From the Newsrooms: April 21 to May 4, 2024
More attacks by the China Coast Guard in WPS; PH falls two notches in World Press Freedom Index
THE TIMING was on point. Beijing was delivering a message loud and clear when the China Coast Guard (CCG) vessels used water cannons to block two Philippine civilian vessels in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) on April 30 amidst the ongoing “Balikatan” exercises between troops of the United States and the Philippines which started on April 22.
Keeping count, the Philippine Daily Inquirer noted that it was the seventh time that the CCG had taken such aggressive action against Filipinos in the WPS since August 2023.
Media reports described China’s actions in two separate locations in Bajo Masiloc. The BRP Bagacay of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) was on patrol while the BRP Bankaw of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), was delivering food and fuel to Filipino fishermen in the shoal when the CCG attacked. Both missions were disrupted by Chinese water cannons.
Reports quoted Commodore Jay Tarriela, the PCG spokesperson for the WPS said the attack damaged both vessels. Bankaw, which was also rammed three times by CCG and Chinese militia vessels, sustained damage to its hull and its electrical, navigation, and radio systems. While, the high-pressure blasting from the water cannon damaged Bagacay’s railing and canopy.
24 Oras showed drone footage of the attack on BRP Bagacay which revealed that the CCG was aiming at the Philippine flag hoisted on the PCG ship.
On May 1, Frontline Pilipinas reported the statements from the US State Department and several ambassadors to the Philippines. Diplomats who expressed concern and condemnation of China’s aggression were from the United States, Japan, the United Kingdom, France, and the European Union. They called for China to respect the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the 2016 arbitral ruling which said that WPS belongs to the Philippines.
News reports on May 3 said that the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) was studying whether the incident warranted the filing of yet another diplomatic protest, which according to 24 Oras would make a total of 153 protests under the Marcos administration.
ABS-CBN News Online, among others, quoted China’s defense that the current Philippine administration violated a 2016 special arrangement between China and PH, that Filipino vessels and military aircraft should not go 12 nautical miles near the Panatag shoal. Media reports cited DFA spokesperson Ma. Teresita Daza who said that these special agreements no longer held, as President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has stated that the government will not act on any agreement that violates the Constitution. Daza further stressed that the issue is clear, “China is, actually, illegally in our EEZ [exclusive economic zone].”
Several senators, irked by the incident, said PCG should be ready to retaliate. The Manila Times quoted Senator Aquilino Pimentel II on May 3 who said that the PCG ships should also be equipped with water cannons and retaliate when another water cannon attack happens. Meanwhile, The Philippine Star quoted Tariella saying it is best not to hit back as this will give China the “excuse for an escalation.”
The Inquirer said the Philippine government already summoned the Chinese Embassy deputy chief to explain the water cannon attacks.
Prior to the latest attacks, several news reported Chinese vessels seen in several areas within the Philippine EEZ. Two Chinese navy ships were spotted off Palawan near the Balikatan site on April 22. Meanwhile, Chinese research vessels were seen in Catanduanes, located on the opposite side of the WPS, on April 28.
Prof. Jay Batongbacal told 24 Oras on May 2 that the latest incidents were a show of power on the part of China, that they can do anything, whether or not there were Balikatan drills. Former Associate Justice Antonio Carpio was also quoted in the report saying the incidents aim to put pressure on PH to discontinue its interest in doing gas and oil exploration in the WPS.
As of press time, however, the media had yet to report on the government taking actual steps and options to address the heightened tension between the two countries.
World Press Freedom Day 2024
On May 3, World Press Freedom Day (WPFD), Reporters Without Borders (RSF) released its annual World Press Freedom Index. News reports highlighted that the Philippines remained a “dangerous” country for journalists with its ranking slipping two notches, from 132nd to 134th, in the latest index.
RSF pointed out that the state of press freedom in the Philippines remains “worrisome.” Rappler noted in its May 3 report several cases that contributed to the country’s lower ranking. Cases include the harassment against Maria Ressa, the arrest and imprisonment of Eastern Vista journalist Frenchie Mae Cumpio, growing media ownership of political families, and journalist killings. The reports also noted the continued cyberattacks against several media outlets which include distributed denial of service (DDoS) and hacking attacks.
Also in commemoration of the WPFD, the Freedom for Media Freedom for All (FMFA) network released its annual State of Media Freedom Report highlighting the cases of threats and attacks against media, the shrinking time and space given to news, and media’s lapses in reporting human rights and other press freedom issues. The report called attention to CMFR data showing the increase in the number of cases involving state agents as perpetrators, the significance of which was not picked up by media reports.
Business World, among others, quoted the report noting 135 incidents of attacks and threats on the press during the Marcos administration (since July 2022). The Daily Guardian on May 4 stressed the FMFA finding that this number exceeds the attacks reported during the first 22 months of the Duterte administration. The report also underscored that the highest number of incidents were cases of intimidation that included red-tagging and surveillance.
Bulatlat reported that Richard Palpal-latoc, Chairperson of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) in his keynote speech at the 1st Media Safety Summit held in Quezon City on May 2 and 3, stressed that journalists continued to be subjected to red-tagging and surveillance; and that PH journalism has been has been “vulnerable” and “remains to be overlooked” despite its role in preserving the country’s democracy. Bulatlat may have been the only one to report the involvement of state agents, attributing it to Palpal-latoc who identified their role in red-tagging.
Business World highlighted in its report CMFR Executive Director Melinda Quintos De Jesus, who presented the FMFA report during the safety summit, saying that crimes against the press undermine the democratic system. According to the report, De Jesus stressed the need for “public support to safeguard media, advocating for citizen awareness of the press’ pivotal role in democracy.”
Meanwhile, Altermidya stressed media’s role in covering the environment and in shaping a collective call for climate justice. Their May 3 statement highlighted the task of the press “to provide timely and accurate information on the environment and to hold governments and corporations accountable” for their role in the destruction of the environment. It recalled the killing in 2011 of Palawan-based journalist Gerardo “Gerry” Ortega who exposed anomalies in the use of Malampaya funds. The statement urged the media to report the environmental issues as a human rights issue; and urged the public to stand against climate injustices by supporting press freedom.
The alternative media network deserves praise for highlighting this year’s theme of WPFD: journalism in the face of an environmental crisis.
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