AlterMidya and the National Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) denounced the red-tagging of journalists at the Senate hearing on December 1.

In a statement, Altermidya said the red-tagging of the alternative media journalists during the National Task Force to End the Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) at the Senate hearing was "done without evidence."

This, after NTF-ELCAC Executive Director Allen Capuyan accused AlterMidya and its member organizations as being part of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP).

Showing a presentation to a Senate hearing, Capuyan listed several media organizations under the alternative media network as members of CPP's propaganda machinery.

"We are appalled at this irresponsible practice, which is a stark contrast to our ethical commitment of truthful and careful reporting as journalists," it said.

"Journalists from the alternative media relentlessly report on the situation in various communities across the country: on environment issues, corruption, human rights abuses, on the situation of farmers, workers, among others. Reporting on these stories have resulted in the non-stop attacks in various forms against our members -- from death threats, cyberattacks, harassment, physical assault, detention, and even attempted murder," it added.

AlterMidya said it will pursue legal action against the malicious smear campaign on its members and will "exhaust all means to fight back." 

" shall continue our journalistic responsibility of truth-telling -- and with fellow journalists and freedom-loving Filipinos, persist in upholding press freedom and freedom of expression at all costs," the group said.

AlterMidya Network is an alliance of community journalists, independent media outfits, community radio broadcasters, and grassroot film collectives in the Philippines.

Stand with AlterMidya, defend press freedom

In a statement released Wednesday (December 2), NUJP called on the public to support alternative media against red-tagging.

"These small but courageous news outfits play a vital role in serving the people's right to know through reportage and analysis that provide fresh perspectives to often under-reported social issues -- land reform, human rights, the environment and injustice, to name a few -- and oft-neglected sectors -- the peasants, small fisher folk, the urban poor, laborers, and indigenous people," NUJP said.

The journalists group added that the red-tagging directed at alternative media is no different than the shutdown of ABS-CBN and the continued attacks on Rappler and other independent news organizations.

"Let us once and for all show them that we, the Philippine media and people, are free not because we are allowed to but because we insist on being free," it said.