A controversy between the campus paper SPARK of the Camarines Sur Polytechnic Colleges (CSPC) and 2nd District Representative and gubernatorial candidate L-ray Villafuerte is brewing. Various organizations like my own group JSAP and institutions like the UP College of Media & Communication (UP CMC) have given their statements.
As a writer, journalist, former columnist and editor, as well as a journalism educator, I believe that all journalists of whatever stripe, journalism educators, school paper advisers, writers in general as well as all the people who believe and uphold the Bill of Rights enshrined in our Constitution are all STAKEHOLDERS in this controversy.
Here is my stand on the topic:
I urge the public to strongly condemn the blatant attacks on campus journalists at Camarines Sur Polytechnic Colleges (CSPC), particularly the undue pressure, intimidation, and threats faced by the editorial staff of The SPARK following the release of their pre-election survey. We need to stand in unwavering solidarity with these young journalists, who have demonstrated courage in upholding the principles of press freedom and responsible journalism.
The incidents surrounding The SPARK—from public rebuke by gubernatorial candidate L-Ray Villafuerte to threats of censorship by the CSPC administration—are clear violations of the constitutionally protected right to freedom of the press. Republic Act No. 7079, also known as the Campus Journalism Act of 1991, explicitly upholds press freedom at the campus level, recognizing student publications as legitimate platforms for discourse, critical thinking, and democratic engagement.
Campus Journalism Under Threat
It is deeply alarming that The SPARK was pressured to take down their post under the threat of legal action, and that individual staff members, such as Associate Editor Fernan Matthew Enimedez, were personally targeted and subjected to online harassment. Such actions constitute not only an assault on press freedom but also a dangerous precedent for the suppression of independent student voices.
The harassment faced by The SPARK mirrors a troubling trend of censorship and political interference in campus journalism. As enshrined in RA 7079, student publications must be free from any form of external control or coercion, ensuring that campus journalists can operate without fear of retribution. The undue influence of political figures in educational institutions is a serious threat to democratic participation and critical inquiry, both of which are essential to a healthy and informed electorate.
Upholding Local and International Commitments to Press Freedom
The actions taken against The SPARK also violate the Philippines’ commitments to international frameworks protecting freedom of expression. Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights guarantee the right to seek, receive, and impart information without interference. Press freedom, including at the campus level, is integral to upholding democratic institutions and ensuring that information remains accessible to all.
Call to Action
We, the stakeholders, call on the CSPC administration to:
- Reaffirm its commitment to RA 7079 and uphold the independence of The SPARK and other campus publications.
- Provide assurances that no further intimidation, censorship, or administrative retaliation will be directed at the student journalists involved.
- Foster a climate of free expression and critical discourse within its academic community.
We call on all educational institutions nationwide to protect the integrity of campus journalism and resist political pressures that seek to undermine press freedom. We also urge policymakers, media organizations, and civil society groups to stand with student journalists and hold accountable those who attempt to silence them.
As persons and groups committed to the advancement of journalism education in the Philippines, we should remain steadfast in our advocacy for press freedom, ethical journalism, and the protection of student journalists from harassment and repression. The right to report freely and truthfully is not just a privilege—it is a fundamental democratic principle that must be defended at all costs.
We should all stand with The SPARK and all student journalists who continue to fight for truth and press freedom.
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Postprandial Musings, 2.0 