The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) has condemned what it described as “harassment and intimidation” of campus journalists following police actions against Jacob Baluyot, a student reporter for The Catalyst, the official publication of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines.
Baluyot was issued a subpoena by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) for allegedly being among the “leaders of the organizations allegedly involved in the violent incident during the Trillion Peso March,” a protest held on September 21 to denounce corruption in flood control projects. He said he attended the protest strictly in his capacity as a student journalist.
In addition to the subpoena, police officers reportedly visited Baluyot’s residence as part of the CIDG’s investigation. The NUJP said such actions reflect a disturbing pattern of targeting members of the press, especially student journalists, for covering events of public interest.
“Journalists should be free to report without fear of reprisal. The police must stop harassing members of the press, including campus journalists like Jacob Baluyot, who was simply doing his job,” the NUJP said in a statement.
The union emphasized that press freedom is not limited to mainstream media and includes student publications that play a vital role in documenting civic movements and holding power to account.
“The coverage of protests is not a crime. It is a public service. We stand with Jacob and all journalists who continue to report amid threats and intimidation,” the NUJP added.
The CIDG’s actions come weeks after more than 200 individuals were arrested at the protest, many of whom claimed they were bystanders or were fleeing the violence. Meanwhile, contractors and government officials linked to the corruption allegations have reportedly held closed-door meetings with the Independent Commission for Infrastructure, raising concerns over unequal treatment and accountability.
The NUJP urged authorities to focus on investigating the corruption allegations rather than silencing those who report on them. (ZIA LUNA)
