Janjan Macailing on the other hand was slapped with three libel suits, filed in three different areas all outside his province, courtesy of a customs officer.

And there is the physical assault by the chief of police of Olongapo City on Randy Datu, who was forcibly barred from covering a hostage-taking incident.

With the 2013 elections looming, we fear that the attacks against members of media will escalate, as those who wish to silence criticisms, through threats or bullets, seem to be making their moves early, based on reports received by NUJP.

Why, in a country that boasts of being not just a democracy but the freest in this part of the world, do these things happen? How can a supposedly democratic government and society allow the slaughter of so many members of one of democracy’s cornerstones – a free press?

Again, we stress, we see no indication that the murder of individual journalists is part of state policy.

But it may as well be.

For the impunity with which media workers are murdered, attacked, threatened, harassed and sued stems from the same impunity with which extrajudicial murders, attacks, threats, arbitrary arrests, torture, forced displacements, trumped up charges and harassment that, as documented time and again, are routinely committed as part of the state’s policy towards those it disagrees with, or who disagree with it.

Yes, it may as well be.

For the pattern of most of our colleagues’ murders tends to indicate that these were ordered by the corrupt political leaders that infest our regions and provinces and cities and towns, who administration after administration, bar none, have allowed to amass vast wealth – invariably ill gotten – and maintain armed retainers in exchange for their loyalty to the central government and their help in maintaining control of their bailiwicks.

It may well be when the president takes to bashing the media for being critical and independent, betraying a mindset no different from that which shut us down with the declaration of Martial Law in 1972 and, more recently, one that hailed Jovito Palparan as a hero, thus encouraging and emboldening those who would seek to silence the independent press.

It very well could be since, notwithstanding Aquino’s professed commitment to freedom of expression, we are no closer to seeing the passage of a Freedom of Information law or decriminalizing libel.

Yet, it is also more than government apathy’s towards assaults on the press and outright hostility towards an independent media.

There are also the systemic abuses within the increasingly profit-driven industry, where very often media workers are forced into situations that push, even force, them into ethically compromising, therefore dangerous, situations.

Substandard wages, the lack of security of tenure and benefits, the deprivation of our right to organize, increasing contractualization and outsourcing, harsh – even dangerous – working conditions, requiring workers to solicit ads, in many instances the commissions taking the place of salaries, practically turning corruption into a commercial enterprise by selling airtime to unscrupulous politicians who then put colleagues desperate for work in an increasingly shrinking job market in the line of fire, and many other acts of commission or omission that push many media workers into compromising situations or, worse, making compromising choices, and constitute what can only be called unethical ownership.

And there is us.

It is time we, individually and collectively, reflect and act on the hard questions that confront us.

We need to close ranks once and for all to defend not just our rights and welfare but also of the people whose right to information should be our utmost priority.

We need to close ranks once and for all and demand that government put an end to the impunity that has cost so many lives and trampled so many rights, not just because it promised to but because it is its duty to do so.

To do less than this is to consign ourselves to a continuing nightmare of bloodshed and violated freedoms.

REFERENCE:

Nestor Burgos Jr.
Chairperson

FORTY-TWO ANCHORS, reporters and production employees of Radio Mindanao Network (RMN) in Manila are up in arms against the management of DZxl radio station after three of their union officers were dismissed in an apparent effort to break up the union.

Early this year, the RMN management terminated RMN Manila Employees Union (RMN-MEU) president Michael Rogas, vice president Lorenz Tanjoco and director Shane Juan. Two other union members were placed in floating status.

Rogas said they filed a notice of strike last May 7, 2012. The Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE)-NCR will hear their petition on Tuesday, May 15 at 2:30 pm.

The RMN-MEU had earlier filed union-busting and illegal dismissal cases against the management.

Rogas denounced the management’s anti-worker and anti-union activities and said the union will stage a rally in front of the RMN offices in Guadalupe Commercial Complex along EDSA Guadalupe in Makati City on Thursday, May 17.

