By Shayne Elizabeth T. Flores

Facing three charges for his alleged involvement in the September 21 anti-corruption protest, Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) student-journalist Jacob Baluyot denounced the state of press freedom in the Philippines, noting the pattern of ‘political witch hunting’ against media practitioners.

Baluyot is currently serving as the Associate Editor of The Catalyst, the official publication of PUP. He is also the National Chairperson of Alyansa ng Kabataang Mamamahayag ng PUP (AKM-PUP), the sole and widest alliance of student publications and writing organizations in the university.

Following his media coverage of the martial law commemoration and ‘Baha sa Luneta’ protest last September 21, the PUP student-journalist was among the four youths subpoenaed by the Philippine National Police - Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) for allegedly ‘leading’ the violent embroilment with the police.

The other three students include former PUP Sentral na Konseho ng Mag-aaral President Tiffany Faith Brillante, De La Salle College of Saint Benilde film student and Kalayaan Kontra Korapsyon Secretary-General Aldrin Kitsune, and University of the Philippines Diliman University Student Council Chairperson Joaquin Buenaflor.

Through a response letter, Baluyot declined to be questioned by the police, maintaining his right to remain silent and have legal counsel. Despite this, the PNP-CIDG did not acknowledge the student-journalist’s response and filed an ‘indirect contempt’ case against him for alleged “failure to obey subpoena duly served” last November.

Addressing concerns on deliberate attacks against campus media, the National Police Commission stated that there was no intimidation in the CIDG subpoena of Baluyot.

With the initial case still pending, The Catalyst’s Associate Editor was subpoenaed once again by the Department of Justice (DOJ) on charges of ‘sedition’ and ‘inciting to sedition’ last January 14.

In an online interview with FEU Advocate, Baluyot reiterated his dismissal of claims that he was a ‘funder’ or ‘organizer’ of the protest, asserting that he attended the anti-corruption demonstration as a campus journalist and media safety officer.

“I categorically deny all of those allegations against me. Hence, I will attest na I am a part, I was there at the corruption protests noong September 21 as a campus journalist and as a media safety officer. A lot of my staff, a lot of my editors can attest, can testify kung nasaan ako ng ganitong oras… kung [kailan] pumutok ‘yung mga kaguluhan noong panahon na ‘yun (where I was during the time the clash started),” he said.

More than the false allegations, Baluyot emphasized his lingering question on the police’s motives for targeting him specifically, deeming his case as part of the state’s political persecution against the youth and campus journalists.

“I respect ‘yung constitutional duty ng mga institutions, pero I believe na their political witch hunting, their constitutional power... has been the justification of their intimidation and harassment against the youth, against us campus journalists,” he remarked.

During a separate interview last year, the AKM-PUP National Chairperson recalled experiencing state surveillance during the ‘All Youth Leaders’ press conference a day before the first Baha sa Luneta protest, which he believed may have resulted in the issuance of the first subpoena.

Authorities reportedly monitored and gathered information on the campus journalists present that day.

Moreover, Baluyot also cited his active engagement in youth-led mobilizations and campaigns as a probable factor behind his current persecution.

Consistent with the pattern of ‘media attacks,’ journalist Frenchie Mae Cumpio was convicted of ‘terrorism financing’ charges last January 22 after nearly six years of imprisonment without trial.

According to Baluyot, this reveals the Marcos Jr. administration’s shallow commitment to press freedom, subsequently promoting the repression of dissent and critical reportage.

“We can tell how unsafe, unsecure, and kung gaano nananatiling [in] peril ‘yung estado ng malayang pamamahayag sa ating bansa from mainstream society up to alternative media up to the campus publications level (We can tell how unsafe, unsecure, and in peril the state of press freedom in our country is from the level of mainstream and alternative media to campus publications),” the PUP student-journalist stated.

The campus journalist added that his and Cumpio’s cases reflect how the government weaponizes the law to silence the truth and protect its self-interest.

Baluyot was supposedly set to appear before the Quezon City Regional Trial Court last January 29 for the summary hearing of his ‘indirect contempt’ case. However, only CIDG Lt. Col. Jonathan Estrada attended on behalf of the petitioners without a lawyer.

As a result, the hearing was rescheduled to February 12.

Meanwhile, he will also face the DOJ for the preliminary investigation and hearing of his ‘sedition’ and ‘inciting to sedition’ charges on February 4.

- With reports from Kasharelle Javier

(Photo courtesy of The Catalyst)