A low point in pettiness

Letter .

MALACANANG’S expansion of the ban on Rappler’s coverage of President Rodrigo Duterte, which has now apparently gone beyond the Palace compound to include events elsewhere, including those otherwise accessible to the general public, marks a new low point in the chief executive’s by now well documented pettiness.

On Tuesday, Rappler reporter Pia Ranada, already barred from entering Malacañang, reported in a FacebookLive broadcast that she had also been denied access to a GoNegosyo event at the World Trade Center in Pasay City where Duterte was scheduled to speak.

Ranada said she had been informed by a staff member of the Palace’s Media Accreditation and Relations Office that aside from the ban from the Palace compound, she no longer could cover “all events involving the President inside or outside Malacañang.” Her report included footage of her asking event staff if she could at least have a press release about the event only to be told that she could not because she did not have an event ID notwithstanding her press credentials and her continued membership in the Malacañang Press Corp.

Alas, Duterte and whoever has been offering him stupid advise on this matter are utterly wrong if they think they can actually humiliate or totally prevent any journalist or media outfit worthy of the name from covering what are clearly events of utmost public interest and importance. As the saying goes, there are more than one ways to skin a cat. But this show of vindictiveness is not just pathetically childish, more worrisome is it shows Duterte’s penchant for taking shortcuts in a case that is still pending before the courts. In short, it betrays his lack of respect for democratic institutions and processes.

We see no need to urge Rappler and Ms Ranada to stand firm for they have from the get-go. But we do reiterate our total support for them as they persist in carrying out their task of informing the public despite this government’s damnedest efforts to shut them down. We urge all independent journalists to close ranks and stand with Rappler in refusing to be silenced. –National Union of Journalists of the Philippines

‘Dangerous prescription’

DOCTORS, nurses, health workers, and students under the Solidarity of the Health Sector Against Charter Change (Shacc) presented their diagnosis and prescription on the Charter change (Cha-cha) proposed by the Duterte administration.

Cha-cha falls flat as a solution to the problems affecting us. This Cha-cha is a dangerous prescription, and it must be stopped.

Despite overwhelming public disapproval of the earlier Cha-cha attempts, the Duterte administration continues to mobilize its allies in Congress to pursue it. Cha-cha promotes the self-serving agenda of incumbent powers and allows Duterte to further his grip on political power and dictatorship.

Cha-cha hides under the vague nature of the administration’s Federalism. Under vague mother hood statements, Cha-cha reveals deadly side effects as pro-people and nationalist provisions are put under the guillotine. Cha-cha is anti-people and promotes and protects foreign interests.

The phrase “security of tenure” will be removed, allowing contractual labor and cheap employment with no benefits.

• Genuine agrarian reform is tossed aside to allow more foreign plantations.
• The proposal to open 100% of land, businesses, and public utilities to foreign entities will render basic social services inaccessible and expensive for the ordinary Filipino.
• Legal loopholes are inserted into the Constitution by inserting “otherwise provided by law” on existing provisions.

The Duterte administration and the supermajority in Congress must be reminded that the public are closely watching and weary of this unpatriotic act to change the Constitution to serve their bulging self interests. Cha-cha must be stopped, otherwise we’ll have problems in health bigger than Dengvaxia – Dr. Edelina dela Paz and Angel Sison, convenors, Solidarity of the Health Sector Against Charter Change