COVID-19 has exempted no one from its harsh impact on the mental health of every person including journalists who continue to provide information amid this pandemic that hurt the economy and the escalating attacks on the press worldwide.
In a single day on November 10, a journalist was shot and two others were arrested for cyber libel, raising concern on the state of journalists’ safety amidst the pandemic and the impunity.
A local organization of journalists based here believed that the recent killing of journalist Rogelio “Tata” Butalid was connected to the intra-management conflict of the Davao del Norte Electric Cooperative (DANECO).
“It can happen to any of us. Even because of a mere police story. As long as someone wants to silence you.” So says multi-awarded journalist and editor-in-chief Stella Estremera after a trial court found her and former publisher Antonio Ajero guilty of libel for publishing an alleged one-sided news article 10 years ago.