Journalism is the most dangerous profession in the Philippines
How the death of Percy Lapid reminds us of the oppression Filipino journalists face.
Percival Mabasa, also known as Percy Lapid, was a radio journalist based in Manila who hosted the “Lapid Fire” program on DWBL 1242. Known to be outspoken against Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Rodrigo Duterte, he was murdered by two anonymous men on motorcycles in Las Piñas City, Manila on Monday night, as he was exiting his vehicles, according to witnesses.
Just several weeks before on September 18, Renato “Rey” Blanco of “Rakrakan sa Hapon Bulls Eye with Rey Blanco” in Mabinay Radio Station, was stabbed to death in Mabinay Town - making Percy the second journalist to be murdered under Bong bong’s presidency. The motives remain unidentified but these tragic incidences are direct attacks to journalism and the media, are reminders of just how dangerous being a media worker is in the Philippines, and how democracy is potentially at a tipping point.
Journalism exists to not only inform the public, but also be responsible for holding those in power accountable. Maria Ressa and the team of The Rappler have been questioning Duterte and his administration, particularly doing extensive coverage on his “war on drugs”. Ressa and the Rappler have been ‘red-tagged’ which ultimately lead to Ressa’s conviction for libel. There have been many cases in addition to this and the recent murders of the broadcast journalists in which media workers have been targeted.
“It was committed not only against Percy, his family, and his profession, but against our country, his beloved Philippines, and the truth.” — Mabasa family
Some reporters are even banned from the Malacañang Palace, where the President resides, and Bong bong is known to be selective with reporters to speak to. Howard Johnson of the BBC News asked Bong bong during his campaign “Can you really be a good president if you’re not doing serious interviews?”, alluding to the no-shows and turning down interviews and debates. Johnson then asked him “What are you hiding?”, to which he turned and walked away with a laugh. The silent treatment is a good tactic to avoid making the mistake of saying something that could potentially be blown out of proportion, but silence also speaks a lot.
Since the Philippines has no regulation on what people can and cannot post, as freedom of the press is a constitutional right, press freedom is continuously under threat. Murders, lawsuits, red-tags, and the battle of “fake news” stains the integrity of journalism in the Philippines, and is the leading nation with the most journalists killed each year, with around 195 journalists killed since 1986 according to the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP).
The Philippines face a war on drugs, but the war on journalists has long been a fight since the Marcos dictatorship. But reporters like Ressa continue to dedicate themselves to telling the truth, and the truth always prevails.
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