NEWS | Petitions for Salem’s release pushed, condemned red-tagging by Duterte admin
By Ysabel Marie S. Vidor
On December 10, International Human Rights’ Day, the government upheld repression again as journalist Lady Ann “Icy” Salem was arrested by the Philippine National Police (PNP), through its Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), in her home at Mandaluyong City. With the intention of vilifying anyone who criticizes the state irrespective of its legitimacy, crackdowns in the Philippines are more pervasive than ever and journalists’ lives are put into detriment. On December 18, progressive groups and human rights advocates launched the Free Lady Ann Salem Network, reiterating their call to the Duterte regime to stop its tactics of red-tagging members of the media and to uphold democracy.
Salem’s arrest
The PNP CIDG came to Salem’s home and demanded her to face the wall as they conducted a search. She was then inhibited from contacting her own lawyer during the arrest. After the search, the police claimed to have found four .45 pistols and four grenades.
As she was brought to a police vehicle, Salem told another journalist that the PNP planted the evidence while she faced the wall for an hour.
Along with six other trade unionists, Salem was arrested on Human Rights’ Day as part of the state’s crackdown on activism, criminal gangs, and firearms led by the PNP CIDG.
The method that was employed in the arrest of Salem was the same with how the police arrested Frenchie Mae Cumpio, editor of Eastern Vista news, last February 7. Authorities likewise planted evidence while they arrested Cumpio and carried out a search in her home.
The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) condemned the arrest to suppress the regime’s political dissenters.
“[Salem’s] arrest is proof that this administration is bent on silencing the independent and critical Philippine media so it can manipulate the flow of information to the detriment of our people and of our democracy,” it said in a statement.
Always In Service
Salem is currently the editor of Manila Today and also one of the founding members of Altermidya, two media outlets that were red-tagged by the state. Additionally, she formerly served as an officer of the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) Metro Manila chapter. Salem is also one of the organizers of 2018 Uganda Regional Conference which aimed to train women journalists to combat gender-based online attacks and put a premium on media safety.
Salem’s alma mater, the University of the Philippines College of Mass Communication (UP CMC), drew attention to her integrity in journalism.
“We produce graduates like Icy who opt to keep the torch of press freedom burning shows the quality of education we provide to our students. We teach them the value not just of seeking power of truth but also of speaking truth to power,” UP CMC declared.
NUJP also highlighted the urgency to stop silencing political dissenters. “We call on the community of independent Filipino journalists to close ranks and demand a stop to the repression of [the] media. We will hold accountable anyone who subjects Icy to any abuse and violation of her rights.”
#FreeLadyAnnSalem
Several groups denounced the arrest of Salem and the other trade union organizers and purported it as a disrespect to International Human Rights Day. The Free Lady Ann Salem network was officially launched on December 18 at the UP Diliman University Student Council (UPD USC) Office in Quezon City.
During the launch and press conference, Shao Masula vouched for Salem, her college friend, with regard to her service to the society and its most vulnerable sectors.
“Sa panahon na maraming tao ang hindi nakakapagsalita at di nakakalaban, nariyan ang mga kagaya ni Icy na tumutulong at nagbabalita,” Masula emphasized.
Professor Danilo Arao from AlterMidya also expressed his strong condemnation and gave prominence to the method of political critics crackdown by the regime, reiterating that Salem’s arrest and detention are part of a well-established pattern of Philippine authorities using false allegations to punish and silence activists.
“Walang batayan ang bintang kay Icy sapagkat ito ay pattern na ginagawa sa mga aktibista, ngayon pati na rin sa mga peryodista, para maikulong without bail ang mga kritiko,” Arao stated.
Furthermore, Amnesty International (AI) stood united with the network in condemning the continued detention of Salem. Apart from the call to drop the charges against Salem and other activists, AI also calls for a prompt, impartial, and effective investigations into charges that were fabricated to punish and silence activists and human rights defenders.
“Amnesty International urges the government to end its campaign of ‘red-tagging’ of media outlets and political activists, and immediately take action to stop the violence, threats and harassment against them,” AI remarked. “The organisation also calls on the government to release Salem and other activists who have been arrested for their human rights work.”
The network also created a petition to release Salem, stating that Salem’s abduction is proof of the dangers of red-tagging. They reiterated that being a critic and an advocate of people’s rights and welfare is not a crime and should not be grounds for officers of the law to violate rights.
As of press time, there are about 3,400 people who signed the petition. Among the signatories are the University of the Philippines Manila University Student Council (UPM USC), former Student Regents from UPM Ken Ramos and Terry Ridon, former UPM USC Chairperson Rochelle Linga Tolon, and former UPM USC Councilors Noreen Sapalo, Leonard Javier and Ranier Palogan.
