PRESIDENT Gloria Macapagal Arroyo signed Proclamation No. 1017 declaring a State of Emergency throughout the Philippines, following a seemingly aborted coup d’ etat last Friday dawn, February 24, 2006 by disillusioned troops of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

More than any other actual or imagined implications of this presidential action, the threat to press freedom as in actual closure of media stations or outlets critical of the administration, and banning of the normal news reportage is ever present, if not already here. In fact, it is what the print, broadcast and television media fear (?) most as borne out during the press conference called that afternoon by Malacanang Palace with concerned cabinet members arrayed against mediamen.

The Philippine Daily Inquirer representative was most combative, if articulate, putting even the usually abrasive Justice Secretary Raul Gonzales visibly on the defensive. At one point, Gonzales could not answer a direct-to-the-point question of the PDI reporter if there was any plan to close his newspaper which has been quite critical of the Arroyo administration since after the failed impeachment bid against the President last year.

Presidential Chief of Staff Mike Defensor, a staunch Gloria defender, was visibly struggling with himself not to be offensive as he took over from a suddenly speechless Gonzales. Badgered by the young and persistent PDI man for an answer to his question, he finally blurted out “that (closure of the Inquirer) is always an option.” The moderator quickly called for the next question.

As in the final hours of the deposed Marcos administration, many of those present in that hall must have been acutely aware of how that scene and the exchange would form part of a historic event years from now — whether the coup eventually succeeds or not.

The light of day is almost fading as we write this blog. It is suddenly chilling out there. Deja vu, is that you forming?