FMFA statement in solidarity with VERA Files

THE FREEDOM for Media Freedom for All (FMFA) coalition, in solidarity with the media journalism community nationwide, condemns the death threats against VERA Files for fact-checking and countering disinformation. VERA Files is one of the internationally accredited groups for reviewing news stories posted on social media, particularly Facebook. It fact-checks and rates the accuracy of these stories.

FMFA includes the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility (CMFR), National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP), Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ), Philippine Press Institute (PPI), and MindaNews.  The five NGOs have joined together to undertake campaigns and advocacy for media freedom, not just as a right of those working in the press but of all citizens in a democracy. 

Sent through Facebook messenger by a certain “Melbert Abarquez,” the threats — accompanied by a photo of two men brandishing rifles – came after VERA Files published a fact check that belied Senator Ronald dela Rosa’s claim that former President Duterte’s comments about killing police linked to the drug trade were only said out of frustration.

Some may see death threats as something that comes with the work of a journalist but these should not be ignored or normalized. FMFA notes the gravity of the challenge particularly during the Duterte regime when President Duterte publicly expressed his personal animosity against mainstream media. Subsequently, his supporters, including troll armies, launched a coordinated disinformation campaign against journalists. Propaganda popularized the labels “presstitutes” and “bayaran” (bribed) to describe journalists on social media. These led to actual assaults, surveillance, harassment and intimidation as other government officials followed suit in their dealings with the media. 

In a climate of violence, words threatening to kill become inciteful of actual actions. Such words heighten the impunity with which attacks and threats are hurled at journalists and media workers. CMFR and NUJP both monitor and report the increase of  such actions against journalists around the country and the involvement of state agents or public officials in numerous cases.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has stated that “fake news” has no place in modern society.  He has also expressed his intent to improve the low ranking of the Philippines in the World Press Freedom Index. He must back these actions with words and order the Philippine National Police, the National Bureau of Investigation, and the Presidential Task Force on Media Security to work together to find out who are behind these threats. 

FMFA calls on the media community to stand in solidarity with the victims of these attacks and threats. The attack on one is an attack on all. These threats weaken the media as an institution and as a community and erode the capacity of journalists to provide factual news that citizens need in a democracy. 

Signed:

FREEDOM FOR MEDIA, FREEDOM FOR ALL NETWORK
Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility
National Union of Journalists of the Philippines
Philippine Press Institute
Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism
MindaNews

ALTERMIDYA NETWORK
#FACTSFIRSTPH COALITION
RAPPLER

Individuals

Rachel Abanilla, PCIJ
Jun Aguirre, Boracay Island News Network
Roby Alampay, International Media Support
Francis Allan Angelo, Daily Guardian
Adelina Sevilla Alvarez, Center for Community Journalism & Development
Roderick Alain Alvarez
Avon Ang, Altermidya Network
Patricia Aquino, PumaPodcast
Danilo Arao, Bulatlat Multimedia
Carolyn O. Arguillas, MindaNews
Joel Ariate, Third World Studies Center, CSSP, UP Diliman
Tess Bacalla, Asia Democracy Chronicles
Marissa Bacsa
Samantha Bagayas, #FactsFirstPH initiative
Red Batario, Center for Community Journalism & DevelopmentRey Beltran
Philip Beley
Bernice Beltran
Rick Berdos, Vera Files
Maria Karina A. Bolasco
Jarius Bondoc, Philippine Star
Lucelle Bonzo, Davao Today
Kaye Cabal, Rappler
Rayyan Ibrahim Cada, CvSU Journalism Guild
Neni Sta. Romana Cruz
Bea Cupin
Booma Cruz, Vera Files
Chito De la Vega, Rappler
Larah Vinda Del Mundo, UP Third World Studies Center
JB Deveza
Ma. Ceres Doyo, Philippine Daily Inquirer
Ronald Escanlar
Paterno II Esmaquel, Rappler
Inday Espina-Varona
Kim Bernard Fajardo, PUP Department of Broadcast Communication
Carmela Fonbuena, PCIJ
Karel Jiaan Galang, Asia Democracy Network (ADN)Melvin Gascon
Francis Gealogo, Tanggol Kasaysayan
Jee Geronimo, Rappler
Glenda Gloria, Rappler
Xave Gregorio
Miriam Grace Go
Herbie Gomez
Iris Gonzales, Philippine Star
Mia Gonzales
Chay Hofileña
Karol Ilagan, Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism
Carl Javier
Sol Juvida, Women Writers
Ma. Diosa Labiste
Sean Latorre, UP College of Mass Communication Student Council
Angelo Lopez
Ann Lourdes Lopez, Asian Institute of Journalism
Rommel Lopez, PressOnePH
Gabriel Kim Leal, PCIJ
Estrella Loque
Joann Manabat
Merlyn Manos,  GMA 7
Joseph Bernard Marzan
Joel Mataro
Gemma Mendoza 
Romma Mendoza
Rowel Montel, Sunshine Online News
Marion Abilene Navarro, Third World Studies Center, CSSP, UP Diliman
Jade Nombrado, Radio DYDM AM Southern Leyte & Bandilyo News Publishing
Nix Noriega, UP Third World Studies Center
Ted Aldwin Ong
Kevin Angelo Ortiz
Cristina Palabay, Karapatan
Maria Ressa, Rappler
Virgilind Palarca, Media Educators of Mindanao
Rowena Paraan, PCIJ
Earl Parreno, Alter Trade Foundation, Inc
Angelika Pasaba
Annie Perez, UP Cebu
Sheentara Rejano, Cavite State University
James Bernard Relativo, Philstar.com
Miguel Paolo Reyes, UP Third World Studies Center
Jaira Roxas, Rappler
Cherry Mae Salazar, PCIJ
Grace Salonga, Movement Against Disinformation
Mark Saludes, LiCAS.news
Alejandro Saludo, MindaNow Express News / Sapol News
Felipe Salvosa
Elma Sandoval
Ivel John Santos, VERA Files
Jan Brian Siladan
RJ Suarez, National Alliance of Youth Leaders, Inc
Paulynn Sicam, Women Writers in Media Now
Karl Patrick Suyat, August Twenty-One Movement, Institute for Nationalist Studies
Prestoline Suyat, PinoyMedia Center
Rochit Tanedo, Women Writers in Media Now
Theodore Te, Free Legal Assistance Group (FLAG)
Raffy Tima
Jaemark Tordecilla
Martha Teodoro, PCIJ
Gab Humilde Villegas
Elmer Valenzuela, PonD News Asia
Sherwin De Vera, Northern Dispatch
Raymund Villanueva, Altermidya
Marites Vitug
Shawn Yao
Mona Lisa Yuchengco, Positively Filipino

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Journalists and media organizations may sign on to this statement using this link: https://tinyurl.com/3vtwy9ar