Soldiers under the army’s 103rd (Haribon) Brigade and members of civil society groups here started cleaning-up the mess left behind by candidates during the first-ever automated national and local elections.
With the theme, “Kawal at Mamamayan, Nagkaisa Para sa Kalinisan,” the clean-up drive is initiated by the 103rd brigade and the civil society groups to bring back orderliness in the different parts of the city and the province.
BGen. Rey C. Ardo, 103rd Brigade Commanding Officer, said he directed his troops to remove election posters, streamers, stickers and other campaign paraphernalia left posted along the major roads in their area of responsibility.
The operation also includes tidying-up all the poster-plastered walls, trees, and electric posts.
He added that the cleanliness drive is a continuing operation until the election is over.
Meanwhile, the 55th IB of the the 1st Infantry Army Division also showed support to the cleaniliness drive in Misamis Occidental especially in the 1st District.
Said troopers was also joined by other Non-government organizations and PO’s to clean the environment from posters, traps, paper materials posted on tress, walls and even stones along the highways of the province. (Apipa P. Bagumbaran / PIA-Marawi and PJTremedal-BNDNews Bureau MisOCC
PHILIP JAMES MONGAYA TREMEDALCALL OR TEXT ME : E-MAIL ME : pjtremedal@gmail.comvisit my website: www.pag-enews.tk
Tomorrow, let us not forget how the administration of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has, through sins of commission and omission, laid waste to press freedom and freedom of expression in this country.
Let us not forget that the nine years Arroyo has reigned have been the most murderous for the Philippine media.
Let us not forget that of the 137 journalists and media workers murdered since 1986, 100 were slain under this administration, 32 of them in the November 23 Ampatuan massacre, the worst single attack on the media ever.
Let us not forget that it was under this administration that the Philippines officially became the most murderous for journalists in the world.
Let us not forget that this is the only administration since the Marcos dictatorship that has actually attempted a wholesale clampdown on the press when Arroyo declared a state of national emergency in 2006.
Let us not forget that this is the only administration since the Marcos dictatorship whose security forces have openly branded media organizations as "enemies of the state."
Let us not forget the 46 journalists slapped with libel cases by Arroyo's husband, Jose Miguel, in a brazen abuse of his influence.
Let us not forget the more than 50 journalists unceremoniously cuffed and hauled to jail for the crime of practicing their profession when they covered the ManilaPeninsula siege in 2007.
Let us not forget Congress's shameless attempt to control news content through the Right of Reply Bill even as it killed the Freedom of Information Bill and tried to pull a fast one by crafting a bill that is far worse than the already draconian libel law in existence.
Tomorrow, let us commemorate World Press Freedom Day and, yes, let us celebrate it as well. For if the Philippine media are free, it is no thanks to this administration but because Filipino journalists have chosen to be free. Let us celebrate as well the unprecedented unity the media community has found in the face of the continuing threats.
Just as important, let us commemorate World Press Freedom Day with a solemn vow to make this and all other administrations that would seek to trample on the freedom of the press and of free expression accountable.
Let us wear black.
Let us roll a black runner or runner with black ribbon in the lower thirds of tv newscasts, or reserve a black space in the first page of print and online news with text that says, “Today, as we observe world press freedom day, let us remember all media practitioners killed with impunity and vow to fight until justice is achieved."
Let us observe a minute of silence in newsrooms, radio booths, beats, coverages, meetings or assemblies when the clock strikes at 6 pm.For those who cannot attend the different media gatherings, light candles outside media offices.
Let us gather at the Bantayog ng mga Bayani to say a prayer, offer songs and light torches and candles to remember fallen colleagues at 5:30 pm.
NOTE: NUJP CHAPTERS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY, TOGETHER WITH OTHER LOCAL MEDIA ORGANIZATIONS, WILL BE HOLDING ACTIVITIES TO COMMEMORATE WORLD PRESS FREEDOM DAY. KINDLY COORDINATE WITH LOCAL NUJP OFFICERS AND MEMBERS FOR DETAILS. SALAMAT!
PHILIP JAMES MONGAYA TREMEDALCALL OR TEXT ME : E-MAIL ME : pjtremedal@gmail.comvisit my website: www.mindanao-online.tk
TODAY, May 3, societies and democracies around the globe are celebrating World Press Freedom Day, initiated by the United Nations General Assembly to advocate for people’s fundamental rights of expression and access to information and to honor the world’s journalists, especially those who experienced or are experiencing extraordinary circumstances in the performance of their work. Article 9 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states: “Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion andexpression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.” This is not an idle or frivolous right, since free expression and access to information are indispensable to people’s right to and realization of their security, welfare, progress and peace.
For media practitioners in the Philippines, and most especially in Mindanao and Zamboanga City, this observance is tremendously important and significant in light of the unresolved murder of 32 of their colleagues in the so-called Maguindanao Massacre last November 2009, plus the still many others in recent years, particularly under the administration of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. This fact manifests the deadly irony that while the Philippine press is said to be one of the freest in the world, the country is also rated today as the second most dangerous, next to Iraq, in terms of journalists killed and injured.
By failing to extend appropriate protection to Filipino mediamen or give justice to their murdered colleagues, by often trampling the exercise of their duty, the Arroyo administration has displayed a total and criminal disregard and disdain for the Filipino people’s human rights, for justice, for our welfare and for our security and peace. This the Zamboanga media community once again takes this opportunity to strongly condemn. On this day, on behalf of ourselves and the Filipino people we serve, we demand an end to this kind of insidious, anti-people government and this shameless governance, as well as this culture of impunity towards the media and other citizens by the powerful in our society.
We appeal to the next Congress to speedily pass the Freedom of Information Act bill still awaiting final approval in the House of Representatives. We renew our resolve to persevere in our duty and mission to report the truth, to disseminate fair opinion, to connect people in their dreams and aspirations. Exactly a week from today, on May 10, we will vote for our political leaders who will govern our nation and communities for the next several years. This exercise is but an extension our rights to free expression and a civic, democratic duty that mass media have helped to make real, for voters to make really good choices through the ballots. By all this we shall overcome!
PHILIP JAMES MONGAYA TREMEDALCALL OR TEXT ME : E-MAIL ME : pjtremedal@gmail.comvisit my website: www.mindanao-online.tk
