Libel, out; Raids, in?

In what could be a reflection of our democracy disappearing in thin air swiftly, I got reports (although unconfirmed as of this posting) that after the failed attempt to search the premises of the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ), the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) is going to be searched (with no warrant of arrest issued) by no less than members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines tonight.

Here is an email from NUJP's Weng Paraan:

Reporters of the television network GMA-7 arrived just a few minutes ago, saying their desk received information that the nujp office will be raided tonight, without warrant, by AFP (take note, AFP, not the police).

If a major network finds the report credible enough to send a crew, then we of course should take it seriously and take necessary precautions. I have already notified the Free Legal Assistance Group and the Counsels for Defense of Liberty, the eliptical beat reporters, and other colleagues in media.

If true, then it could only be intended to harass us because really, I don't know what they would want to see or get from our office.

GMA-7's source could be giving a well-meaning warning or was a tool or part of a deliberate effort to harass us, perhaps to see how we would react. (And we have always known it could come to this.)

Meanwhile, I am sipping a cold can of soda. Hopefully, it won't be my last.