The College of Media and Communication of the University of the Philippines Diliman has issued a strong statement reaffirming its commitment to the constitutional right of the people to information on matters of public concern. The institution emphasizes that public institutions must remain transparent, accessible, and accountable, especially in the wake of recent events at the Philippine Senate.
Senate Transformed into Conflict Zone
On the evening of May 13, during a Senate lockdown, shots were fired, and the presence of fully armed soldiers, along with a subsequent stampede, turned the Senate building into what media practitioners have described as a full-blown conflict zone. This situation was precipitated by the majority bloc's decision to harbor a senator-fugitive subject to an International Criminal Court arrest warrant for crimes against humanity. The University asserts that this has created conditions that undermine the integrity of democratic governance and the safety of media practice.
The deployment of nearly a thousand police personnel around the Senate perimeter, alongside heavily armed Senate security forces ordered to protect the fugitive senator, and the gunfire in the Senate corridor have transformed the legislative grounds into a militarized zone. This erosion of public trust compromises the Senate's role as a deliberative body. Instead of serving as a venue for accountability and constitutional process, the Senate has become a stage for impunity, spectacle, and international embarrassment.
International Coverage and Reputational Damage
International media coverage has already cast the Philippine Senate as a site of ridicule and chaos. Images of evasive maneuvers by the senator-fugitive have circulated globally, and now the firing of guns inside the chamber has further damaged the country's reputation as a constitutional democracy. The persistence of this crisis signals a dangerous normalization of unlawful behavior within the highest legislative chamber.
Accountability and the System of Justice
The Senate majority's actions also obstruct the orderly impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte. Her accountability is urgently demanded in relation to unaccounted confidential funds amounting to P612 million, suspicious banking transactions flagged by the Anti-Money Laundering Council, and alleged links to organized violence. Shielding a fugitive senator from lawful arrest undermines the system of justice and delays the pursuit of institutional accountability.
Civil service agencies, the Department of Justice, and other relevant offices have reminded Senate personnel that they have no duty to carry out illegal orders. Compliance with directives that contravene constitutional and international law exposes personnel to liability and sanctions. Institutional actors must be reminded that loyalty to democratic principles outweighs loyalty to individuals who betray public trust.
Call to Action
The University calls on the Senate majority to immediately resolve this crisis by not harboring the fugitive senator and allowing due process to proceed. It further calls on civil society, media practitioners, and the broader public to remain vigilant and ready to defend democratic accountability. The people's right to truth and justice cannot be subordinated to political expediency or the protection of impunity.
Finally, the College acknowledges all journalists who have stood their ground to report the truth amid the turmoil in the Senate. Their courage affirms the enduring role of the press as the public's witness and conscience. The University urges all members of the media to remain steadfast—accurate, fair, and fearless—in upholding their professional duty. The people's right to know must never be obscured by propaganda, political theater, or the manufactured 'fog of war' now shrouding the Senate. In moments of crisis, clarity is resistance, and truth is the nation's defense.
