Cartoon by: Jairus Kristan Samudio
Published by: Rezy Jyn Veradio
Date Published: May 2, 2024
Time Published: 3:40 PM
The truth will never be concealed, and to uncover and tell the truth loudly is a big risk that many journalists face in a corrupted country as they push themselves through the limit of showing the light of freedom against corruption. Being courageous to speak up always leaves another opinion to the other party but villainizing and tormenting journalists for opening our eyes is alarming as being heroic only leads them more to their end.
The Philippines remains a “dangerous” workplace for reporters, especially for radio journalists, as it landed in the top list of countries with the “worst records” on prosecuting killers of journalists, according to a New York-based media watchdog. In the 2023 Global Impunity Index by the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), the Philippines ranked eighth, which the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) saw as a “slight improvement” but not something deserving of praise[1]. In a country that is biased and corrupted, many journalists struggle to raise their voices and speak out the truth because of the possible risk they’re putting themselves into. Their profession of being transparent is a courageous act that most people in this country can barely show with how they are oppressed and exposed to dangerous situations.
President Marcos Jr. pledged to uphold press freedom. The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines, however, recorded 84 incidents of attacks on the media from June 30, 2022 until July 22, 2023. This number is 42 percent higher compared to the documented cases during Duterte’s first 13 months in office [2]. It's absurd how the rate doubled against journalists doing their jobs to speak out. Freedom of speech has not improved over the past years with journalism due to the dangers of this country the same way how it progressively became worse due to the attacks and killings that have been going around the country against journalists that are still being covered by the media. President Marcos pledged that we would be more open and be able to press freedom but why did it not only damage us, it also caused more diversity leading to protests and becoming louder with justice.
Journalists will not be stopped. Even if they risk their lives to speak the truth many journalists with valiant hearts still choose to serve as much as they can up until their final moments just to be able to show that hiding the truth will not suppress it, it only exposes it more loudly to the general public to serve justness.
Juan Jumalon, 57, was in his home-based studio on the southern island of Mindanao when a gunman shot him in the head, said Capt. Deore Ragonio, police chief in Calamba municipality.
Jumalon is the fourth journalist to be slain since President Ferdinand Marcos took office in June of 2022, the National Union of Journalists said, condemning "the brazen killing"[3]. Many journalists are being killed in this country because of corruption and how it is frightening to become brave. Justice will be served to the perpetrators against journalists and no matter how much the media covers it, journalists will find a way to voice the truth with non-biased and trusted news.
Journalism shouldn't be slandered and should be respected. It will always be a part of our society as journalists choose the truth. It is not their fault that they are assigned certain tasks that would risk them in many dangerous situations, Being able to be loud about the truth is what kills these people. Journalists aren't villains, they are simply people who show the general public what the light is.
As an individual, we must open our eyes to what is happening to our country’s journalists and how they are being treated. It is alarming that many people choose to ignore the fact that being able to consume false media will only make things worse. Stand up and speak out because we can never hide the truth. It only makes it louder.
REFERENCES:
[1] Panay News. (2023, November 6). PH 8th most dangerous country for journalists. https://www.panaynews.net/ph-8th-most-dangerous-country-for-journalists/
[2] Secretariat, N. (2023, July 25). JOINT STATEMENT | Threats to truth-telling, free expression worsen during Marcos Jr.’s first year in office. National Union of Journalists of the Philippines. https://nujp.org/joint-statement-threats-to-truth-telling-free-expression-worsen-during-marcos-jr-s-first-year-in-office/
[3] Times, J. (2023, November 5). Radio broadcaster killed in the Philippines. The Japan Times. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2023/11/05/asia-pacific/crime-legal/philippine-broadcaster-killed/
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