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August 10 , 2007

Comelec’s threat an assault on press freedom and freedom of expression


The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines is appalled by the Commission on Elections' threat to file electoral sabotage charges against at least two media personalities. The NUJP views Comelec’s threat as an assault on press freedom and freedom of expression.

We find it ridiculous and outrageous for election Commissioner Nicodemo Ferrer to seek to "cleanse the (journalism) profession" and to equate what he claims are the media personalities' alleged offense – "spreading false news, false comment that diminish the credibility of Comelec" – to electoral sabotage, a non-bailable offense punishable with life imprisonment.

We will not dispute Ferrer's perception that the media personalities, who remain unnamed, are out to deliberately ruin the Comelec's reputation. That is for Ferrer to prove.

But to insinuate that the "many things they have manufactured…may involve electoral sabotage," is stretching credulity too far for an agency whose credibility has already been badly tarnished by the "Hello Garci" scandal and the current brouhaha over Lintang Bedol, an agency, in fact, that many critics contend has practically sabotaged the very democratic institution it is sworn to uphold.

It appears to us that Ferrer's threat, coupled with the fact that he leaves the alleged culprits conveniently unnamed while hinting they are ranking media practitioners with his reference to "airconditioned rooms," is a misbegotten and limp attempt to sow fear among opinion makers and media executives.

More than this, however, Ferrer's inane outburst betrays once more government's penchant for shooting the messenger instead of addressing the message. This is the same mindset that is behind the official inaction that has worsened the culture of impunity in this country and emboldened those within and without government who would seek to cow the Philippine media into silence to continue their assaults, physical and otherwise, on journalists.

Reference:
Jose Torres Jr., NUJP chairperson