A DOUBLE WHAMMY FOR DEMOCRACY

The campus press is a vital vein in the Philippines’ democracy. As an institution, it is

indispensable in facilitating open and inclusive dialogues among students and the youth. It is an
avenue paramount to the safe exchange of ideas and perspectives within academic spaces
without fear of persecution and harassment. The campus press is the bridge that connects
students to issues of importance to the community. Yet, the future looks grim for the campus
press under an administration that rose to power through the weaponization of lies and the
blatant distortion of history.

It has been almost a year since Ferdinand Marcos Jr and Sara Duterte took up the two highest
posts in the land. Since the overwhelming victory that cemented them at the helm of the
country’s leadership, the Philippines has been a battleground for the press, embattled in a
tug-of-war against state-perpetrated harassment of the media, including the campus press.

For example, last March 15, College Editors Guild of the Philippines (CEGP) alumna and
human rights worker Alexa Pacalda was convicted on charges of illegal possession of firearms.
CEGP Southern Tagalog’s post condemning Pacalda’s conviction was taken down by
Facebook’s parent company Meta for “coordinating harm and promoting crime.” CEGP also
reported how state-sponsored trolls trooped to the post just before its takedown.

Additionally, CEGP reported last March 1 that the administrators of the Facebook page of “Ang
Tagamasid,” the official student publication of the UP Manila College of Arts and Sciences, could
no longer access the page following an earlier login attempt by an unknown entity.

These are but a few of the examples of the repression of campus press freedom under
Marcos-Duterte. Despite Marcos Jr.’s promise upholding free speech and the rights of media
practitioners, the administration’s silence on the threats against campus journalism is deafening,
especially so on Sara Duterte, who, despite the critical role she plays as Department of
Education Secretary, insists on promoting a militaristic and authoritarian approach to education
by promoting the reinstatement of the mandatory Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC).

The administration’s virtually non-existent stance against the harassment of campus journalists
is disappointing but not surprising, given the Marcos and Duterte families’ history of detaining
campus journalists during the Martial Law years and the Duterte administration respectively.
However, despite being in key positions to establish safeguards for campus journalists, their
silence leaves campus journalists vulnerable to continued suppression, thus putting them at risk
in the exercise of their duty to report on vital issues and hold those in power accountable.

Amidst the herculean task of carrying the cross of truth-telling during these trying times, there is
no better time for student journalists to push back and hold the line. As watchdogs of the
community, campus journalists play indispensable roles in promoting transparency and
accountability, and any threats against them should be seen as a threat to the rights of citizens
to be informed on matters that affect their lives.