Malacañang assures media their press freedom

Malacañang’ has welcomed the move of different media groups who have asked the courts to stop alleged government measures to muzzle press freedom in the country. This means that Malacañang has respected media’s recourse to go to the courts to decide on whether their freedom is being threatened and that Malacañang will abide by the court’s decision. The controversy seems to center on a provision in media’s franchises that apparently gives the President the power to do so. According to Senator Joker Arroyo said provision is unconstitutional and, therefore, cannot be implemented.

Undoubtedly, the Philippines enjoys freedom of the press, but it is also one of the most dangerous countries in the world for media men to practice their freedom. Many newsmen have paid with their lives for using their press freedom. I have been a newspaper columnist for more than half a century and except for the Japanese times and the Marcos dictatorship, I have never felt that the government or any group had tried to suppress my freedom to express my opinion. I must admit, however, that a great number of media men have been killed specially out of Metro Manila. They were martyrs to their profession.

In Manila, The Daily Tribune was raided, but its owner – Niñez Cacho Olivares stood her ground. It is not clear to me why The Daily Tribune had been singled out. Those who raided the publication never explained to the public just what offense The Daily Tribune had committed to be raided. If anything, the government raid and the brave stand of its publisher only served to boost its circulation. We have laws against libel. If The Daily Tribune has libeled the government or any individual for that matter, they can be taken to court. The court will then decide if they are guilty of libel or not and implement the laws on libel.

The fear on government censor started when the President declared Proclamation 1017. But it was voluntarily lifted and the fear was about an alleged coup attempt and not abuse of press freedom. So long as the press reports and opinions are not libelous, the old saying applies, "I may disagree with what you say, but I will defend to death your right to say it."

There is a mistaken notion that the first freedom is freedom of speech. That is not true. The first freedom is freedom from ignorance, that is why education is the most important thing in our lives. That is why media men have a very big responsibility. Their first duty is to know what they are writing about. Media was traditionally associated with the press, but now we also have radio and television and the world is now a global village. We saw how hurricane Katrina destroyed New Orleans as if it were happening in our own living room. And right at home, we have the landslide in Leyte. It is media that keeps us informed. We really do not believe that there is any danger of muzzling the press. Malacañang should be in the frontline of press freedom.