CMFR Staff, Author at CMFR

We will not surrender our freedoms

WE ARE the community of independent Filipino journalists. We are the descendants of Lopez Jaena, of Del Pilar, of Rizal, of Leona Florentino, the sons and daughters of Don... Read more

Despite Duterte Freedom of Information EO: Access to information narrows during pandemic

CHEERS to the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ) for looking into how access to government-held information has become more difficult during the COVID-19 pandemic. Karol Ilagan’s “Quarantine Curbs... Read more

Print, TV reports miss the point: The truth about the anti-terror bill is not a matter of opinion

THE PRESS was obviously caught off-guard by the speed with which House Bill (HB) 6875, or the Anti-Terrorism Bill, went through three readings. Approved on May 29 by the... Read more

Media catching on: Government still confused about “mass” testing

GOVERNMENT SPOKESPERSONS have among their responsibilities that of projecting a good image of the administration and its officials, primarily the chief executive. But spokespersons who sacrifice clarity and truth... Read more

Making the uncounted count: ABS-CBN looks beyond official COVID death toll

THE DEPARTMENT of Health updates the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases, as well as recoveries and deaths daily. Cases in the Philippines have breached the 15,000 mark and continue... Read more

PWDs in media: Overlooked and left out

LIKE MANY poor Filipinos, persons with disabilities (PWD) are among the most affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. They, like everyone else, have suffered the brunt of the inefficiency and... Read more

Criminalizing criticism: More hardships for suffering public

THE INHUMANE treatment of people violating quarantine protocols has exposed the Philippine National Police (PNP) as an agency without heart. (See monitor: “Editorials assail abuses during lockdown”) The administration... Read more

Mass testing as policy: Still no plan in sight

AS THE government eases restrictions to start up the economy, cash-strapped Filipinos are eager to return to work. On May 16, modified quarantine conditions were set for some areas,... Read more

Inquirer blasts DILG drive for charter change amid pandemic

PUBLIC OPINION polls have again and again found that federalism and Charter change (Cha-cha) are not priority issues for Filipinos. The shift to federalism was among President Rodrigo Duterte’s... Read more

Media report ECQ shift to modified quarantine as just another “carmageddon”

AFTER TWO months of lockdown, the government decided to ease quarantine restrictions in some areas. Modified levels were announced for different jurisdictions from May 16 to May 31. Modified... Read more