NUJP will continue to campaign against criminal libel

The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) welcomes the Supreme Court circular urging judges to forgo imprisonment as a punishment for those convicted of libel.

Justice Puno’s bold move, one of many he has taken in defense of basic rights and liberties, gives us hope to continue calling on Congress to act on our demand to decriminalize libel.

We note, however, that Chief Justice Reynato Puno’s announcement does not remove libel from our criminal statutes or prevent those who want to silence the media from filing cases against journalists.

The NUJP will continue to campaign against criminal libel. We urge our lawmakers not to pass up this chance to strengthen press freedom and democracy.

References:
Joe Torres Jr., NUJP chair
Rowena Paraan, NUJP Secretary-General

PNP has resorted to rumor-mongering to justify press freedom violations

The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines is alarmed over statements made by authorities that a journalist supposedly aided fugitive Marine Capt. Nicanor Faeldon escape after the November 29 Makati standoff. Especially worrisome is the way authorities are releasing information – tantamount to rumor-mongering and done behind the skirt of anonymous and unofficial sources.

DOJ warning to media: A clear and shameless attempt to criminalize press freedom

The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) calls on all journalists and media organizations to defy Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez’ warning to hold media criminally liable for “disobeying” so-called lawful orders from government officers.

Two journalists killed in the Philippines

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) is outraged by the killings of one journalist and a former journalist in separate incidents on Mindanao island in December 2007.

NUJP urges authorities to ensure safety of Quezon journalist

The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) expresses concern over the surveillance that has forced our colleague, Criselda Cabangon, 24, reporter and columnist of Ang Diaryo Natin (ADN), and founding member of the NUJP’s Quezon chapter, into hiding.

Journalist in hiding over alleged military surveillance

Delfin T. Mallari Jr., Inquirer Southern Luzon

LUCENA CITY — A news reporter and columnist of Ang Diaryo Natin (ADN), a weekly paper in Quezon province, has gone into hiding after a group of still unidentified persons have been reportedly shadowing her since Monday.

Police condemned for arresting journalists - IFJ

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) condemns the actions of the Philippines police in detaining and arresting 17 journalists who were reporting on the takeover by rebel army soldiers of a hotel in Manila on November 29.

NUJP protest letter on media repression in Pakistan

To His Excellency Mr. Muhammad Naeem Khan
Ambassador of Pakistan

Your Excellency,

On behalf of the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines , I wish to express our strong condemnation of actions taken by the Government of President Pervez Musharraf in recent days which have accompanied the imposition of emergency powers. This has involved the suspension of democratic rule and a national clampdown on the media, including the installation of military personnel in television stations, the closure of domestic airwaves to non-state media and the banning of anti-government reports in the press.

Commissioned mural on press freedom altered without artists’ knowledge - IFJ

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) is concerned by the changes made to the press freedom mural commissioned from the Neo-Angono Artists Collective by the National Press Club (NPC) in Manila , the Philippines .

A Question of Truth

The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines is saddened and appalled by the defacement of the press freedom mural commissioned from the Neo-Angono Artists Collective by the National Press Club.