Date published: October 10, 2022
Time published: 8:40 AM
Journalists were known as the voice of the people. Reported the good and bad, showed up during difficult times, risked their own safety as they challenged themselves to cover natural disasters and speak about crimes and corruption. But even doing heroic acts, journalists are being victims of a culture of impunity in our country.
In a report by Philippine Star, Percival Mabasa, a broadcaster commonly known as Percy Lapid, was shot dead last October 3, 2022, in his vehicle. Lapid was the host of the commentary program 'Lapid Fire' that aired on DWBL 1242. His criticisms and sharp commentaries were popular and really made noise to the public. Last September 30, he was able to discuss the dangers of red-tagging among other political topics. Being brave and strong enough to speak up for his countrymen led him to his death.
As per the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUPJ), Lapid was the second journalist to be killed this year after the death of broadcaster Renato "Rey" Blanco. The killing of journalists was silencing the truth. Hiding in the bush of falsehood and not accepting the truth would be a poisonous act that would corrupt the mind of the public. Our country is still the 7th most dangerous country for journalists worldwide in 2021, the Committee to Protect Journalists said.
Giving a dangerous atmosphere for the media would also be the same as putting democracy in danger. Suppressing the right of people to know and receive information is not good. It seemed they want to turn a blind eye but once you open your eyes and heart to the real situations, there is no turning back.
It was 11 years ago when Palawan journalist Gerry Ortega was murdered. As reported by “A Safer World for Truth”, Ortega was killed in 2011 and he was the 142nd journalist killed since 1986. These numbers represent evidence that in every generation there was always a perpetrator who wants to silence the voice of the message, but they do only suppress the messenger which makes the message more loud and valid.
Sometimes the story was turned upside down. As people believe in false information about a certain situation, they make journalists look not trusted and biased — which is not true. Falsity can really put us to death.
The incidents of killing journalists I mentioned above are clearly an attack on press freedom. These journalists sacrificed their life for their profession, and our country was incomparable. They fought for our country until their last breath. Being a journalist is not terrorism, journalists did not choose what they were to report or not — it was pure integrity and transparency of a journalist.
Being courageous is now being close to danger. But may we still continue to side with the truth and never on the villains. Justice for those who were killed. Protect the journalists, defend press freedom.
References:
https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2022/10/04/2214207/percy-lapid-broadcaster-and-duterte-marcos-jr-critic-shot-dead-las-pias
https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2022/02/28/2163972/11-years-after-gerry-ortega-murder-report-urges-expert-panels-handle-media-killings
https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/10/29/21/ph-still-7th-most-dangerous-country-for-journalists
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