The following is the statement of media groups, news outfits, journalists, and academics released Sunday, May 10, in response to the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict’s social media posts against ABS-CBN and Rappler CEO Maria Ressa.
We, media groups, news outfits, journalists, and academics, condemn the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) for a black propaganda offensive on social media against ABS-CBN and Rappler CEO Maria Ressa.
These Facebook posts, while they have been taken down, are a brazenly criminal abuse of authority on the part of the NTF-ELCAC, replete with half-truths and outright lies that willfully endanger Maria and the management and personnel of the network that government shut down.
The only reason we can think of why a government entity tasked to combat the communist insurgency would wage a propaganda offensive against media persons and outfits is if government now considers us the enemy. (READ: Lives in danger as red-tagging campaign intensifies)
In fact, Lieutenant General Antonio Parlade, NTF-ELCAC spokesman and Southern Luzon Command chief, indicated as much. In a May 8 Philippine News Agency report, while insisting that press freedom was alive in this country, also warned critics of the ABS-CBN shutdown: “Yes to law and order! Otherwise you might just get the martial law that you deserve.”
Worse, the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) aided in the slander by sharing these posts on its own page, although it later took these down, apparently after generating backlash from netizens.
While Communications Secretary Martin Andanar issued a statement saying the NTF-ELCAC posts were shared “without the usual vetting process of our office” and were “not in any way an official statement or an opinion of the PCOO,” neither did he apologize for his agency’s involvement nor even promise an investigation to identify those responsible for this reprehensibly irresponsible action.
We demand that government, including the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), immediately mount an investigation into who in the NTF-ELCAC were responsible for ordering and creating the slanderous posts and why.
At a time when our people are battling a deadly pandemic, it is extremely unacceptable that there are those in government who are making media repression, not saving lives, as the priority.
INDIVIDUALS:
1. Manny Mogato
2. Inday Espina-Varona
3. Marites Vitug
4. Etta Rosales
5. Antonio J. Montalvan II
6. Eunice Barbara C. Novio
7. Tony La Viña
8. John Nery
9. Noemi L. Dado
10. Leslie Manalo
11. Lisa Garcia
12. Bart Guingona
13. Al Alegre
14. Marian Pastor Roces
15. Gang Badoy
16. Ramon Tuazon
17. Tess Bacalla
18. Red Batario, Center for Community Journalism and Development
19. Yvonne Clerigo
20. Ann Lourdes Lopez
21. Jimmy A. Domingo
22. Chebelle A. Velasco
23. Jane Uymatiao
24. Bernice Soriano
25. Therese San Diego Torres
26. Imelda Samson
27. Joel Pablo Salud, editor and author
28. Ellen Tordesillas
29. Joyce Panares
30. Melvin Gascon
31. Viktor Kintanar
32. Bea Cupin, Rappler
33. Pia Ranada, Rappler
34. Jodesz Gavilan, Rappler
35. Matthew Reysio-Cruz, Philippine Daily Inquirer
36. Herbie Gomez, Mindanao Gold Star Daily
37. Cong Corrales, Mindanao Gold Star Daily
38. Rogelio Cultura, filmmaker
39. Yvonne Chua, UP Department of Journalism
40. Diosa Labiste, UP Department of Journalism
41. Lucia Tangi, UP Department of Journalism
42. Ivy Lisa Mendoza, UP Department of Journalism
43. Janvic Mateo, UP Department of Journalism
44. Felipe F. Salvosa II, UST Journalism faculty
45. Christian V. Esguerra, UST Journalism faculty
46. Anna Cielo T. Perez, UST Journalism faculty
47. J Alwyn T. Alburo, UST Journalism faculty
48. Ferdinand J. Maglalang, UST Journalism faculty
49. Leo O. Laparan II, UST Journalism faculty
50. Danilo Arao, associate editor, Bulatlat
51. Beatrice Puente, editor-in-chief, Philippine Collegian
52. Rommel Rutor, president, Samar Island Press Club
53. Mate Espina
54. Jes Aznar
55. Jairo Bolledo, PUP Department of Journalism
56. Pat S. Roque
57. Ansbert Joaquin
58. Julie Alipala
59. Raffy Cabristante
60. Jojo Riñoza
61. JB R Deveza
62. Tyrone Velez, SunStar Davao
63. Frank Cimatu, Cordillera News Agency/Baguio Writers Group
64. Ed Lingao
65. Barnaby Lo
66. Stanley Buenafe Gajete
67. Yolanda Sotelo
68. Joanna Aglibot
69. Luis Teodoro, former dean, UP CMC
70. Bobby Lagsa, Journalist
71. Lito Zuluete, UST Journalism faculty
