Take Back The Tech Philippines

15/05/2026

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14/05/2026

In Solidarity with Filipino Journalists Reporting the Senate Lockdown and Crisis

We stand in solidarity with Filipino journalists covering the ongoing Senate lockdown and shooting incident involving Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, particularly the women journalists who remained on the ground despite fear, confusion, and escalating tension inside and outside the Senate complex.

As gunshots rang through the Senate premises during a volatile standoff connected to the ICC case against dela Rosa, reporters, camera crews, producers, and photojournalists continued documenting events in real time to keep the public informed.

Women journalists, in particular, continue to face the double burden of frontline risk and gender-based harassment while covering high-pressure political crises. Yet many stood firm amid uncertainty, lockdowns, heavy security presence, and public unrest to uphold the responsibility of independent journalism.

We recognize the courage it takes to report under conditions where safety cannot be guaranteed and information changes by the minute. No journalist should ever have to fear intimidation, violence, or harm simply for doing their job.

At a moment when democratic institutions are under intense scrutiny, the role of the press becomes even more vital. We affirm our support for all media workers covering this developing story with accuracy, restraint, and integrity.

To every Filipino journalist on the Senate beat tonight: thank you for your bravery, vigilance, and commitment to the truth. Your work protects the public’s right to know, even in the most difficult and dangerous circumstances.

(Footage courtesy of TV Patrol Live Coverage)

13/05/2026

FROM STRONGMEN TO VICTIMS:
HOW PATRIARCHY PROTECTS POWERFUL MEN FROM ACCOUNTABILITY

The image says everything.

For years, Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa built a political identity around toughness, fear, and state power. A man associated with a violent drug war now suddenly frames himself as a victim after being pursued by two women NBI agents carrying out lawful orders.

That is the hypocrisy patriarchy creates.

Patriarchy teaches powerful men to weaponize masculinity when dominating others — to appear untouchable, aggressive, and above criticism. But when accountability arrives, the performance changes. Suddenly, enforcing the law becomes “harassment.” Suddenly, women doing their jobs become the problem.

The issue is not that two women agents chased a powerful man.
The issue is that society still expects women to appear “gentle” and non-threatening, even while fulfilling professional duties in law enforcement.

Women are not decorative figures in politics.
They are not shields for male egos.
They are professionals capable of enforcing the law — even against influential men.

What makes this moment powerful is not the chase itself, but the symbolism:
a system long dominated by strongman politics confronted by women unafraid to do their jobs.

Accountability is not persecution.
And powerful men are not oppressed simply because the law finally reached them.

08/05/2026

From "G" to Ano, tara?" Technology trends may change, but every generation leaves its mark on digital culture.

04/05/2026

Press freedom isn’t just “under pressure”—it’s being systematically squeezed.

A new report shows attacks on journalists are rising, while protections lag behind or fail outright. The message is chillingly consistent: the cost of telling the truth is going up, and accountability is getting harder to sustain.

When journalists are harassed, silenced, or dragged into legal battles, it’s not just a “media issue.” It’s a public one. Because what gets suppressed isn’t just reporting—it’s information the public needs to make sense of power.

The real question isn’t whether press freedom is declining. It’s how normalized its decline has become.

And at what point do we stop calling it a trend—and start calling it what it is?

Attacks on journalists and press freedom are increasing worldwide, according to the latest findings from UNESCO.

03/05/2026

On , we stand in solidarity with journalists and media workers everywhere.

We reaffirm that a free, independent, and responsible press is essential in building lasting peace, strengthening public trust, and resisting the spread of disinformation.

We honor those who report from conflict zones and difficult realities, often at great personal risk, and we call for the protection of their rights, safety, and freedom to tell the truth without fear or interference.

29/04/2026

[From the ARCHIVE]
🌏 Civil society groups across ASEAN are urging governments to adopt **rights-based digital policies** that protect privacy, safety, and freedom online.

They stress that digital growth must also address issues like online abuse, surveillance, and inequality to ensure a **safe and inclusive internet for all**.

Civil society organizations are strengthening collaboration to promote and defend digital rights across the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).A bri

29/04/2026

📣 Heading to RightsCon 2026? Don’t miss this.

If you’re interested in feminist tech, digital rights, and tackling online gender-based violence, check out the sessions by the Association for Progressive Communications (APC).

This year’s RightsCon 2026 (May 5–8, Lusaka + online) brings together advocates from 150+ countries—and APC is diving deep into issues like:
• tech-facilitated gender-based violence
• feminist protection for women human rights defenders
• internet access in crisis contexts
• building stronger civil society collaboration

At a time when digital spaces are becoming more contested, these conversations matter more than ever. APC is creating spaces not just to talk—but to strategize, connect, and push forward collective action rooted in feminist and rights-based approaches.

If you’re at RightsCon (or joining online), come through, join the sessions, and be part of the conversation ✊🌐



https://www.apc.org/en/pubs/apc-priorities-rightscon-2026

27/04/2026

"Online threats and harassment are part of the broader pattern of technology-facilitated gender-based violence, which haunts women and young people in the country, based on a 2025 year-end report by the Foundation for Media Alternatives (FMA). It also includes non-consensual sharing of intimate images, sextortion, and deepfakes, among others."

“The more we speak, the more they target us,” Sheerah Escudero, sister of drug war victim Ephraim Escudero, told Bulatlat in Filipino. “Even the dead were not spared. They tell me, ‘How about the victims of drug addicts like your brother?’”

27/04/2026

The fight for justice continues.

As the International Criminal Court confirms charges against former president Rodrigo Duterte, families of victims—especially women—are raising their voices louder than ever. Alongside grief and loss, many have faced relentless online attacks, harassment, and intimidation simply for speaking out.

Yet they persist.

“We know this journey will be long and hard… but we will never stop searching for justice.”

Behind every case are lives lost and families still seeking truth. As the case moves toward trial, their courage shows that even in the face of both real-world violence and digital abuse, the call for accountability will not be silenced.

Stand with the victims. Listen to their stories. Demand accountability.

"We are looking forward not only to a trial, but also for Duterte’s conviction."

24/04/2026

Another airport story that feels heavier than it reads.

A Filipina stopped before leaving for an alleged surrogacy arrangement abroad—raising uncomfortable questions about choice, survival, and exploitation.

It’s easy to focus on the incident itself, but harder to face the reality that pushes people toward these risks in the first place.

When opportunity is uneven, desperation often fills the gap.

https://www.msn.com/en-ph/news/national/filipina-surrogate-bound-for-georgia-intercepted-by-bi