Senator Risa Hontiveros on Wednesday, October 26 called on the Marcos administration to protect journalists from violence and killings as she reiterated her call for authorities to resolve the death of radio broadcaster Percival “Percy Lapid” Mabasa.
“Yes, a journalist’s first obligation is to the truth. And like any other job, the press must be able to perform their duty without fear of harm,” Hontiveros said during a press briefing at the Senate.
“Nanawagan ako sa administrasyon (I call on the administration), protect the fourth estate from this reign of terror. Put an end to this gruesome death toll,” she said.
“Mr. President, our reporters—our media men and women—are not expendable,” Hontiveros said.
At the same time, the senator renewed her call for the government to provide greater protection to the Mabasa family, which are now receiving multiple death threats and extortion attempts.
Hontiveros showed members of the press copies of the text messages and allowed members to hear the recorded phone calls received by the Mabasa family since the assassination.
The senator said the Mabasa family claimed that some of the persons behind the anonymous text messages were asking them for P1-million in exchange for information that would pin down former Bureau of Correction (BuCor) director general Gerald Bantag.
The Philippine National Police (PNP) has named Bantag as one of the persons of interest in the Percy Lapid case.
According to the Mabasa family, the unknown persons texting Lapid’s brother, Roy Mabasa and his son, Mark Mabasa made death threats against them after Roy blocked their online messages.
Hontiveros said she will submit the evidence the Mabasa family gathered and gave to her to the PNP and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).
“We will turn over these evidences to the Cybercrime units of the PNP and NBI so they can identify and trace the persons behind these text messages and exact accountability from these people, whether or not they are involved in
Percy’s killing. They should cease and desist,” Hontiveros said.
Hontiveros also said President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. should also address the issue on media killings once and for all.
“The President could speak on this matter, alang-alang kay Ka Percy, alang alang sa pamilya niya, at alang alang sa freedom of the press (for the sake of Ka Percy, for the sake of his family, and for the sake of freedom of the press),” Hontiveros said.
“Sa panahon ngayon na hindi lang natin nilalabanan ang interpretasyon sa kasaysayan ngunit ipinaglalaban muli yung mga batayang karapatan gaya ng freedom of the press (In today's era, we are not only fighting the interpretation of history but also fighting again for basic rights such as freedom of the press),” she further said.
“So kung magsalita si Presidente personally tungkol sa kasong ito, hindi po magiging unwelcome iyon (So if the President speaks personally about this case, that will not be unwelcome),” Hontiveros said.
Mabasa is the second journalist killed under the Marcos administration. He was a known critic of former president Rodrigo Duterte’s administration and President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and has been vocal and sharp in his commentaries about them in his radio and online programs.
Hontiveros said the Marcos administration can use the experiences gained and recommendations being pushed by past administrations in reforming the country’s criminal justice system.
“The administration is not empty-handed in many long-standing studies on how to reform the criminal justice system and specifically our penal system. Nor are they especially empty-handed in recommendations about how to respect and protect the freedom of the press,” she said.
“Wherever they want to start to promote such reforms or to correct the mistakes and shortcomings of the past and now they will not make mistakes there. They have a lot of advice about that. They could start anywhere from the simple implementation of rules and regulations within the centers where persons deprived of liberty are detained,” the lawmaker stressed.