As part of the global media community, we stand with our colleagues in condemning and resisting all attempts by the Duterte administration to muzzle the freedom of the press, a sacred principle enshrined in the Philippine Constitution.

We note with increasing alarm the various ways such muzzling has taken form -- from harassment, threats, and the filing of unjust cases, to closure of media outlets and outright murder of journalists. We are not willing to ignore or let pass the "death by a thousand cuts" directed at the press by a regime that has no concept of accountability and whose understanding of democracy is tenuous and self-serving.

In her article in the Atlantic about Monday's conviction of Maria Ressa and Reynaldo Santos of the crime of cyber-libel, Sheila Coronel, veteran journalist and dean of the Columbia University School of Journalism, says it best: "This is how democracy dies in the 21st century: in a musty courtroom, with a judge invoking Mandela. There are no power grabs in the dead of night, no tanks rolling down the streets, no uniformed officers taking over TV stations. Just the steady drip, drip, drip of the erosion of democratic norms, the corruption of institutions, and the cowardly compromises of decision makers in courts and congresses."

[Read Sheila Coronel's full article here: https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2020/06/maria-ressa-rappler-philippines-democracy/613102/?fbclid=IwAR3wJ69TjZvBqvP6TdNQ0Rp7pJEgIUNzJb7IKfxMg_YpNqiWBWzFgB3hJl8]

We at Positively Filipino give our full support to Maria Ressa, Reynaldo Santos and other real journalists in upholding press freedom by continuing the fight against the legal and actual terrorism foisted on Philippine media. Along with the closure of ABS-CBN broadcasting network and the pending Anti-Terrorism Law that imperils constitutional rights of political critics, it is clear that the Duterte administration does not respect press freedom and other civil liberties and no longer pretends that there is such a thing as democracy in the country.

This Week's Stories:

Filipinos For Black Lives By Richard “D-cal” Dacalos

On The Asian Cop Who Did Nothing As George Floyd Lay Dying By Benjamin Pimentel

Fil-Ams Among The Remarkable And Famous, Part 6 By Mona Lisa Yuchengco

Ramon De Ocampo Narrates It All For You By Walter Ang

Read Again: http://www.positivelyfilipino.com/magazine/jose-rizal-martial-arts-warrior

The Happy Home Cook: Beer Boneless Bangus Belly by Rene Astudillo

Video of the Week: The Philippine Department of Tourism’s tribute to 10 million Filipino workers around the world: Noypi Ka Nga Astig!

In The Know

This Is How Democracy Dies
https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2020/06/maria-ressa-rappler-philippines-democracy/613102/?fbclid=IwAR11rQrkKVjLYk5L1k2NxKjWJF_y0JcJ8JVS4tujTLM65tkTfEgabX4ZTBE

Maria Ressa: The celebrated Philippine news boss enraging Duterte
https://news.yahoo.com/maria-ressa-celebrated-philippine-news-014051537.html

Filipino American Activists Honor History, Take to the Streets in Solidarity With Black Lives Matter Movement
https://www.kqed.org/news/11823900/filipino-american-activists-remember-history-and-take-to-the-streets-in-solidarity-with-black-lives-matter-movement?fbclid=IwAR09UX_i04Ur3hOmqltIXZhUvf7c-Aqp73aJI1C0t6QzT4iSFI-q4in7L6o