CHR, NUJP urge gov't to address attacks vs. journalists

The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) on Wednesday called on the Marcos administration to address attacks against journalists and other members of the media in light of online death threats against TV 5 journalists Ed Lingao and Lourd de Veyra.

The CHR said it has received reports involving the threats against Lingao and de Veyra last October 11 and that based on its initial review, an individual named Seth Corteza claimed that the two would allegedly be the next victims of assassination. 

Radio broadcaster Percival "Percy Lapid" Mabasa was killed in an ambush on the night of October 3 on his way home in Las Pinas City.

"The Commission calls on the government to address these violations and take proactive measures to stop media attacks. We look forward to their efforts to look into this matter and similar cases of media rights violations committed in the country," CHR said.

"CHR hopes for genuine justice and the end of impunity," it added.

Likewise, CHR said such threats should be taken seriously and vowed assistance to those in need.

"The CHR remains firm in its stance to defend the free press and calls for the protection of all media workers in the country. We do not and cannot take lightly any threats or any allusions to harm the lives of journalists, regardless if such statements are deliberate or cursory," it pointed out.

"As an independent human rights institution, CHR actively works for the security of the media through our helpdesks and public safety mechanisms. We shall endeavor to reach out to the involved and explore preventive measures, through our Investigation Office, as well as offer assistance as a quick response mechanism that will look into the veracity of threats, among others," it added.

CHR said that journalists have an undeniable and vital role in helping the Filipino citizenry obtain timely and accurate information imperative to the realizations of their rights.

"Any attempts to silence the press—particularly by creating a culture of fear and violence—directly impacts democracy and the human rights situation in the country," it said.

The National Union of Journalists in the Philippines echoed CHR's call in a separate statement, adding that there is a spike in the filing of cyberlibel complaints against critical journalists after the May 2022 national and local elections and since the start of the Ferdinand Marcos Jr. administration.

Since July 1, the group said that it has documented 17 cases of press freedom violations.

"It is not just by killing that journalists are being forced into silence, as was the case with the murder of Percival “Percy Lapid” Mabasa last October 3. We condemn all these attacks and vow to fight them with all instruments at our disposal. The enemies of press freedom, history has shown, will never win as long as there is resistance," the NUJP said.

"We note that Ferdinand Marcos Jr. vowed to protect journalists and we challenge this administration to denounce media killings, and translate his promise into concrete actions," the group added.

GMA News Online is awaiting response from the Palace as of posting time.—LDF, GMA News