Various student-led publications, organizations, and councils from the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) unified in solidarity in front of the University main gate to amplify the calls for genuine press freedom as the Alyansa ng Kabataang Mamamahayag ng PUP (AKM - PUP) marked November 23 as ”National Day of Action of the PUP System-wide Campus Press” in conjunction with the commemoration of the 14th anniversary of the Maguindanao Massacre.
Led by AKM - PUP, the protest served as a stage for the organizations and publications to tackle the challenges plaguing campus press as well as appeal for genuine press freedom and justice among journalists, both within the university and nationally.
During the protest, students emphasized the need to strengthen the calls to end impunity and injustices against journalists as they recounted the 2009 Maguindanao Massacre—the deadliest attack on journalists in the country that killed 58 individuals, including 32 media practitioners.
They also mourned the killings of radio broadcasters Percy Lapid and Juan ”DJ Johnny Walker” Jumalon, along with several Palestinian journalists.
“Ang pag-aalala sa ika-14 na taon na kawalan ng hustisya para sa 32 journalists ng masaker sa Ampatuan case ay pag-alala rin sa daan-daan pang pinaslang na mamamahayag mula pa lamang sa administrasyong Duterte hanggang ngayon sa administrasyong Marcos Jr.,” AKM - PUP Secretary-General Shane Mapesos stressed.
Mapesos also exclaimed that the slain journalists are not just mere “statistics” in the impunity index—they are children of the nation, workers and parents who dared to stand to open the eyes of the masses.
“Labing-apat na taon na ang nakalipas simula ng Maguindanao Massacre ngunit hanggang ngayon ay sigaw pa rin natin ang hustisya. Walang hustisya kung patuloy ang pananakot at pagkitil sa buhay ng mga alagad ng midya,” said Anakbayan - PUP College of Communication (COC) representative Daniela Riego.
𝗨𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘃𝗼𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀: 𝗘𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆, 𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗼𝗺
Moreover, campus publications and organizations present at the protest also denounced the unjust killings and abuses brought by the state's censorship and attacks in the field of media.
“Narito tayo ngayon sa yugto ng binubuo nating kasaysayan kung saan hindi rebolusyon ang papatay sa ating mga mamamahayag, dahil ang tunay na papatay sa mga mamamahayag ay 'yong kasinungalingan na gustong ipakita sa atin ng estado—ng administrasyong Marcos Jr.,” The Catalyst news editor Virg Magtira stated.
According to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) Global Impunity Index 2023, the Philippines ranks as the eighth most dangerous country in the world for journalists.
Panday Sining PUP COC Chairperson Reigne Riosa also said that the continuous journalist killings and violence under the Marcos-Duterte regime are tantamount to killing the media's freedom to express and reveal the truth, which will endanger the future of student journalists under the current administration.
She added that these kinds of attacks also pose chilling effects on campus publications in the country, which are often prone to red-tagging and intimidation.
“Bakas at tumatagos ang pangamba at takot kahit sa loob ng ating pamantasan kung saan talamak ang red-tagging at harassment sa mga campus journalist at mga kabataang militante,” Riosa said, pointing out that threats in the field of journalism have never subsided.
Aside from this, Mapesos and The Communicator's Managing Editor Lheonel Sanchez, asserted that administrative intervention and lack of office and funding are also some of the challenges that state attacks brought to the university-wide campus publications.
Extending their solidarity in the fight for free press inside and outside the university, PUP Sentral na Konseho ng Mag-aaral (SKM) Vice-President Abbygail Alforque condemned the red-tagging and admin intervention on campus.
Alforque challenged the government: “I-abante ang Campus Press Freedom Bill, hindi ang mapagbalatkayong Campus Journalism Act. Pondohan ang mga publikasyon at bigyang-laya ang mga kampus mamamahayag para sa mas matalim na pagsulat at pagmulat.”
𝗧𝗿𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝘀
Despite the intimidations and attacks surrounding Philippine media, PUP student organizations and publications remain firm in echoing their appeals and in fighting for truth, press freedom, and genuine justice for the victims of impunity.
“Sa bawat banta ng pagputol ng mga kamay na ang armas ay panulat, mas lalong tumitibay ang mga naninindigan para sa mas malayang pagpapahayag,” Riosa stated.
With the event's theme, “Kabataang Mamamahayag, Lumabas sa Oryentasyon! Dalhin ang Panulat sa Lansangan!" they also encouraged PUPians to go beyond classrooms, be involved in social issues, and fight for the masses.
“Mapurol ang panulat kung hindi ito hindi tumatangan sa masa. [...] Tanganan nang mahigpit ang mga panulat, mikropono, at kamera. Ipagsilbi ito sa masa,” COC Student Council Representative Miguel Virrey asserted.
𝗢𝗻 𝗷𝗲𝗲𝗽𝗻𝗲𝘆 𝗽𝗵𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗼𝘂𝘁
On the one hand, ”Jeepney phaseout, ibasura!” was also the students' call in the protest as they opposed the government's plan for the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP), which will phase out traditional jeepneys that fail to comply with the consolidation requirements on December 31.
According to them, this move will just put an additional burden on both drivers and commuters as it will cripple thousands of livelihoods as well as the transportation system in our country.
“Hindi PUVMP ang pangunahing tutugon sa pangangailangan ng mamamayang Pilipino, manipestasyon [ito] kung gaano kalampa at kaduwag si Marcos sa pagharap sa mga tunay na suliranin ng bansa,” said Sanchez.
It can be remembered that transport groups Pinagkaisang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Operators Nationwide (PISTON) and Manibela held a week-long nationwide transport strike that began from November 20 to 24 to protest consolidation requirements for PUV modernization.
The AKM's National Day of Action of the PUP system campus press concluded by urging the studentry to go to the streets and help the masses fight for their rights.
Meanwhile, the presence of uniformed policemen was also seen in the university's vicinity during the protest program.
Article: Niñajane Ponpon
Graphics: Renzo Cabitlada
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