THE NATIONAL Union of Journalists of the Philippines wishes to seek clarification from the Department of Health, particularly its Bureau of Quarantine, if it indeed issued a directive prohibiting overseas Filipino workers undergoing quarantine from granting interviews to the media.
The directive’s item 6 reads, “Media interview and posting in Social Media is [sic] not allowed. Electronic gadgets and cellphones of those who violate this will be confiscated and will be returned after the quarantine period.”
It was purportedly given to OFWs returning from abroad. Copies of the directive have been posted online by concerned government officials and citizens.
If true, this directive violates the OFW’s freedom of expression as well as access by journalists to news sources, both Constitutionally-guaranteed rights.
The plight of the OFWs whose quarantine had been difficult and unjustly overextended is a legitimate news story and they should not be prevented from airing their grievances. In fact, news reports have been instrumental in compelling the government to finally order that thousands of OFWs should already be sent home after weeks, if not months, of being quarantined.
The OFW’s right to be heard is yet another reason why the government’s response to the pandemic is widely believed to be both harsh and ineffective. This belief would only be [Statement] affirmed with directives that suppress information. Government must again be reminded that, as it leads our country’s response against the pandemic, it should still uphold the people’s rights and freedoms.
(NUJP statement, 1 June 2020)
