Lawyer says media crackdown a reminiscence of Martial Law

Reminiscence of the post Martial Law declaration in 1972, “praise" releases virtually ruled the airwaves the weekend after President Gloria Mascapagal-Arroyo declared a state of national emergency. This was the lament of human rights lawyer Theodore Te, who said there was no more real news aired on radio and TV, after they were threatened with closure or government takeover. “Nothing on the news today, and I mean, nothing. That is Gloria Arroyo’s Philippines; that is the Philippines of (Philippine Nationa Police [PNP] chief Arturo) Lomibao, of (Armed Forces of the Philippines [AFP] chief of staff Generoso) Senga, of (First Gentleman) Mike Arroyo, of her lawyers ... of those who sit quietly waiting on the fence. But because of Gloria Arroyo’s censorship of media, only ‘praise releases’ are out on TV and radio," Te said in his web log. Malacañang officials showed this again Sunday night when they called up broadcast networks for “interviews" where they repeatedly reminded them not to let themselves be “exploited." At 4 p.m. Sunday, Marines commandant Maj. Gen. Renato Miranda was relieved of his post in favor of Gen. Nelson Allaga, amid rumors the Marines were to withdraw support from Arroyo. Civilian groups quickly trooped to Marine headquarters in Fort Bonifacio to support the camp of Marine Col. Ariel Querubin, who belied military brass’ claims Miranda asked to be relieved. Presidential chief of staff Michael Defensor and Cabinet secretary Ricardo Saludo went on air, trying to downplay the situation and urging politicians not to add to the tension. “Baka magpagamit ang mga istasyon ... Ingat kayo at huwag mag-ulat ng kilos ng tropa (Broadcast media should not allow themselves to be used. Be careful against reporting troop movements)," Saludo said repeatedly on GMA 7’s DZBB radio. “Querubin has been giving statements left and right. This is turning into a political situation," Defensor added. The most vocal, however, was Navy flag officer-in-command Mateo Mayuga, who raised his voice when asked to comment on the situation. “Why are they concerned about a mutiny?" he said. He said even supposedly independent broadcast networks no longer interview those against the regime, and instead allow the regime’s supporters to clog the air with propaganda. Only last Saturday, a police team raided the office of the anti-Arroyo newspaper The Daily Tribune. Tribune publisher Ninez Cacho-Olivares vowed to question the action in court. Te said that in the same way former president Ferdinand Marcos had as broadcast propagandists Rita Gaddi and Ronnie Nathanielsz, Arroyo now has journalists Cerge Remonde and Jarius Bondoc. Remonde heads the Office of the Press Secretary’s mass media unit, while Bondoc is a newspaper columnist who joined Arroyo’s so-called constitutional consultative commission. “All they do is clog up the free airwaves with pro-Gloria propaganda. For those old enough to remember Martial Law, its exactly like those days," Te said. Last weekend, the National Union of Journalists in the Philippines (NUJP) issued a call for solidarity following last Saturday’s raid on the Tribune offices. In a statement, it said that even before Arroyo’s declaration of a state of emergency, the global media community has acknowledged the Philippines among the most dangerous places for journalists. The NUJP said that aside from the raid on the Tribune and a “visit" to the tabloid Abante, police arrested university professor Randy David, a columnist of the Philippine Daily Inquirer. Government also deployed troops to the compounds of GMA-7 and ABS-CBN, the country’s largest television networks, supposedly to protect them from a “potential takeover by destabilizers." On the other hand, police have also declared that they would not hesitate to takeover media entities found “aiding" the administration’s enemies. The Philippine National Police also said they would soon release “standards" that journalists must follow and that investigators and prosecutors were monitoring the news. “By the government’s definition, providing aid to Mrs. Arroyo’s enemies includes interviewing opposition parties. In simple terms, the administration wants media to present only the side of the embattled government, using force and coercion to bend journalists to its wishes," it said. The NUJP pointed out that Filipinos, journalists included, fought a long, hard battle to regain democracy after two decades of tyranny. “That Mrs. Arroyo timed this crackdown on civil liberties with the anniversary of the Marcos dictatorship’s fall only highlights her break with the democratic aspirations of Filipinos. Even as she warns enemies of feeling the full force of the law, Mrs. Arroyo flaunts constitutional guarantees to free speech and expression and press freedom," it said. Last Sunday, the NUJP led organizations and individual journalists in protesting the crackdown on media and sending Arroyo a strong message: “We will not go gently into the night." “We call on all our colleagues in print, broadcast and digital journalism worldwide to support Philippine media in this dark hour. Please add your voice to our protest. Let us collectively condemn the crackdown on Philippine media and remind Mrs. Arroyo that no country can be free to prosper if its media is silenced and cowed," it said. It urged journalists here and abroad to send protest letters to the government through the Office of the Press Secretary at osec@ops.gov.ph, or fax at (632) 735-6167, or deliver these to the nearest Philippine embassy and consulate. It also urged them to send solidarity messages to the NUJP through email at nujphil@gmail.com or on its website at www.nujp.org.-GMANews.TV