AlterMidya slams cyberattacks vs members' sites

MANILA, Philippines — A group of independent media sites on Friday slammed the recent cyberattacks on websites of its members that resulted in inaccessibility of said sites since December 26.

Luis Teodoro, national chairperson of AlterMidya National Secretariat, said that the news sites of Bulatlat, Kodao and Pinoy Weekly were targeted of distributed denial of service or DDOS attacks.

The cyberattacks happened after stories on the Communist Party of the Philippines’ 50th anniversary were posted.

“We are alarmed at the direct attack against these outfits, which are among the most committed not just in truth-telling and reporting, but also in persevering against the state’s assault on press freedom and freedom of expression,” Teodoro said.

“It is in the defense of our right to free expression and press freedom that we condemn this contemptible assault. We cannot underscore enough the important role of the media in checking on the excesses of executive power and guarding of citizen rights — especially now against the clear threats of tyrannical rule,” he added.

The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines earlier slammed the simultaneous takedown of Bulatlat and Kodao and called it an “[assault] of the freedom of the press and of free expression.”

“We stress that the ‘alternative media’ are a legitimate part of the Philippine media community whose take on current events and issues broaden the national discourse and provide an invaluable contribution to the growth of democracy,” the NUJP added.

READ: NUJP slams 'Communist Party's legal front' accusation

The NUJP also slammed the allegation that it serves as "legal front" of the CPP.

Teodoro echoed the significance of free speech, especially amid “a terror regime that the county is now under in.”

“Only an informed and empowered citizenry and free press can thwart the return of all-out authoritarian rule,” he added — Kristine Joy Patag