NEW DELHI, India, Apr 30 2021 (IPS) – Every time a woman journalist receives threats of physical and sexual violence, cyber attacks and surveillence, doxxing, public humiliation, damage to her professional & personal credibility, the driving forces behind these intents are deeply rooted misogyny, sexism and abuse of power.
Reem Abdellatif
These online offenses are often organized, coordinated or orchestrated, which could include State-sponsored ‘sock puppet networks’, acts of patriotic trolling, networked gaslighting or involves mobs who seed hate campaigns.
According to a report published by The International Center for Journalists (ICFJ) and UNESCO, vicious online violence seeks to silence women journalists and discredit their reporting has become a growing problem.
Duterte says gov’t ‘remains committed’ to upholding press freedom
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Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 3) On World Press Freedom Day, President Rodrigo Duterte said his government will “remain committed” to protecting journalists’ rights, as a local media group called attention to continued attacks on reporters. Let me assure everyone that this administration will remain committed in promoting press freedom as a vital component and indicator of progress anywhere in the world,” Duterte said in a statement on Monday.
Ensuring a free press, the President added, is a “public good” and is “indispensable” to democracy. Cognizant of the ever-changing communication system these days, may the mass media also uphold fairness and transparency while also making a positive impact on the people’s lives, he continued.
State agents linked to over 100 attacks, threats against PH media under Duterte admin The police and the military were linked to a combined 42 cases. Local government officials were linked to 38 cases, while national government officials were linked to 34 cases. BY PHILIPPINE CENTER FOR INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM (PCIJ) May 3, 2021 | 07:00:00 PM
State agents were linked to more than half of the total 223 cases of attacks and threats against members of the Philippine media since President Rodrigo Duterte assumed office in 2016.
They were the alleged perpetrators in 114 cases, based on consolidated data from the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility (CMFR) and the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP).
Published May 3, 2021, 11:14 AM
Justice Secretary Menardo I. Guevarra (2)
Justice Secretary Menardo I. Guevarra on Monday, May 3, said he will ask the Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS) to investigate the killing last May 2 of John Heredia, member of the board of directors of the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP).
“Considering that John Heredia was a journalist, I will refer his case to the Presidential Task Force on Media Security for investigation and case build-up,” said Guevarra, also co-chairman of the PTFoMS.
Heredia was killed at around 2 p.m. Sunday, May 2, at the parking lot of CitiHardware in Barangay Lawaan in Roxas City, Capiz.
Capiz town administrator shot dead By MA. ANGELICA GARCIA, GMA News
Published May 2, 2021 7:43pm The municipal administrator of Pilar, Capiz, who was a former National Union of Journalists of the Philippines national director, was shot dead on Sunday, the NUJP said. According to the NUJP, John Heredia was killed by motorcycle-rising gunmen in Barangay Lawa-an in Roxas City. Heredia was about to board his vehicle when he was attacked by the gunmen. His wife, lawyer Cris Heredia, told local media that he was declared dead on arrival at the Capiz Doctor s Hospital. She added that they will await the results of the police investigation into her husband s killing.