Human Rights Online Philippines

Last April 5, 2020, University of the East (UE) Dawn’s Editor-in-Chief Joshua Molo was allegedly forced to choose between two options: to voluntarily sign a waiver that he will not post any anti-government sentiment again and issue a public apology or face arrest and detention.

The “choices” were given when Molo’s former teachers filed a blotter-complaint against him stemming from an online argument about the former’s social media posts criticizing the government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. He was threatened with a cyber-libel case unless he makes a public apology on Facebook and stops voicing out his criticism on the inaction of the government.

The Image Publication, the Official Student Publication of Occidental Mindoro State College, stands with Mr. Molo, Campus Journalists and Publications in the country, and other media-related groups in condemning this act that directly attacks our freedom of speech enshrined in the Philippine Constitution.

The Image Publication will continue to speak without gag and write without shackles, a right we must all exercise and protect.

#DefendPressFreedom

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