EDITORIAL - An essential player in a functioning democracy

Exactly 42 years ago today, the country's existence as a functioning democracy came to a sudden halt when Ferdinand Marcos, citing a growing rebellion against his regime, declared the martial law.

The declaration unleashed a barrage of human rights violations committed by the state, sowing fear across the nation. Tortures and disappearances of activists perpetrated by the military became a daily occurrence.

Those were the darkest years of the nation's history. With the death of freedom, what used to be the bearer of democracy in Asia had turned into a land ruined by oppression and tyranny.

Of course, one of the biggest casualties of martial law would be the Fourth Estate. Media outfits critical of the dictatorial regime were closed down. Opposition journalists who were constantly attacking the strongman were silenced.

For several years, with the death of press freedom, Filipinos had learned to endure the agony of reading sanitized newspaper reports and hearing censored radio and television broadcasts.

Today, four decades after the declaration of martial law, freedom and democracy have been restored. Since 1986, when Marcos was toppled and forced to flee the country, life in this country has returned to normal.

But as to the Fourth Estate, well it's really hard to conclude whether the press has regained its true freedom. Look, since the restoration of democracy, attacks against the media continue, making this country one of the most dangerous places in the world for journalists.

Many media killings have been recorded across the country this year alone, which only added to the already long list of journalists being attacked for their work. What is more sad is the fact that justice has been elusive for many victims as their cases remain unsolved.

In fact, the case regarding the Maguindanao Massacre, whose victims included dozens of journalists, only exposes the country's defective justice system. You see all those responsible - the triggermen and mastermind - are already in jail but many wonder why the wheels of justice remain horribly slow.

Today, as members of the Cebu media troop to the streets to unite in celebration of press freedom, we have another opportune time to show the importance of the Fourth Estate as an essential player in a functioning democracy.