By Dayl Angelo Baybado,
CEGP national president
MARGARITA Valle, a SunStar Davao columnist, was illegally arrested by members of the Philippine National Police at the Cagayan de Oro City Airport today for still unknown reasons.
The College Editors Guild of the Philippines, an alliance of campus journalists, strongly condemns the “illegal arrest” as it proves this regime’s continuous efforts to silence individuals who are bravely fighting for human rights and democracy amidst the worsening political climate in the country.
Serving the people through her columns, Valle also exerted all her best to defend human rights advocates. Few years ago, her son, Rius, was accused of kidnapping and serious illegal detention along with other human rights defenders. Back then, Valle made an appeal to the media to set the record straight that the charged individuals are innocent.
Her effort in revealing what’s right and true is a manifestation of her constant commitment in upholding the freedom and truth. In this time of peril, her example and continuous work serve as a reminder that we should always strive hard to protect the welfare of the Filipino people.
The Guild believes that the case of Valle is part of the Duterte regime’s relentless attacks on people who only aspire for the common good. This government will not stop in intimidating and harassing individuals because they are thirsty for power and they are afraid of those who are willing to offer their lives for the sake of the truth.
Last Thursday, June 6, a 56-year-old freelance journalist identified as Adam Moraleta was shot dead by two unidentified assailants in Barangay Holy Spirit in Quezon City.
The attacks done to Valle and Moraleta by state actors deserve the strongest acts of condemnation. We should remember that these incidents that clearly manifest attacks and threats to the members of the press and to all human rights defenders were preceded by the inculcation of the culture of impunity enjoyed by state machineries implicated in civilian killings and by no less than the President himself.
Duterte exerts all efforts in intimidating truth-tellers and rights advocates because he wants to smoothly turn into realization his fascist dictatorship and continue serving the evil forces of imperialism, feudalism and bureaucrat capitalism.
We call on everyone to remain vigilant as this power-thirsty regime will remain loyal to its commitment--TO OPPRESS THE OPPRESSED! Let us unite against their attacks and injustices. Let us hold on to our vow to continue fighting and to finally defeat the tyrant in Malacañang.