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[av_heading heading=’Duterte ‘like a kid throwing a fit’ – NUJP’ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=’30’ subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=” av-medium-font-size-title=” av-small-font-size-title=” av-mini-font-size-title=” av-medium-font-size=” av-small-font-size=” av-mini-font-size=” admin_preview_bg=”]
BY PRINCE GOLEZ
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Wednesday, February 21, 2018
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MANILA – “Extreme pettiness” was how the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) described the barring of Rappler’s Pia Ranada-Robles from Malacañang.
The news website was able to confirm that Rodrigo Duterte himself ordered to prevent Robles – known for reporting stories seen as critical of the administration – from entering the Palace.
“Duterte’s belligerence no longer surprises us,” the NUJP said in a statement.
“But the depth to which he can stoop to unleash the awesome power of his office against individuals with whom he disagrees is, to say the least, appalling and extremely unbecoming of his office,” the group said. “He has acted much like petulant child throwing a fit.”
Robles was first prohibited from entering the Palace on Tuesday. A Presidential Security Group officer told her she cannot get in. But she was still allowed access to the New Executive Building where press briefings were being held.
The NUJP also encouraged the press to “unite and reject this outrage and to continue resisting all attempts to dictate what we can and should report.”
“We owe this to our profession, we owe this to the people, we owe this to the nation,” said the group.
Meanwhile senators from the Liberal Party called on Malacañang to stop harassing the press they perceive to be critical of the Duterte administration.
“Empowered journalists are crucial in our fight against disinformation and fake news,” said Paolo Benigno Aquino IV. “Malacanang must learn to respect dissenting views – enough of bullying those who disagree with the administration.”
Party president Francis Pangilinan saw the move against Robles as another blow to press freedom.
“This Malacañang action recalls the dark memories of martial law when media was silenced and freedom of the press was curtailed,” said Pangilinan./PN
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