|
“We categorically state that at no instance did any journalist ‘obstruct justice’ at the Peninsula. Mere presence and reporting the news is not obstruction of justice. Recordings made by the police of our live coverage are now being used by authorities as evidence against those it charged in court. The police even acknowledged that there was a failure of communication within their organi-zation. They mobilized only after they were ‘informed’ of the event through TV and radio coverage. It is clear the police benefited from us doing our job. We cannot be both obstructing and helping justice simultaneously....
“The arrests of journalists is extremely alarming, especially since it has now been elevated as policy by Sec. Puno, who warns journalists that the police would do it again. To add insult to injury, after authorities apologized for the arrests, they began to publicly question the motives of our journalists. Officials maligned us by implying we were working with Trillanes’ group despite the absolute lack of evidence for these statements. Now they say they will look at the franchises of television networks. All this only points out that the attempts to intimidate and harass journalists continue.”
- Maria Ressa, ABS-CBN News & Current Affairs head, during the Dec. 13 Senate investigation on the arrest of media practitioners during the Manila Peninsula siege. Ressa noted in her speech before the Senate the slain journalists and other media attacks in recent years.
“No democratic country can properly function without a truly free press. Journalists serve the public’s right to know in matters that concern them because an enlightened citizenry is what democracy is all about.”
- Ellen Tordesillas, Malaya columnist and chief of reporters, during the Dec. 13 Senate hearing on the Manila Pen siege, http://ellentordesillas.com.
“Journalist are quick to criticize our politicians for acting above the law. An example would be politicians breezing through airport security checks, and justifying their action by telling the world that, as political leaders, they have no interest in bombing a plane and their jobs are of utmost importance.
“The same excuse is now being used by the reporters who were detained after the ‘rebellion’ in the Peninsula Manila Hotel. What hypocrisy and arrogance! These media people ought to be ashamed of themselves....
“Journalists make me sick. Rather than serving as a force for change, for establishing a society where all are equal before the law, they want their own pie of perks and privileges—and special treatment. Like our politicians, they want to be above the law, with one set of laws for them and another for ordinary Filipinos.”
- Reader Mark Belo, Philippine Daily Inquirer, Dec. 11 |
