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Herbie Gomez . 

THE National Union of Journalists of the Philippines has released a statement last week, hailing Time magazine’s selection of the “Guardians” that included our very own Maria Ressa as “Person of the Year.”

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The NUJP says, “This year has, indeed, been one of the most trying for the profession of truth as populist leaders and their governments seek to control, by fair means or foul, the free flow of information that people need to decide their personal and collective futures.

“Ironically, one of their weapons of choice – social media – was supposedly intended to democratize access to information but has been weaponized and turned into a battleground into which armies of trolls have been deployed in a massive attempt to drown out the truth with threats, insults and lies.

“They have, however, failed miserably to silence the free press and independent journalists, and this failure has, in turn, helped encourage broader resistance among people to resist these efforts to twist the truth and shackle their minds.

“The selection of Maria is a recognition of the resistance and tenacity of the Philippine Press in upholding truth and fighting for the freedom of the Press and expression.

“The choice of the ‘Guardians’ is also an affirmation of journalism’s value in our continuing search for genuine democracy, both in governance and in our social interactions, even as it also serves as a sobering reminder of the worsening threats to freedom of the press and of expression, and the need to educate and promote critical thinking among the people.”

I’m very glad that there are people like Maria Ressa who are holding the line, and who, despite the painful cost of exercising the freedom of the press and of expression in this country now, can still say without batting an eyelash that the sky is blue even if everyone in the room says the sky is red. Kudos to Ressa and Rappler!

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The House just railroaded the passage of former president and now Speaker Gloria Arroyo’s Resolution of Both Houses 15 on its third and final reading, with 224 members voting in favor, 22 against, and three abstentions. It was for a Charter change of unlimited office terms, unlimited political dynasties, and unlimited pork barrel. Simply put: unlimited abuse and corruption.

Under this version, the federal setup would give rise to autonomous states that, in reality, would become de facto little kingdoms of feudal lords masquerading today as pro-people politicians. What Arroyo and her House have in mind is actually a deadly mixture of federalism and political dynasty-ism.

What can be expected from a charter without anti-dynasty provisions and office term limits but with a strengthened pork barrel system? Garapal.

Now, tell me how our four congressmen here — Reps. Maximo Rodriguez Jr. and Rolando Uy of Cagayan de Oro, and Peter Unabia and Juliette Uy of Misamis Oriental — voted. Pastilan.

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