Volume III, Number 19. 15 October 2021.
The Norwegian Nobel Committee announced on 8 October the awarding of the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize to Philippine journalist Maria Ressa and Russian journalist Dmitry Muratov, “for their courageous fight for freedom of expression in the Philippines and Russia”. According to the Committee, they represent “all journalists who stand up for this ideal in a world in which democracy and freedom of the press face increasingly adverse conditions”.
Indeed, the award validates the Philippines’ infamy as one of the most dangerous countries for journalists. It likewise signifies the ever-escalating disgust of the global community to the Duterte fascist regime.
Under the Duterte regime, 20 journalists have been murdered since 2016. To date, none have been convicted of these heinous crimes. Instead, the regime’s prosecutors routinely file fabricated cases of subversion, illegal possession of firearms and explosives, libel and cyber libel against critical journalists. They can then be arrested and detained indefinitely. They are labeled as enemies of the state, suffer military surveillance, harassment and threats to their physical safety. Ms. Ressa herself faces no less than seven cases of cyber libel.
The 2021 Nobel Peace Prize to the Philippine journalist complements the recent decision of the International Criminal Court to open investigations on crimes against humanity against the Duterte government. Both decisions sharpen further the global focus on the murderous, corrupt and treasonous Duterte regime.
Rodrigo Duterte, on his last year as President, has become the proverbial lameduck. Citing secretly commissioned polls, Duterte has withdrawn his bid for the Vice Presidency in the 2022 elections. Senate investigations are underway for his colossal crimes of corruption. His political alliance is fragmenting, some former Duterte loyalists complaining that he has stashed money away to secret foreign accounts. Complaints from military officials are getting louder against Duterte’s sell out of the West Philippine Sea to China. Duterte’s propaganda gimmickry has lost its effectivity, his so-called popularity is drastically waning, while the Filipino people’s call to end the detested regime is gaining momentum.
The Filipino people and the rest of the world need to remain vigilant and militant, however, especially against possibilities of covert terrorist operations or declaration of nationwide martial law by the Duterte regime, in order to postpone the 2022 elections and keep himself in power. The Filipino people needs to see the fight against the murderous, corrupt and treasonous Duterte regime through to the end. The people needs to push the struggle further forward for national liberation, social justice and genuine democracy.