Inquirer reporter banned from Basilan coverage

September 21, 2007

A reporter of the Philippine Daily Inquirer has been banned by the military from covering its operations in the battle-scarred island province of Basilan, a report reaching Luwaran today. The reporter was identified as Julie S. Alipala, who drew the ire of the military for her reports on “military abuses and lapses in its operations”.

Philippine Marines commandant Major General Ben Dolorfino has confirmed that Zamboanga Inquirer correspondent Julie S. Alipala has been banned by the military from covering its operations in Basilan.

The report was received by the Media Safety Office of the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines and International Federation of Journalists.

Alipala wrote an article on the August 18 clash in Unkaya Pukan town in Basilan, where 15 Marines were killed by the Abu Sayyaf.

Since then, the report said, Alipala received threats and warned by colleagues to be extra careful.

Meanwhile, Khaled Musa, deputy chairman of the MILF Committee on Information, expressed his concern for the “arm-twisting approach” of the military, saying instead of banning Alipala, they should conduct an inquiry into the veracity of the reported abuses and lapses.

“It is good that there are still courageous media people out there who can say straight in the eye of the military that ‘they, are problems in your ranks in the field’”, he said.

He suggested that instead of banning and castigating the poor reporter, the military should investigate and if her report has no basis then she can be liable for libel and should be charged in court, but there is enough evidence of her report then she should be commended

He further commented that by banning Alipala will only strengthen her credential as a true journalist, who vowed to uphold the truth at all times, and on the other hand reinforces the perception that the military is hiding something from the public and has indeed committed that abuses and lapses.