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Media in Peril

By Jun Duterte
Davao Communicators Guild
One of the most gripping human emotion is fear. Fear immobilizes, fear neutralizes, fear corrodes human goodwill and creativity, fear sends shivers to the heart, clouds our judgement and in the process derails the independence of our thoughts, our feelings, our emotions and even of our will.

It is against this social backdrop that we, media practitioners in Davao from all walks of life and backgrounds have collectively decided to come to the forefront today-in the form of a protest march and rally-irrespective of our professional differences because there is a greater national concern that stares us in the face right now: the threats brought about by Proclamation 1017.

While we hear of reports that presumably 1017 might be lifted anytime, this is not consolation enough for us because the threats to free expression and our right to think and speak as freemen do in a free society remain unresolved.

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Lawyers? Group Warns Arroyo Could Still Tinker with Constitution

Bayan calls lifting of Proclamation 1017 ?deceptive?

By Cheryll D. Fiel
davaotoday.com

DAVAO CITY ? A group of lawyers in Mindanao warned Sunday that the non-resolution of the petitions by several groups questioning the legality of Proclamation 1017 before the Supreme Court may ?embolden the administration to further tinker with the 1987 Constitution and the peoples? civil liberties.?

The Union of People?s Lawyers in Mindanao (UPLM), in a statement, implored the Supreme Court to resolve the issues. It pointed that the lifting Friday of Proclamation 1017 ?should not be made a ground to set aside the constitutional issues that hounded such a blatant betrayal of the true spirit of the EDSA People Power Constitution.?

Despite the lifting, it added, there is still a ?clear and present danger? to the civil liberties of the Filipino people. It said the non-resolution of these petitions was like the sword of Damocles. Hanging over the head of the public.
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?Alvin Luque Target in Cagayan de Oro Raid?

Karapatan Lawyer in Surigao Cries Harassment

By Daisy C. Gonzales
davaotoday.com

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (March 7, 2006) ? Alvin Luque, one of Davao City?s more prominent personalities from the Left and who has been at odds with the military for years, was apparently the target in the ransacking of the office in this city of the human-rights group Karapatan.

Unidentified people ransacked Karapatan?s office here Sunday night. Although no important documents or equipment were stolen, the suspects defaced the white board in the office, drawing a caricature of the devil.

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NTC Circular Vs Broadcasters Denounced; Duterte Calls It ?Wrong, Very Stupid?

By Cheryll D. Fiel and Germelina A. Lacorte
davaotoday.com

DAVAO CITY ? ?Wrong.? ?Very stupid.? ?Very gray.?

These were the reactions by Davao officials to the reported National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) circular banning broadcasters from using anonymous sources in their newscasts and reports.

The circular, which the NTC disclosed on Saturday, was just the latest in the government?s alleged efforts to control the Philippine press, despite the lifting of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo?s Proclamation 1017 that many critics said specifically targeted the media.

The NTC reportedly issued a circular officially adopting the guidelines, supposedly drawn up by the industry group Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster sa Pilipinas (KBP), among them that a station ?may not broadcast news to which it cannot attribute a source.?

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Continue ReadingNTC Circular Vs Broadcasters Denounced; Duterte Calls It ?Wrong, Very Stupid?