PUP-COC SC and various groups hold the line to protest Ressa’s arrest

By: Cedrix Perez

Polytechnic University of the Philippines College of Communication (COC) Student Council and various political and progressive groups gathered today at COC Carpark to hold the line and protest the arrest of Rappler’s CEO and veteran journalist Maria Ressa, in connection with the cyber libel case filed months before the enactment of Cyber Crime Law in 2012.

Officers of National Bureau of Investigation served the arrest warrant to Ressa at the Rappler Headquarters after the court hours early on Wednesday evening.

On a statement released by COC student council on facebook, they said that putting shackles on Maria Ressa is nothing but an attempt of the current administration to lower the volume of the press’ loud critical voice.

Guia Chua, Editor-in-Chief of The Catalyst-the official student publication of PUP, also stressed that the arrest of Ressa is not new and thus a manifestation of the attacks to the journalist who only do their jobs.

“Isa itong manipestasyon–ang pag-aresto kay Maria Ressa ng Rappler, na takot na takot ang gobyernong ito sa mga mamamahayag na lumalaban at pinipiling ipakita ang katotohanan.” Tudla Productions-Manila Today, an alternative media.

Meanwhile, a candle lighting activity also happened at the protest to show sympathy to Ressa.

Students and activists used a chair that was wrapped in a newspaper to depict Ressa’s condition under a couple of charges filed by the government against her.

John Christopher Lara, President of COC’s student council lamented that the media is in dire need of people, whether it belongs to different sectors or the media itself, to defend its freedom against those who proliferate fake news and information.

Present at the rally are the groups of Kabataan Partylist, The Catalyst, PUP Office of the Student Regent, Tudla Productions-Manila Today, Youth Resist, Akbayan Youth, Panday Sining, BrodCircle and Journalsm Guild.

While the call out to denounce consecutive attacks still intensifies, The College Editors Guild of the Philippines encouraged everyone to make a stand and fight by signing to a unity statement circulated online.

On the other hand, Maria Ressa is not alone. Along with bails and cases against press freedom, alternative media such as Pinoy Weekly, Kodao Productions, Bulatlat, and Manila Today received spontaneous attacks in the face of websites lockdown.