The truth should not be jeopardized again
In this era of self-expression and active involvement, the people of today are using their voices to bring about change in the country. Their loud clamors leave a rattling impact to the world and because of their passionate outcries, events, and actions done by the government are given the benefit of the doubt.
The voice we have today could not be possible if not for the people who fought for this kind of freedom. People might say that democracy brought about the irregularities of the country’s perspectives and may be a factor of the peoples’ “too much” involvement, but I suppose that we are just exercising the freedom that has been given to us by our brethren that sacrificed their lives for us to attain this privilege.
A major factor that can contribute to the unleashing of the voices of the masses is the role that media and the press play. Without the press, how can truth be put into the right place where it is supposed to be? How can the truth prevail whether it is favorable to the people involved or not? How could the truth serve justice?
Whether people agree or not, I think that the press have an important role in the society. As conveyors of the truth, the press instigates immense world-changing issues that can move the world by storm.
That is why when the late former President Ferdinand Marcos signed Proclamation no. 1081 that placed the whole country under Martial Law 35 years ago, the press was controlled. Hiding away their right to expose the truth that is not favorable to the government.
September 22, 1972 marked the start of a dreadful regime of controlled news by the dictator’s cronies. Through Letter of Instruction no. 1, Marcos orders the closure of media establishments like Manila Times, Daily Mirror, Manila Chronicle, Daily Bulletin, Philippine Daily Express, Philippines Herald, Philippine Free Press, Graphic, and the Nation as well as wire agencies.
People raced through the streets to fight for their freedom, but because of the nationwide control, people’s rights were violated, taken away, and they were punished in ways unimaginable to human beings soon becoming victims of this horrific tragedy.
It even reached a point where Marcos issued Presidential Decree (PD) 33 which “penalizes the printing, possession, and distribution of leaflets and other materials, and even graffiti which undermine the integrity of the government,” soon after he issues PD No. 36 canceling the franchises and permits of all mass media facilities allegedly trying to topple his government.
Without the media coming into play, how can justice be served? How can you provide the people informed lives if the information and the news be blocked by the government? What is there to hide and fear?
I see that if people are not wary of the impact of the events that happened in our country years back, people would just allow things to happen whatever the government says and thinks it will do. We should shed light about Martial Law especially to the apathetic, ignorant and indifferent members of society that don’t even bother to be educated on these matters.
Now in the recent declaration of President Rodrigo Duterte, placing the whole of Mindanao under martial law on May 23, the press has been wary about it and are explaining the effects of these to them for the new generation of Filipinos that have little or no idea how it was during those dark years of military rule.
The martial law in Mindanao is for the benefit of peace in Mindanao as they say and not quite as same as what happened before, the press are now advocating for a more knowledgeable public through their reportage. The freedom that was once fought with life should never be repeated nor be compromised once again so they seek to educate the nation.
Duterte’s martial law was in response to what transpired in the 5-month-long Marawi siege.
Although media reportage on martial law and the Marawi conflict has so far been informative and extensive, journalists still have a hard time acquiring information because of the strict measures of the military. Therefore, there are times when information becomes limited – making it hard for journalists to be able to promulgate awareness to the nation.
It is just to be hoped that there won’t come a time when journalists will be barred from accessing information from Marawi. This, then, is a sign that people’s freedom is becoming controlled. It is the fear of every journalist to be hindered from the truth for this also means that constituents will be blinded by the state’s innuendos.
Some say that this kind of martial law will not turn out to be like the previous one, however, it is still important for everyone to understand the gravity of such event. Now is not the time to be complacent.
Freedom from martial law is something that journalists and people of passionate voices take pride in; thus, we must lead people to have informed lives far from ignorance and absence of concern.
