Siege to Truth

Consistently, journalism and press freedom have been found to be essential to the Philippine democratic system. That freedom involves not only media professionals, but also the public served by the media. In all cases, the Filipino people exclusively rely on them, through news coverage, reports, live feeds and others. Press freedom in the Philippines is maintained by the Constitution as well as by international covenants to which the country is a signatory. But this freedom like all liberties has its limits, for the simplest reason that it is susceptible to abuse.

Manila Peninsula Siege was an event of national affairs that called for press and media entities’ duty to deliver what the public should know, but it turned out as a glaring inhibition of the press people and their professions. They were handcuffed, enforced to leave the vicinity, mandated to be with the authorities right away, and forced to discontinue their assignments -- thus, also depriving the public for their right to information.

The press and media exerted effort to measure up a collective set of live information, as instrument for exposing and illustrating complex issues and dilemmas of development that the public should understand. But, as the present regime confronts media as an obstacle, they tend to enforce orders that violate laws – a complete reverse of their advocacy.

Real democracy is fostered by having well-informed Filipinos, and journalism including press and media hold the primacy for this active role of providing the truth.