REFLECTION PAPER | Genuine Democracy VS State Terror: Varona, the Press, and Dissenter’s
Narrative of Resistance Against Tyranny
In unity we stand, together let’s amplify the calls: #DefendPressFreedom, #EndImpunityNow, and #NoToRedTagging!
Even before the pandemic worsened the situation for Filipino journalists, the press found themselves harassed, intimidated, and killed as it is a mortal sin to express grievances against the beholder—a strong man named Rodrigo Duterte and his allies. These are clear violations to exercise freedom of speech as protected by the Bill of Rights in the 1987 Constitution and founded on the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) Article 19. Gender-wise, these attacks are free from stereotypes and biases but alarming. Their possible impact on women is a concern democratic societies should tackle.
The real-life narratives of Inday Espina-Varona, an award-winning female journalist from the Philippines, about her experiences of getting sexually abusive comments, receiving death threats online, and at worst, red-tagged as part of the insurgency group is an eye-opener. Her encounters with trolls can give Filipinos a glimpse of how dangerous it could be as a journalist or a dissenter in our country. Dissents come naturally in democracy as its essence is debates and discourses. Without consensus, everything goes one-sided so is the reality of social realities affecting the marginalized and proletariat sectors sugar-coated by lies from state-owned media. Besides, attacking media publicly, denouncing its role, and calling journalists fake news peddlers became a regular part of the Duterte government’s propaganda to discredit the press. As the statement comes from a high-ranking officer, the public might believe, and the result—low media trust as people look for alternative sources of info without verification.
At worst, how can journalists of any gender fight back if they are targets of repression individually online? Varona herself became wary of her surroundings, fearing that riding in tandem would shoot her dead. Her fact-checking work against Duterte’s claim that drug use is the cause of rape had her daughter to threat. She, colleagues, and anyone can file complaints, but the fact is that the country’s justice system failed to bring perpetrators in jail, even trials. The history-long impunity among journalists and activists left families grieving for their lost son, father, etc.’s soul. With the fear of getting killed and abused, some opt to self-censor. As the state tamed the watchdogs, who will stand as the bastion of the truth? Probably or possibly, no one.
Given such circumstances, the press and the people should stand together in ending the reign of state terror. Vilifying dissents, illegally imprisoning someone for his political beliefs, and killing to silence free speech have no place in a democracy. We shall collectively fight for our democratic rights to honor our history of struggle. As Martial Law martyr Ditto Sarmiento said: "kung hindi tayo kikilos? Kung di tayo kikibo, sino ang kikibo? Kung hindi ngayon, kailan pa?" This remark should remind us that we can only earn freedom, as what our ancestors fought for, by ourselves. Journalists and news organizations should lead by example in upholding freedom of expression. However, they cannot do this without a helping hand. As citizens with civil and political responsibilities per the constitution, we are democratically, legally allowed to dissent. To explicate my point, let me cite this paragraph from my opinion article for The Flare, "silence in front of looming human rights violations and unscientific approaches in dealing with the pandemic will not bring us in any better position. In reality, it allows injustices to prevail and worsens the already worst situation. Refusing to seek and tell the truth censors progress and reinforces the status quo."
Press freedom is the bedrock of democracy. With it and its practitioners under siege, unveiling the truth can be a handful of tasks. So, we need the people to keep pushing their back. This will only happen if we also demand education that teaches political awareness, enriches democratic knowledge, and empowers campus journalism as a way to dissent, not for contest purposes only. Moreover, providing students with mass-oriented, scientific, patriotic, and nationalistic teachings.
So, let our response to the oath: what it could take for us to fall? Nothing, as what Varona and company answered to Rappler’s Patricia Evangelista’s question. Censoring oneself as the result of airing dissatisfaction with the government’s ill-rotten governance is a disservice to the masses, especially as a journalist. As truth-seekers, our duties and responsibilities to find and tell the inconvenient truth is a calling we must never forget at all cost—lest we shall remember that silence means surrendering to tyranny. In unity we stand, together let’s amplify the calls: #DefendPressFreedom, #EndImpunityNow, and #NoToRedTagging!
