i was talking with my lawyer over a bottle of carlos primero last night when we discussed our planned campaign to have libel decriminalized when we came up with this theorem (mind you, guys, this one's original): WHEN A STRANGER TELLS WHO AND WHAT YOU ARE, HE IS FREER THAN YOU
the theorem was based on one ultimately classic example... The foreign press was the one telling the local press that the phillipines is the most corrupt country in asia (or is it government?). Right under our noses things happen and we couldn't even dare whisper something about them. Conclusion: We did not fail to see. it didn't escape our sights. we knew about it all along. but we are NOT as free as our colleagues abroad. PERIOD.
philippine media is suppressed! exclamation point! there are, as me and atty. toto causing agreed, only two classifications of the press: the free press and the o-press. the second being the one that is suppressed either by law (libel), harm or even death.
Why couldn't we see what others can? Or maybe the owners of our publications are contributors to the suppression? our hands are eager to write. our computers are ready for work. but our publisher would not allow our article to see print. The boss in Malacanang might call him up the next day and berate him. he may just be trying to save us from losing our jobs. for the axe would fall on us if the boss reprimands him. LONG LIVE THE PHILIPPINE MEDIA! Die motherfuckers!
But before we go on cursing other people for these ills, maybe we should start from within us. why do we allow ourselves to become instruments of democracy's dark forces? why do we allow journalism to become subject to the law of supply and demand? how come philippine journalism has been relegated to bunks? it has definitely gone to the dogs. and before we lose it all, let's start saving what's left of it. press freedom in the philippines is ailing and there has been no sign that it would do better in the near future. however, we can start by working for the decriminalization of libel.
The constitution, under article 3, section 4, explicitly states that no law should be passed abridging press freedom. heroes shed their blood to have this included in the bill of rights. how come, therefore, that the criminal libel law is being used to persecute journalists? it casts a suppressive effect on press freedom. It deters the rights listed under article three to even be FREELY Practiced.
Since when has writing about a corrupt government official been a crime against the people? we write about them to serve public interest. We expose their sins not as an act to offend the people but protect them from the corrupt, inept and the inefficient.
I say again, decriminalize libel, or... (feel free to supply the last word).
The Author
Welcome to my world, guys!
About Me
- anaknggapan
- quezon city, national capital region, Philippines
- The author took the entire journalism community by storm with his principle of armed journalism based on the Philippine context. Journalists are killed in the country with impunity. A lover of the sport, the author advocates the use of firearms for self-defense and has rallied hundreds, if not thousands, of Filipino journalists to use arms in protecting themselves, their families and their profession. He founded the Association of Responsible Media (ARMED), touted as the group of gun-toting journalists who are ready to come face to face with their supposed assassins. The author wrote for the Manila Standard Today from 1997-2009 covering various beats. At the time of this writing, the author writes columns for tabloids Remate Tonight (M-W-F), Hataw and Police Files Tonite (T-TH-S). Presently, he is the Assignments Editor and Chief of Reporters of The Manila Times, the Philippines' oldest newsprint. At the same time, author is one of the directors of the National Press Club of the Philippines and concurrently the chairman of the Committee on Press Freedom. He is also an official of the Alyansa ng Filipinong Mamamahayag (Afima).
