The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines welcomes the decision by Quezon City Regional Trial Court 104 voiding the National Telecommunications Commission’s order to block access to Bulatlat, PinoyWeekly and more than two dozen other websites.
In her decision, Judge Catherine Manodon said that the NTC had no authority to arbitrarily block websites and said that by “preventing the websites’ publication from reaching its audience, the NTC’s issuance effectively imposed censorship even before the alleged objectionable content could be subject to any judicial determination.”
The NTC’s block order was premised on a request by the National Security Council, which cited the Anti-Terrorism Act in justifying what the court has recognized as prior restraint.
While the media community acknowledges that an attack on one is an attack on all, this legal victory of one party — Bulatlat publisher Alipato Media Center Inc. — is a victory for all since it repudiates the practice of using “anti-terrorism” rhetoric to suppress freedom of the press and of speech and expression.
Although the petition questioning the NTC’s order was filed by media workers, this victory is a win for all citizens.
NUJP congratulates its members and colleagues at Bulatlat for their courage and perseverance and thanks the National Union of People’s Lawyers as well as colleagues and press freedom allies who helped with the case and with the campaign to #UnblockTheTruth.
May this court victory help chip away at the chilling effect on media that has built up over recent years and serve as an example that even small newsrooms can push back and win against a state with nearly unlimited resources but seemingly little compunction.
May this ruling also serve as a warning to telcos to be more discerning in implementing orders that clearly violate protected rights under the Constitution.
Reference:
National Directorate