Last Friday, May 11, the DoLE held the release of the Certification of Election of the union when three union members filed a motion to intervene. They denied that they are union members, that there was a union meeting and that Rogas is a regular employee.

Rogas said they immediately filed a counter-affidavit with proof that belied the claims of the three union members.

He said the series of union-busting and illegal dismissal actions started when they formed the union in November last year.

In September 2010, RMN DXdc Davao also dismissed station manager Maximo “Dodong” Solis for “loss of trust and confidence and willful disobedience.”

Solis charged the management with illegal dismissal and won the case at the National Labor Relations Commission last April 18, 2011.

RMN has 52 AM and FM stations nationwide and owned by brothers Eric Canoy (president), Charlie and Butch (vice presidents).

Rogas called on fellow media workers to support their actions.

The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) commends the unity being displayed by RMN Manila Employees Union to fight for better working conditions in the face of the management’s divide-and-rule tactics.

The NUJP supports the actions of RMN-MEU and decries the alarming pattern of illegal dismissals and union-busting activities of managements of various media outfits in the country.

Lito Labra, a commentator who has a daily radio program from 7:00 to 8:30 a.m. at 91.5 dxWM-Sunrise FM in Mati, said he received a threatening text message, minutes after his morning board.

Labra said he discussed about illegal mining, illegal logging and the recent death of broadcast reporter Nestor Libaton on his program.

The text message reads: “P**tang ina ka! Dapat ikaw ang namatay dili si Nestor (Libaton) nga bootan. ‘Tong amigo nimo sa Gensan dapat una ka ato. Sige ka balik-balik sa mining kay wala kay S.O.P., sige lang ug dili ka namo mabaslan naa man kay pamilya.

[You’re a son of a b**ch! You should have been the one who died and not Nestor (Libaton) who was a good man. You should have died ahead of your friend in Gensan (General Santos city). You keep on discussing about mining because you have not received any S.O.P. (bribe money). If we can’t get you, we can get your family.]

Labra said he has already reported the threat to the local police and has altered his routes which he has been doing ever since he received various threats that started last February when he discussed illegal mining and logging activities in Mati.

Although Labra could not identify a specific suspect, he said he received reports that a breakaway group of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) was out to kill him on orders of a mining company which is illegally operating in Mati.

Labra said he has talked with Manny Cuizon, of the mining company Phil. Youbang Mineral International Corp., who denied that they have paid off said group to have him killed.

Phil. Youbang is just one of the mining firms that Labra lambasted on-air for their illegal mining operations.

References:

JB R. Deveza
Coordinator
NUJP Mindanao Media Safety Office
0999 536 9592

Rowena C. Paraan
NUJP Secretary-General
Executive Coordinator, NUJP-IFJ Media Safety Office
0919 932 8746

NUJP Cagayan de Oro’s Statement on the City Prosecutor’s Dismissal of GMA 7 Northern Mindanao’s

 complaint against Tuburan Kagawad Roy Obsioma Yañez

We are appalled and we condemn the City Prosecutor’s Office dismissal of the grave threats complaint filed by GMA 7-Northern Mindanao against Barangay Tuburan Councilor Roy Obsioma Yañez.

In a three-page decision—dated 2 April 2012—Julieta Buhat-Piloton, Prosecutor II stated, “…the incident occurred in a public place and in the presence of other person hence ordinary human experience dictates that no one would dare commit a crime such as slapping someone with a burak at the risk of being readily implicated because of the presence of possible witnesses.”

We reiterate that although the incident happened in a public place, the prosecutor should have considered the location where the incident occurred. The village itself is deeply isolated in the uplands of the city.

We are concerned that this will set a precedent, which will embolden local officials of all levels to harass journalists who were doing their job in investigating an issue of public interest—mining.

This decision sends a chilling message to all journalists and media practitioners since we cannot seem even put a village councilor to trial for threatening Nef Abdul Malik Luczon and his crew as evidence by a video footage submitted to the City Prosecutors’ Office.

