Journalists, rights defenders gather in biking event for press freedom

Journalists and advocates for press freedom and human rights held a cycling event on Sunday morning as they called attention to what they said was the “worsening state of press freedom in the country.”

According to a report of Carlo Mateo on Dobol B sa News TV, the Bike for Press Freedom was led by the Altermidya Network, National Union of Journalists of the Philippines, and the International Association of Women in Radio and Television-Philippines.

From UP Diliman, bikers pedalled to ABS-CBN Compound along Sgt. Esguerra Avenue then proceeded to the Roces-Ignacia Circle, where a monument of newspaper publisher Don Alejandro Roces Sr. is located.

Bikers then proceeded to the Commission on Human Rights office along Commonwealth Avenue where they will conduct a solidarity program, AlterMidya said.

These groups called for the release of journalists Lady Ann Salem of Manila Today and Frenchie Mae Cumpio of Tacloban alternative media outfit Eastern Vista, as Cumpio marks her first year in detention.

On February 7 last year, Cumpio and human rights defenders were nabbed in raids in their offices. The military said Cumpio was a suspected high-ranking New People's Army (NPA) leader arrested for illegal possession of weapons during joint police and military operations in Tacloban City, Leyte.

Salem was arrested on December 10 in a raid in her house in Mandaluyong City. Police filed illegal possession of firearms and explosives charges against her, which were dismissed on February 5 by a Mandaluyong court.

The Philippine National Police said on Saturday that it respects the Mandaluyong Regional Trial Court's dismissal of the illegal possession of firearms and explosives charges filed against Salem and her co-accused Rodrigo Esparago.

Nevertheless, the PNP would continue looking for evidence that would stand up in court.

Salem and Esparago would be released after the court issues its order, the PNP said.

'Continue fighting'

“Today, journalists and human rights defenders pedal together to symbolize our commitment to continue fighting for press freedom,” AlterMidya said in a statement.

“We are united in our call: free Frenchie Mae! Free Lady Ann! Defend press freedom!” it added.

“These two arrests based on trumped-up charges are part of the upsurge in press freedom attacks not only against the alternative media, but on the whole sector of media practitioners in the country,” AlterMidya said.

In a statement, NUJP said there is an increasing persecution against critical media by government forces, which are intolerant of criticism that the exercise of democratic rights is already considered as an action from an "enemy of the state."

“Journalism is not and can never be a crime. This is why the agents of the state resort to falsehoods and fabricated evidence in their efforts to silence the truth-tellers,” NUJP added.

ABS-CBN

During the event, participants also signed a petition calling for the return of ABS-CBN Network on air, according to NUJP.

Recently, House committee on legislative franchises chair Franz Alvarez said the issue of the franchise renewal of broadcast firm ABS-CBN is best addressed in the next Congress.

Deputy Speaker Vilma Santos-Recto earlier filed a fresh measure seeking to renew ABS-CBN's franchise for another 25 years after Senate President Vicente Sotto III made a similar move in the Senate.

 —Joviland Rita/KG, GMA News