Freedom of the press is the shining mark of civil society
 Samahang Plaridel
It’s a travesty of our history that we have to argue the inviolability of the freedom of speech and expression, familiarly
known as the freedom of the press, in a free, democratic and open society.
In the 19th century, Jose Rizal, Marcelo del Pilar (Plaridel), Graciano Lopez Jaena and other illustrious Filipinos exiled
themselves, formed the Propaganda Movement, published La Solidaridad, fought as writers, forebears of journalists, for Filipino
freedom. Inherent in the struggle was the freedom of the press.
In the 14 years of martial rule, Filipino journalists, along with the freedom fighters, wrote, again in exile, while those
who remained in the country did so clandestinely—as virtual exiles.
Today, Proclamation 1017 patently exiles journalists through censorship and in doing so banishes in exile the bedrock liberty
of a democratic society.
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Press
freedom inviolable