We deplore the fact that our struggle to put an end to impunity, in all forms has been cut-short even at the Fiscal’s level.

We quote the Joint Message of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova on the World Press Freedom Day, “Freedom of expression is one of our most precious rights. It underpins every other freedom and provides a foundation for human dignity. Free, pluralistic and independent media is essential for its exercise. This is a pillar of individual rights, a foundation for healthy societies and a force for social transformation.”

How can we—as a “pillar of individual rights—advance civil liberties and human rights when we, ourselves, can be silenced through threats, intimidation and harassments.

We call on the Department of Justice Secretary Leila De Lima to order a review of GMA 7’s complaint under the office of the Regional State Prosecutor Jaime Umpa.

For Reference:

Cong B. Corrales
Vice Chair
NUJP-Cagayan de Oro
0939.939,2399
corrales@gmx.com

(May 4, 2012)

Bombo Radyo chief of reporters Michael James “Dacoycoy” Licuanan, who survived an assassination attempt on November 24 last year, has reported receiving another death threat.

The threat, which was sent by SMS, stated: “Naa na diay ka pusil karon. Dili gihapon na makaluwas nimo. Pwede tika hiposon odtong dako. Ga tan-aw ra akong mga tawo sa imo James Dacoycoy. Sa pagkakaron wala ka kabalo kinsa imo tinood nga kontra ug tinood nga amigo.” (So you have a gun, now. This will not save you. I can kill you even at noontime. My men are watching you James Dacoycoy. For now, you do not know who your enemies and true friends are.)

Bombo Radyo Cagayan de Oro station manager Celso Maldecir said their station also received a call about three weeks ago while Licuanan was anchoring his morning commentary program Bombohanay Bigtime.

The caller, Maldecir said, refused to identify himself and seemed irate over the commentaries of Licuanan which, Maldecir said, centered on the illegal drug problems of the city.

It was widely believed that the shooting of Licuanan November last year was due to his commentaries on illegal drugs.

Meanwhile, Police Supt. Emmanuel Hebron of the Cagayan de Oro City Police Office said they are investigating the source of the threatening text message. Hebron said City Director Gerardo Rosales has given instructions to provide Licuanan with additional security personnel to deter a possible second assassination attempt.

References:

JB R. Deveza
Coordinator
NUJP Mindanao Media Safety Office
0999 536 9592

Nestor Libaton. File photo taken from Doha Center for Media Freedom

A news reporter of a Roman Catholic church-owned radio station in Mati City, Davao del Sur was shot and killed by still unidentified gunmen at around 2 p.m. today (May 8).

DxHM-AM (Ang Radyo Totoo) news reporter Nestor Libaton was on his way to the city proper on board his motorcycle when the suspects riding in a single motorcycle shot him seven times. Libaton died on the spot.

Libaton was with a fellow broadcaster Eldon Cruz on board another motorcycle when Libaton was shot by two men riding in tandem in Sitio Bitan-agan, Barangay Don Enrique Lopez, Mati City, according to colleague Neelan Luciano.

Luciano said Libaton was a reporter of the Church-owned radio station but said Libaton did not have any commentary programs.

Luciano said it was not the policy of the radio station to discuss controversial issues on-air.

Libaton, 40, was married and had four children.

Libaton is the third member of media killed within the last 15 days. The others were Rommel Palma, killed in Koronadal City on April 24, and Michael Calanasan, killed in Laguna on April 30.

REFERENCES:

JB R. Deveza
Coordinator
NUJP Mindanao Media Safety Office
0999 536 9592

Rowena C. Paraan
Executive Coordinator
NUJP-IFJ Media Safety Office
0919 932 8746

Statement
May 7, 2012

The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines maintains that there was nothing wrong in columnist and broadcaster Ramon Tulfo taking photographs of actress Claudine Barretto giving an airline staff a dressing down at the terminal of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport  (NAIA3) on May 6.

