The websites of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan and 26 people’s organizations and independent news outlets remain blocked a year after this was ordered by the National Telecommunications Commission based on the recommendation of former National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr.

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The order was issued days before the term of Rodrigo Duterte’s government ended on June 30. It reflected the curtailment of civil liberties and the use of draconian laws like the Anti-Terrorism Act to suppress dissenting voices. It confirmed our assertion that the ATA will be weaponized against activists and critics of the state.

Despite the change in government, the NTC memo was not reversed which highlighted the continuing decline of freedom of expression under the presidency of Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr.

The first law signed by Marcos Jr was the SIM Card Registration Act which enables mass surveillance and undermines the privacy of citizens. Meanwhile, three radio broadcasters were killed over the past year. Extrajudicial killings and cases of activist abductions and enforced disappearances continue to rise. Impunity has worsened despite the claim of authorities that the government is upholding the rule of law.

The blocking of our websites is part of a systematic campaign of vilification by state forces aimed at invalidating the people’s struggle for social justice. It is linked to the default red-tagging policy of the state and the vicious hate campaign of its rabid cyber army of trolls and paid propagandists.

Restricting our websites will not silence us and the people’s clamor for change. The enemies of truth and purveyors of disinformation may think that blocking websites is an effective tool, but it actually exposes the undemocratic governance, irrational paranoia, and tyrannical bent of the Marcos Jr presidency.

Bayan and our allied organizations will continue to speak out and stand up for genuine freedom and democracy as we enjoin all freedom-loving Filipinos to defeat the digital authoritarians and hardline fascists in Malacañáng.

Categories: Statements

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