The last time the freedom of the press was curtailed was way back in 1972 when then Pres. Ferdinand E. Marcos, Sr. declared Martial Law.
The horror of that regime is deeply etched in our memory. Our erstwhile community newspaper, the Davao Chronicle, was ordered padlocked by Hanz Menzi, the chief centurion appointed by the ailing Marcos to head the Philippine Council for Print Media. Scores lost their jobs in the print and broadcast media at the whim and caprice of watchdogs Marcos appointed. We joined the queue at the Philippine Constabulary Headquarters to obtained our thumb marks and warned of arrests and detention.
It is 2023 the age of Internet of Things that connects us to the World Wide Web. Under the leadership of Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. we are witnessing the revival of muzzling of the press, this time by the House of Representatives, threatening to suspend or maybe close SMNI TV and the detention of Jeffrey Celis and Dr. Lorraine Badoy for exercising their freedom to express their opinion.
Sadly Malacanang has remained mute. At the time when the latest update on the Covid situation is Zero case President Marcos was reported to have contacted Covid anew. This after Vice Pres. Sara Duterte aired her views on the proposed revival of peace talks with the communist terrorists and the grant of amnesty to its armed combatants. The early Christmas package to the terrorist organization is supported by the HoR leadership which led us to think something is terribly going awry.
The silence of Malacanang over what goes on in the HoR is foreboding. We hope for the fast recovery of the ailing President Marcos and wish from our leader the vision, wisdom and forthright direction to where our country is leading to.
Has the series of earthquakes caused a serious crack at the Unity too?