Media Release: Philippines                                                                      

April 22, 2013

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) joins its affiliate the National Union of Journalists (NUJP) in the Philippines in condemning the intimidation and harassment of journalists by the military in Davao Oriental.

Five journalists who were covering a fact finding mission by Barog Katawhan – an organisation composed of Typhoon Pablo survivors - were allegedly harassed by the military and left stranded in Davao Oriental.

Journalists Macky Macaspac of Pinoy Weekly, Marilou Tuburan of Davao Today and journalists from Kilab Multimedia and SunStar are among a group 69 participants of the fact finding mission unable to leave the Baganga area in Davao Oriental. 

According to a Pinoy Weekly report, the military threatened the group’s drivers who fled the area leaving the participants stranded through the night.

Further to this, the NUJP Mindanao Media Safety Office was told that the military had set up camp an hour's walk from the village where the Fact Finding Mission is being conducted blocking the road leading to Baganga.  Ronalyn Olea of the online Bulatlat received a text message from one of the organizers of the mission, saying military agents were preventing the group from leaving the area. 

“The actions of the military are a direct attempt to stifle freedom of information.  The IFJ calls on the government of the Philippines’ to commit to taking the steps required to ensure that journalists are protected and able to report freely” said IFJ Asia-Pacific Director Jacqueline Park.

For further information contact IFJ Asia-Pacific on +612 9333 0919

The IFJ represents more than 600,000 journalists in 131 countries

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