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The CEGP calls on candidates to put measures in place to defend and strengthen the integrity of the campus press
MANILA, Philippines – With the 2025 midterm elections approaching, the College Editors Guild of the Philippines (CEGP) launched its 2025 campus press electoral agenda on Wednesday, May 7.
The 10-point agenda, crafted by CEGP following nationwide consultations with campus publications since 2024, aims to provide candidates actionable measures they can prioritize to defend and strengthen the integrity of campus press. The agenda includes measures to end campus press freedom violations, pass key bills, and eradicate impunity against journalists.
Over a hundred student publications nationwide signed the agenda, expressing their stand in defending the press for the future of campus journalism. They also called for upholding clean, honest, and peaceful elections on May 12.
Renee Co, 1st nominee of Kabataan Partylist, and Makabayan coalition through former CEGP national president and senatorial candidate Teddy Casiño, also showed their support for the agenda.
At the launch, several campus publications emphasized the importance of the implementation of the electoral agenda as they shared experiences of delayed funding, repression, and attacks.
They also urged voters not to vote for politicians who attack the press and fund disinformation, calling for a government that values campus journalists in society.
Repressing the campus press
One factor that prompted the development of the 10-point electoral agenda was the repressive climate faced by campus publications, which sometimes led to ceasing operations.
CEGP reported 206 cases of campus press freedom violations (CPFVs) from 2023 to 2024. Student journalists shared their experiences of censorship, administrative interference, harassment, and attacks to silence them.
Gwyneth Antonio, news editor of the University of San Carlos’ official student publication Today’s Carolinian, shared their struggles of being unable to cover events since 2019, as their publication remains unrecognized and not institutionalized by the university administration.
“Nag cover kami ng tuition and other fees increase, and since then, hindi [na] kami pwede mag cover ng official university events (We did a coverage on the increase of tuition and other fees. Since then, we were banned from covering official university events),” Gwyneth shared.
Campus publications also face attacks outside the school premises. For instance, Vera Criste, culture editor from the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) Perspective, shared the encounters that their publication has faced.
Last April 2022, ULPB Perspective reported interference by the 85th Infantry Battalion in a KASAMA-TK medical mission in Quezon. In 2023, after reporting an aerial bombing in Montalban, Rizal, the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) falsely accused two staff members of spreading false information.
These were some of the incidents raised during the launch that highlighted the need for protections that ensure campus journalists can report freely and safely.
Violence against journalists
CEGP pointed out in their agenda that there should be an end to impunity and red-tagging, as journalists can be targeted because of their critical coverage.
They also called for the release of Frenchie Mae Cumpio, a student community journalist turned political prisoner by the Duterte administration for allegedly “financing terrorism” and “illegal possession of firearms.” They cited this as a clear example of how journalists can become an easy target of red-tagging for simply doing their job.
Empowering not silencing
Empowerment should start in small spaces so truth can thrive outside them.
With this, CEGP pushed forward monetary and tangible support of campus journalists from the government. This includes guaranteed funding for all publications, recognition for the work they do, and providing them the autonomy to report the truth.
To make this happen, CEGP called for the urgent enactment of the Campus Press Freedom Bill and the Student Rights and Welfare Bill to ensure editorial independence and sustainability, and provide stronger institutional protection for the campus press.
“Dadalhin at igigiit natin ang Campus Press Freedom Bill upang wakasan na ang pang-aatake sa mga kabataang mamamahayag sa buong bansa. (We will advocate for and push the Campus Press Freedom Bill to end the attacks on young journalists across the country),” promised Co of Kabataan Party List and author of the Campus Press Freedom Bill.
Recognizing that publications need to be protected from censorship and oppression, Teddy Casiño also expressed his support for the 10-point agenda. He also urged backing student journalists’ efforts to disseminate fact-based information.
To end the withholding of publication funds and strengthen laws ensuring editorial independence, he committed to prioritizing the Campus Press Freedom Bill.
“Palalakasin natin ang mga probisyon ng batas para tiyakin ang independence at autonomy ng inyong mga publications (We will strengthen the law provisions to ensure editorial independence and autonomy of publications),” Casiño said.
The following are the points listed in CEGP’s electoral agenda:
- Address and end campus press freedom violations.
- Establish and revive student publications.
- Secure publication autonomy and mandatory funding.
- Pass the Campus Press Freedom Bill.
- Pass the Student Rights and Welfare Bill.
- Fight disinformation and red-tagging.
- Fund education and media literacy.
- Resist state censorship and decriminalize libel.
- Repeal the Anti-Terrorism Act and abolish the NTF-ELCAC.
- Free Frenchie Mae Cumpio and end impunity.
– Rappler.com
Angela Ballerda and Yoela Loenor are Rappler civic engagement volunteers called Movers.
The Movers Program 2025 is supported by the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom in the Philippines.