Barretto and her husband are celebrities and are thus, public figures. They were also in a public place and were involved in a commotion making the incident legitimate for coverage.

Tulfo was also right in not handing over his phone camera. No one has the right to forcibly take a person’s camera or phone especially of a journalist documenting a public incident.

The matter on who started the violence should be left to the investigation of authorities who should file the appropriate charges on those found liable.

Reference
Nestor Burgos Jr.
Chairperson

Statement
May 3, 2012

Once again, it is World Press Freedom Day.

Once again, there is precious little reason to celebrate this day.

Not when all over the world, governments of all stripes and ideologies continue to try to suppress this freedom along with the freedom of expression; not when media workers continue to be murdered, assaulted, threatened, harassed even as they see their rights to welfare and safe working conditions violated by media owners seeking more ways to cut costs and maximize profits.

The Philippines continues to mock its claim to being a democracy, unable to shake off the infamy of being the third most dangerous country for journalists, next to conflict-ridden Iraq and Somalia where most victims are casualties of war.

This has earned us the title of “global poster boy” for impunity, not least because of government inaction and apathy on media murders.

We have a president who had the gall to ask advertisers to shun media outfits he considers prone to sensationalism, who blames media for his administration’s shortcomings and demands they highlight only the positive, and under whose watch 11media workers have thus far been murdered.

And yet Presidential Communications Secretary Ricky Carandang, a former media practitioner, can claim without a batting eyelash, mere days after his boss insults his hosts, the Philippine Press Institute, by calling its members “crabs,” that it is thanks to the government that the country posted a five-notch improvement in Freedom House’s free press index.

It seems everything Mr. Carandang learned about accuracy, accuracy and accuracy in his days as a journalist flew out the window the day he was hired to speak for Malacanang.

We are sorry to burst your bubble Mr. Carandang but so long as not a single mastermind in any of the 151 media murders since 1986 is arrested, prosecuted and convicted, you have no right to claim credit for anything. Indeed, every media murder that happens while this situation stays lays the blood of the victims squarely on this administration’s hands.

Again, we say, the murders of media workers, just as all other extrajudicial killings, are a matter of State accountability.

Again, we say, if the Philippine press remains free despite all the threats against it, it is not because of government but because the press insists on being free.

REFERENCE

Nestor Burgos Jr.
Chairperson

Statement
May 2, 2012

The National Union of Journalists joins our colleagues in the independent Malaysian press in condemning the brutal assaults and all other attempts by police intended to prevent journalists from performing their job of covering the Bersih 3.0 mass rally in Kuala Lumpur last April 28.

We are likewise dismayed that a number of outfits, instead of exposing the violence against members of the media community, chose instead to impose a news blackout on this outrage against their own.

According to reports from the independent Malaysian press, these were some of the brutalities visited on our colleagues:

• Journalists, including at least one woman, were attacked or manhandled
• At least one journalist suffered head injuries, another broken ribs
• Cameras and other equipment were smashed
• Data storage cards were confiscated and destroyed
• Journalists were ordered and intimidated not to take photographs of police actions against the protesters

Such abuses committed by the Malaysian police are a disgrace and belie the Malaysian government’s claims of being a democracy respectful of human rights and civil liberties.

And the complicity by some media outfits in suppressing the news of these abuses is despicable and betrays the very tenets they claim to stand for. You are a blight on the community of journalism.

A democratic government would respect and, indeed, protect the media’s right and duty to freely, objectively and accurately report on unfolding events.

Only tyrants fear a free press.

We demand that the Malaysian government redress this grievous assault on one of the pillars of democracy by immediately ordering an independent investigation and imposing sanctions on those responsible.

To our colleagues in the independent Malaysian media, we applaud your courage in standing up and refusing to be cowed by these attempts to muzzle you. You do our noble profession proud.

We, your colleagues in the Philippines, assure you of our full support and solidarity.
Reference:

Rowena Paraan,
NUJP Secretary-General
(63+)9199328746