The Philippines’ National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) has blocked several independent media sites, accusing them of supporting terrorist groups. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) joins its affiliate, the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP), in condemning the internet restrictions and urges the government to restore access to independent media.
The country's telecommunications authority, on June 8, banned 28 websites, including independent news platforms and those belonging to progressive social groups, alleging links to various communist rebel entities.
Outgoing Senator Panfilo Lacson (File photo) MANILA - Outgoing Senator Panfilo Lacson on Thursday said the blocking of the websites linked to the communist terrorist groups (CTGs) has a legal basis. This, after the National Telecommunications Council (NTC), upon the request of National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr., ordered the internet service providers (ISPs) to block 26 websites believed to have ties with Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF). "If the blocked websites had to do with financing the activities of the CPP-NPA which the Anti-Terrorism Council had already designated as a terrorist organization, there is a legal basis under the law for such action undertaken by the NTC," Lacson said in a statement. Lacson, however, said concerned individuals or groups may challenge the NTC's directive before the court. "It is the basic right of an 'aggrieved' party to do so as it has something t
MANILA - The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) has ordered internet service providers (ISP) to block 26 websites with ties to communist terrorist groups (CTG). In a memorandum dated June 8 and released to the media on Wednesday, NTC Commissioner Gamaliel Cordoba required all local ISPs to submit an action report "not later than five days" after their receipt. "You are hereby directed to effect the immediate blocking of the reported websites found to be affiliated to and are supporting terrorist and terrorist organizations," the memorandum read. The memorandum came after National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr. requested the NTC to block 26 websites, several of which are related to the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and its leader, Jose Maria Sison. The first page of the letter sent byNational Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr. to National Telecommunications Commissioner Gamalier Cordoba on June 6 requesting the blocking of 26 websit
(Photo courtesy of Kontra Daya Facebook) MANILA - Election watchdog Kontra Daya is made up of active urban operators and infiltrators of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF), a former cadre of the communist terrorist groups said on Monday. In a statement, Jeffrey "Ka Eric" Celiz claimed that the "Kontra Daya group is known among former rebels, cadres, and organizers of the CPP-NPA-NDF" as "nothing but a special project of the communist terrorists' urban operators and infiltrators". Celiz identified one of the core leaders as Danilo Arao, a University of the Philippines professor and who identifies himself as a journalist connected with Media Asia, Kontra Daya, Bulatlat, Pinoy Weekly, and Kodao Productions. Arao, Kontra Daya convenor, said the recent polls are the worst in automated election history. "Kung may mas mababa pa na grado sa singko, 'yun ang ibibigay ko sa Comelec (Commi