![\"\"](\"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/by-tan-socorro.png\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\u201cThis is really for all journalists around the world.It is so much more difficult and dangerous to be a journalist today.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
When truth-tellers are silenced, democracy is threatened; and resistance will arise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The underlining of facts and distinguishing truth from propaganda is a fight that has long been fought since the time Dr. Jose Rizal first put his pen to paper to author Noli Me Tangere and articles for La Solidaridad, to the Martial Law era when the voices of the press were silenced, up until Duterte\u2019s administration that has seen a media shutdown, killings of members of the free press, and the persecution of a truth-defender, a woman whose pursuit of justice landed her a Nobel Peace Prize in the midst of a tyrannical and misogynistic regime in the country. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
No matter how the government denies their attacks on press freedom, with Ressa\u2019s win attributed to her being one of the press freedom\u2019s guardians, it is an evident indictment of the present administration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe Philippine government filed 10 arrest warrants against me. In the last year, the government has prevented my travel four times, including to — when my mother was diagnosed with cancer, and I needed to go to see my aging parents,\u201d Ressa shares in an interview with The New York Times.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ressa also shared the tribulations faced by Rappler, the country\u2019s leading digital media company she heads, with regard to Duterte\u2019s media crackdown, noting that the fight for both fact and truth proves harder in an age of social media, where large and unregulated platforms act as cradles for disinformation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe are fighting for facts, and when we live in a world where facts are debatable, when the world\u2019s largest distributor of news prioritizes the spread of lies laced with anger and hate, and spread it faster and further than facts, then journalism becomes activism,\u201d Ressa added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ressa and Rappler are not the only victims of the state\u2019s harassment and vitriol. Since Duterte assumed his position as president, the country has seen over hundred attacks against press freedom. Intimidating, harassing, and even jailing journalists from numerous media companies especially alternative media networks, student publications, and even shutting down the nation\u2019s largest network and television news source, ABS-CBN.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On February 7,2020, Tacloban-based journalist and human rights activist Frenchie Mae Cumpio was arrested at the Eastern Vista staff house in a series of raids, which the military claimed to be part of anti-communist efforts. Prior to her arrest, Cumpio was the executive director of the Eastern Vista publication and a member of Altermidya, a network of small and independent media groups. Cumpio\u2019s work covered human rights issues committed by the state, the murders of farmers in the North of Samar, land grabbing, and the militarization of alleged communist hotspots. Before being arrested in 2020, Cumpio was already subjected to intimidation and numerous threats, with her reportedly alerting her colleagues, in 2019, that she was being tailed by unidentified men on motorcycles and being sent a funeral wreath with her picture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
These stories of journalists and their collective struggle to set the truth free in a time of Duterte bears an eerie similarity to the time of Martial Law under Ferdinand Marcos, where many truths were buried along with the bodies of those who fought to reveal them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Even one month after the commemoration of Martial Law, we continue to mourn the lives affected and those lost, condemning the similar situation the Philippines finds itself in under incumbent President Duterte. We continue to fight against disinformation as truths of past and present regimes continue to be twisted to fit selfish narratives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Moreover, the fight against state censorship continues, and the pursuit of fact must remain to be at the forefront of our democracy \u2014aided by journalism; for it is when facts become debatable and muddied that the cornerstone of democracy weakens, and the history that plays out before us becomes a theatrical play befitted to those in power who dictate it, ultimately denying Filipinos of their freedoms and identity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI think what our public has realized is that Rappler will keep doing those stories. Journalists will keep doing those stories. That’s what I hope will give us more power to do this,\u201d Ressa asserts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In a country where corruption is endemic, the role of mass media as a \u201cfourth estate\u201d has never been more crucial, checking the balance of the people in power, and bringing light to atrocities that may happen behind the scenes. The fight of the free press, then, is no longer limited to the media, but to the entire nation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Featured image courtesy of REUTERS<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" When truth-tellers are silenced, democracy is threatened; and resistance will arise. The underlining of facts and distinguishing truth from propaganda is a fight that has long been fought since the time Dr. Jose Rizal first put his pen to paper to author Noli Me Tangere and articles for La Solidaridad, to the Martial Law era […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":2860,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[],"ppma_author":[122],"class_list":["post-2855","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-features"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/sinag-web-banner-3-3-1.png","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":3911,"url":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/2022\/02\/24\/why-journalists-must-become-activists-this-elections-and-beyond\/","url_meta":{"origin":2855,"position":0},"title":"Why journalists must become activists this elections and beyond","author":"Staff","date":"24 February 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"The media has a responsibility to critically investigate the facts, go beyond the figures and illusions, reveal the truth, and lead the people to collective action.\u00a0 Maria Ressa once said, \"In a battle for facts, in a battle for truth, journalism is activism.\"\u00a0 Historically, the press has been dubbed as\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Opinion"","block_context":{"text":"Opinion","link":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/category\/opinion\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/99626071_gettyimages-905452966-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/99626071_gettyimages-905452966-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/99626071_gettyimages-905452966-1.