By Gabriela Baron
National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon urged the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) to block access to websites linked to the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) as well as independent media.
Esperon’s request, dated June 6 and publicized Wednesday, June 22, sought to ban access to several independent media websites such as Bulatlat, Pinoy Weekly, CounterPunch, Monthly Review, People’s March, Taga-Ilog News, Partisa-News, and People Resist News.
Esperon also urged NTC to prohibit access to the websites of the NDFP; Liberation, the official publication of the NDFP; CPP, PRWC Newsroom, and Arkibong Bayan.
Also included are the website of CPP founder Jose Maria Sison and progressive groups such as Hiyaw, Revolutionary Council of Trade Unions, Compatriots – Revolutionary Organization of Overseas Filipino and their Families, Save our School Network, UMA Pilipinas, Rural Missionaries of the Philippines, Pamalakaya Philippines, AMIHAN National Federation of Peasant Women, BAYAN, International League of Peoples’ Struggle, and International Action Center.
“[You] are hereby directed to effect the immediate blocking of the reported website found to be affiliated to and are supporting terrorists and terrorist organizations,” Esperon’s letter to the NTC read.
Esperon alleged that “they have established pervasive online presence through their websites that they continually use to publish propaganda and misinformation campaigns in order to malign the Philippine government, recruit new members, and to solicit funds from local and international sources.”
‘Surprised and enraged’
Independent media Bulatlat said it is “surprised and enraged” after it learned the NTC issued a memorandum to all internet service providers on June 8 to immediately block its website.
Bulatlat said since June 17, its subscribers can no longer access its website.
“Bulatlat, the longest-running and award-winning online media outfit and the authority in human rights reporting in the Philippines, condemns this brazen violation of our right to publish, and of the public’s right to free press and free expression,” it said in a statement.
The online media said it also wrote on June 20 to NTC and to the Department of Information and Communications Technology asking the agencies to “investigate the matter,” however, it has not received any reply from the two agencies.
Bulatlat said the move “sets a dangerous precedent for independent journalism in the Philippines.”
“For the past 21 years, Bulatlat has been committed to shedding light on issues that affect the marginalized and the oppressed. These include the struggles of farmers for land, of Indigenous Peoples for their ancestral domain and right to self-determination, of urban poor for their right to decent housing, of victims of human rights violations for justice, among others,” it said. – ag