The Duterte government’s order to block Philippine online users from visiting 25 websites it deemed “to be affiliated to and are supporting terrorists and terrorist organizations” drew widespread condemnation. Included in the list of banned websites are those of the Communist Party of the Philippines, National Democratic Front of the Philippines and its allied organizations, CPP Founding Chairman Jose Maria Sison, local online news organizations and local community and activist organizations. Also included are websites of international organizations and news blogs.
The CPP denounced “the push to erect a Marcos Anti-Democracy Internet Firewall in a desperate bid to censor online criticism and dissent against the incoming illegitimate Marcos II regime, as well as suppress progressive, patriotic and revolutionary journalism and literature that exposes the ills of the ruling system.”
CPP Chief Information Officer Marco Valbuena clarified that from the 25 websites ordered banned, “only seven are actually affiliated with the CPP and NDFP… at least six websites in the haphazardly drawn list are inactive.” Valbuena also expressed surprise at finding Counterpunch and Monthly Review in the list, both US-based organizations “that promote progressive views.”
International media organizations criticized the ban, particularly against the independent news outlets Bulatlat and Pinoy Weekly. The International Federation of Journalists said, “Blocking access to independent media organisations under the justification of alleged terrorist affiliations is a clear attempt at censorship and media control.”
The Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines concurred, “Actions taken by government agencies to censure independent media is lamentable. Attempts to control narratives and suppress criticism of government policies violate democratic principles.”
Phil Robertson, Deputy Asia Director of Human Rights Watch, slammed the Duterte government for its harassment of journalists and activists, calling the ban a “brazen attempt” at censoring progressive groups and media. “What’s astonishing is how easily the government escalates its defamatory rhetoric, moving from red-tagging them to classifying them as terrorists, in effect terrorist-tagging them,” said Robertson.
Meanwhile, the Integrated Bar of the Philippines on 25 June said, “The National Telecommunications Commission has no power to restrict access to news websites and members of the press based on mere allegations” of the National Security Adviser Gen. Hermogenes Esperon. The IBP asserted that the ban is a threat not only to press freedom, but also to legitimate activities of human rights advocates and other progressive groups.
The Duterte government’s National Security Adviser Gen. Hermogenes Esperon directed the National Telecommunications Commission on 6 June to block access of Philippine internet users to the 25 ‘terrorist-affiliated’ and ‘terrorist supporters’ websites. The list included websites of local groups Bagong Alyansang Makabayan, Pamalakaya fishers alliance, AMIHAN peasant women alliance, UMA agricultural workers union, Rural Missionaries of the Philippines and Save Our Schools Network, as well as international groups International League of Peoples’ Struggle and International Action Center.