News Roundup 15 June 2023
Jun 15, 2023 • 4 min Read
State of PH media still ‘largely grim’ – Reuters study | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines — Red-tagging, killings, and the use of “lawfare” against journalists have not abated in the Philippines even with the change in the country’s leadership, according to the 2023 report by the Reuters Institute released on Wednesday.
The 160-page digital news report by the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism includes a country page focusing on the Philippine media situation, authored by veteran journalist and University of the Philippines professor Yvonne Chua.
The country’s media landscape remained “largely grim” despite the change of administration from Rodrigo Duterte to President Marcos, Chua wrote.
“Attacks on journalists, which escalated during the six-year presidency of Rodrigo Duterte, have not let up since Ferdinand Marcos Jr.,” her report noted.
According to Chua, dozens of violations of press freedom have been recorded under the Marcos administration, with 75 cases monitored between June 2022 and April 2023.
She said these included the killing of radio commentator Percival “Percy Lapid” Mabasa in October last year, a crime widely condemned by local and international media organizations as well as foreign dignitaries.
Also cited in the report were the “surprise visits” by policemen in plain clothes to the homes of some reporters, as exposed by TV reporter JP Soriano, raising fears among Filipino journalists that they were under government surveillance.
The “systematic Red-tagging” of journalists also persisted, according to the report, targeting both those in mainstream and alternative media organizations, such as ABS-CBN, GMA Network, Philippine Daily Inquirer, Rappler, Bulatlat and community paper Northern Dispatch.
Full Story at: State of PH media still ‘largely grim’ – Reuters study | Inquirer News
“Very noisy session”: Drilon asks Zubiri to bring back prestige of Senate | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines— Former Senate President Franklin Drilon on Thursday urged the Senate leadership to restore its prestige and credibility, noting the lack of decorum during session and committee hearings.
Drilon said Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri “must draw the line” by showing “displeasure with what’s happening” in the chamber.
“With all due respect, and I hope my former colleagues are not onion-skinned, I’m compelled to comment on what the public perceives to be an erosion of the prestige of the Senate as an institution, principally brought about by what is perceived to be the lack of decorum on the part of certain senators,”’ he told reporters.
“You know, people look at the Senate as an institution… But the fact is, undeniably, the perception of the Senate by the public has been eroded by what has been observed as the lack of proper decorum,” he said.
Having a “very noisy Senate session” is just one example of lack of decorum, he observed.
Though it was also a problem during their time, Drilon said they would usually move to “adjourn the session at the back””— an apparent reference to what senators would politely say to fellow lawmakers who were making noises while formal sessions were ongoing.
Full Story at: “Very noisy session”: Drilon asks Zubiri to bring back prestige of Senate | Inquirer News
PNP: Ambush on Maguindanao del Sur cops ‘will not go unsolved’ | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — Two police officers were killed and four other cops were injured after unidentified assailants ambushed them in Shariff Aguak, Maguindanao del Sur while they were returning from patrol last Wednesday, police said.
Police B.Gen. Allan Nobleza, Bangsamoro police director, said Patrolmen Saipoden Shiek Macacuna and Bryan Polayagan died on the spot from gunshot wounds.
Macacuna, Polayagan and their companions were returning to Camp Akilan Ampatuan in Shariff Aguak from a patrol when gunmen were said to have opened fire with M16 rifles.
Patrolmen Arjie Val Loie Pabinguit and Abdulgafor Alib, Police SSgt. Benjie Delos Reyes and Police CMSgt. Rey Vincent Gertos were hurt in the incident and are now being treated at a hospital.
The Philippine National Police condemned Thursday the fatal ambush, which it called an “inhumane” and “criminal” act.
Full Story at: PNP: Ambush on Maguindanao del Sur cops ‘will not go unsolved’ | Philstar.com
CHR backs passage of ‘long overdue’ SOGIESC bill | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Human Rights on Thursday threw its support behind the passage of the Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, Gender Expression, or Sex Characteristics (SOGIESC) Equality bill, saying a law against discrimination is long overdue.
The House Women and Gender Equality Committee has approved the consolidated bill combining various similar measures that seek to eradicate discrimination based on SOGIESC in May.
This was after it held several hearings where evangelical groups opposing the bill and organizations supportive of the measure debated the merits of protecting Filipinos from gender-based discrimination, which was already raised during past Congresses.
“The approval of the newly-revised SOGIESC Equality Bill is a commendable step forward,” the human rights body said.
Full Story at: CHR backs passage of ‘long overdue’ SOGIESC bill | Philstar.com