72. Diomedes Eviota
73. Daisy Canarias Apat
74. Tonyo Cruz, LODI
75. Liza Ito, CAP
76. Deo Bugaoisan, UP Department of Journalism
77. Kriztine Viray, president, Philippine Communication Society
78. Rommel Lopez, PressOne
79. Rissa Silvestre, UP Journalism Department
80. Rachel Khan, UP Journalism Department
ABS-CBN Employees
81. Rowena Paraan
82. Mike Navallo, ABS-CBN News
83. Jacque Manabat, ABS-CBN News
84. Sheilla Diamse, ABS-CBN News
85. Melanie S. Masecampo, ABS-CBN News
86. Brian Vallesteros, ABS-CBN News
87. Sarah Herrera, ABS-CBN News
88. Gigi Gervasio, ABS-CBN News
89. Reyjohn Mark Sangcap, ABS-CBN News
90. Descirey Villanueva, ABS-CBN News
91. Sherrie Ann Torres, ABS-CBN News
92. Pia Gutierrez, ABS-CBN News
93. Isay Reyes, ABS-CBN News
94. Jeck Batallones, ABS-CBN News
95. Tarra Quismundo, ABS-CBN News
96. Gerry Lirio, ABS-CBN News
97. Henry Omaga-Diaz, ABS-CBN News
98. Engelbert Apostol, Executive Producer, Umagang Kay Ganda, ABS-CBN
99. Hoho Serafica
100. Mark Sembrano Cabrera
101. Katrina Juban
102. Rhandy G. Reyes
103. Heidy Ruby
104. Alexces Megan Abarquez
105. Mariel Que
106. Nolie Ruby
107. Reichelle Baguio
108. Jamie Jose
109. Rossana San Diego-Dimapilis
110. Leonardo Bernardo
111. Helen Grace F. Castro
112. Gerald P. Sumagui
113. Jason delas Alas
114. Angela Garcia
115. Reynante Manuel
116. Aldrich N. Octaviano
117. Rio Legaspi
118. Jervis Flores
119. Louver Asuncion-Galarrita
120. Marc Cruzin
121. Willanie Jay Mendoza
122. Omar Cervantes
123. Maydelle O. Marcial
124. Enrico Santos
125. Narissa Calinawan
126. Froy Allan P. Leonardo
127. Carlo Magdaluyo
128. Lawrence Reyes
129. Vincent A. De Jesus
130. Romer Gonzales
131. Ian Reyno
132. Vincent A. De Jesus
133. Jennifer Ingalla
134. Mark Tojon
135. Criselda Montenegro
136. Richard Soriano
137. Arma Avendano Bacar
138. Vince Patrick Bersola
139. Eliza Sipin Garrido
140. Shayne Guevarra-Asuncion
141. Christian Jarlego
142. Ogie Diaz
143. Hydro P. Aguinaldo
144. Edel Cayetano
145. Judy Anne Carino
146. Marissa Kalaw
147. Ryan Lucila
148. Rameses Gurango
149. Fiona Marie Jan Balanquit
150. Jen Bayuda
151. Mercylyn Nastor
152. Jane Pearl Carino
153. Krystel Agnote
154. Veronica Iris Vidal
155. Melvin Gasmin
156. Cherlyn Medina
157. Cecille Marino
158. Raff Norman Banez
159. Nino M. Garvia
160. Kathryn Serafica
161. Aia Cagatin-Tan
162. Mark Raywin Tome
163. Nimrod Bungcaras
164. Genesis Pascual
165. Nico Regino
166. Paul Alfonso
167. Ellice Tuason
168. Toni May Dita
169. Jane Balanag
170. Maritoni Tuazon
171. Kristine Sioson
172. Barot Morga
173. Rico Camus
174. Carlo Martin
175. Francos Mortiz
176. Kathleen Pangan
177. Jillmer Dy
178. Gian Carlo Vizcarra
179. Erwin Aniano
180. Carl Barrameda
181. May Purificacion
182. Henrick Chui
183. Milca Igano
184. Celeste L. Santiago
185. Regie Francisco
186. Buds Sayong
187. Cita Marzan
188. Ross Gaddi
189. Mariam Theres P. Pulanco
190. Kamille Ramos
191. Jane Ungson
192. Joy Reyes Bailo
193. Viel Duñgo
194. Mark Jim Valdez
195. Jerome Fadquela
196. Jasmin Romero
ORGANIZATIONS:
1. Rappler
2. ABS-CBN Rank and File Employees’ Union
3. Philippine Press Institute
4. Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility
5. Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism
6. MindaNews
7. National Union of Journalists of the Philippines
8. NUJP-Europe
9. NUJP-Middle East
10. NUJP-Albay
11. NUJP-Baguio Benguet
12. NUJP-Quezon
13. NUJP-NCR
14. NUJP-Samar
15. NUJP-Bacolod Chapter
16. NUJP-Nueva Ecija
17. Consortium on Democracy and Disinformation
18. VERA Files
19. Photojournalists’ Center of the Philippines
20. Kodao Productions
21. Bulatlat
22. Panay Today
23. Dampig Katarungan
24. Panaysayon
25. Altermidya Network
26. Northern Dispatch
27. Davao Today
28. Kilab Multimedia
29. Tudla Productions
30. Manila Today
31. College Editors Guild of the Philippines
32. UJP-Diliman
33. International Association of Women in Radio and Television-Philippines chapter
34. Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster sa Pilipinas
35. Manila Collegian
36. UP Solidaridad
37. UPLB Perspective
38. Himati, UP Mindanao
39. SINAG, UP CSSP
40. KaLasag, UP CAL
41. Scientia, UP College of Science
42. Pagbutlak, UP Visayas
43. The Accounts
44. NCPAG-Umalohokan
45. UP Baguio Outcrop
46. UP College of Mass Communication
47. UP Department of Journalism
48. Philippine Communication Society
49. Let’s Organize for Democracy and Integrity
– Rappler.com
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