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/99626071_gettyimages-905452966-1.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":5284,"url":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/2022\/09\/21\/it-is-our-duty-to-remind-the-filipino-people-of-the-unvarnished-truth\/","url_meta":{"origin":2855,"position":1},"title":"“It is our duty to remind the Filipino people of the unvarnished truth”","author":"Staff","date":"21 September 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"\"We commemorate 50 years since our freedoms were taken from us and institutions and processes were weakened so that we can collectively recall the horror of seeing our democracy die, and help younger generations understand why we abhor dictatorship and strongman rule. This is crucial in today\u2019s polarizing political environment\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Others"","block_context":{"text":"Others","link":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/category\/others\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/sinag-web-banner-4-1.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/sinag-web-banner-4-1.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/sinag-web-banner-4-1.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/sinag-web-banner-4-1.png?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/sinag-web-banner-4-1.png?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/sinag-web-banner-4-1.png?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1444,"url":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/2021\/07\/03\/sinag-recalibrates-social-media-presence-anew\/","url_meta":{"origin":2855,"position":2},"title":"SINAG recalibrates social media presence anew","author":"emdeborja","date":"3 July 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Standing firm with its brand of mass-oriented journalism, SINAG will continue its history of seeking out the truth and holding those in power accountable. At a time when attacks by state forces are hampering press freedom, the delivery of militant journalism by various campus publications to expose the reality of\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/a-1.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/a-1.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/a-1.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/a-1.png?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/a-1.png?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/a-1.png?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":5675,"url":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/2023\/01\/15\/cebu-police-mum-on-whereabouts-of-missing-devt-workers\/","url_meta":{"origin":2855,"position":3},"title":"Cebu police mum on whereabouts of missing dev’t workers","author":"Staff","date":"15 January 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Police officers refused to answer questions about Alliance of Concerned Teachers\u00a0\u00a0- Region 7 Coordinator Dyan Gumanao and Alliance of Health Workers - Cebu Coordinator Armand Dayoha, two missing development workers in Cebu, as activists demanded answers in front of Police Regional Office-7 (PRO-7) on Saturday, January 14. Police officers refused\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "National News"","block_context":{"text":"National News","link":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/category\/news\/national-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/325301120_699635375202693_190256285006767100_n-1.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/325301120_699635375202693_190256285006767100_n-1.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/325301120_699635375202693_190256285006767100_n-1.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/325301120_699635375202693_190256285006767100_n-1.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/325301120_699635375202693_190256285006767100_n-1.jpeg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/325301120_699635375202693_190256285006767100_n-1.jpeg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":3991,"url":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/2022\/03\/04\/petitioners-file-for-sc-reconsideration-on-terror-law\/","url_meta":{"origin":2855,"position":4},"title":"Petitioners file for SC reconsideration on Terror Law","author":"Staff","date":"4 March 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"On Wednesday, March 2, twenty-six petitioners represented by the Free Legal Assistance Group filed a joint motion for partial reconsideration before the Supreme Court to review its December 7 ruling and declare Republic Act 11479 or Anti-Terror Act (ATA) as unconstitutional. On Wednesday, March 2, twenty-six petitioners represented by the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/sinag-web-banner-17.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/sinag-web-banner-17.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/sinag-web-banner-17.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/sinag-web-banner-17.png?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/sinag-web-banner-17.png?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/sinag-web-banner-17.png?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":3854,"url":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/2022\/02\/18\/undemocratic-and-unconstitutional-oplan-baklas-condemned-by-various-groups\/","url_meta":{"origin":2855,"position":5},"title":"‘Undemocratic and unconstitutional’: Oplan Baklas condemned by various groups\ufffc","author":"Staff","date":"18 February 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) began taking down tarpaulins, murals, and other election materials as part of their \u201cOplan Baklas\u201d campaign last February 8, Tuesday.\u00a0 According to COMELEC Spokesperson James Jimenez, the operation cracks down \u201ccampaign materials that are oversized and posted out of place.\u201d\u00a0 However, several groups and formations\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/sinag-web-banner-10-1.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/sinag-web-banner-10-1.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/sinag-web-banner-10-1.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/sinag-web-banner-10-1.png?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/sinag-web-banner-10-1.png?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/sinag-web-banner-10-1.png?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"authors":[{"term_id":122,"user_id":9,"is_guest":0,"slug":"csspsinag","display_name":"Staff","avatar_url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/194807626fee183640d3de57e788ba7c8c0d40bd86bfc1237bed56bcd3832c1b?s=96&d=mm&r=g","0":null,"1":"","2":"","3":"","4":"","5":"","6":"","7":"","8":""}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2855","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2855"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2855\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2860"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2855"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2855"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2855"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ppma_author?post=2855"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n