Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 5)— Groups of campus journalists on Sunday slammed the “forced” public apology order reportedly issued against the editor of a student newspaper over a social media post critical of President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration.
Joshua Molo, editor-in-chief of the Dawn, the official student newspaper of the University of the East, was forced to publicly apologize after getting into an argument with his former high school teachers, the student publication said in a statement.
It said Molo was brought to the Barangay Hall of San Fernando Sur in Nueva Ecija, after his former teacher reported him to authorities. The barangay officials supposedly threatened to file a libel case against him unless a public apology was issued.
“Inaamin ko po na ako ay nagkamali, at hindi na muling mauulit ang pangyayari,” Molo said in a video which later on circulated online.
[Translation: I admit it was a mistake, and I assure this will never happen again.]
The UE Dawn labeled the move as an “act of oppression”, adding that citizens have the right to free speech as well as to criticize the government.
The College Editors Guild of the Philippines echoed the sentiment, saying officials should instead “work on improving a coordinated and sustained public information campaign.”
“At a time when our country needs checks and balances, especially when Congress just granted Duterte additional powers despite the lack of concrete plans to solve COVID-19, we need a free flow of democracy,” CEGP said.
The College Editors Guild of the Philippines vehemently condemns the recent attack of a campus journalist amid COVID-19.
Joshua Molo, editor-in-chief of UE Dawn, was forced to apologize in public over a Facebook post criticizing the Duterte admin's negligence amid COVID-19. pic.twitter.com/PCaQRGLwrN
— CNN Philippines (@cnnphilippines) April 5, 2020
