NUJP castigates PNA for ‘blatant manipulation of truth’

The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) on Monday said the Philippine News Agency (PNA) is manipulating the truth in its story on the country's Universal Periodic Review (UPR) at the United Nations Human Rights Council.

In a letter addressed to the PNA and posted on the NUJP's website, the NUJP directors referred to the PNA's news items on May 15 and May 20, which quoted Interior and Local Government Asec. Epimaco Densing III as saying that the Philippines was commended by 95 out of 105 nations at the UNHRC for its improved human rights situation.

"Please treat this letter as both an inquiry as well as a protest into the use of what we have always considered a legitimate news agency to 'legitimize' the blatant manipulation of the truth," the NUJP said.

It noted that Densing's remarks contradicts what the countries said during the third cycle of the Philippines' UPR in Geneva, as could be seen in the UPR's official Database of Recommendations.

"While we do not question your editorial prerogatives and do understand that you face certain limitations as a government-run news service, we do wonder how Mr. Densing’s comments, which apparently run counter to all other accounts of the positions the participant-countries to the UPR actually registered, could have been reported so uncritically," the NUJP said.

At least 40 UN member-states urged the Philippines to probe the alleged extrajudicial killings in the country blamed on President Rodrigo Duterte's campaign against illegal drugs, and over his proposal to reinstate the death penalty.

The NUJP said the second article posted by PNA was an attempt to shift the focus of the public from the first story, "which was so obviously—we are sorry but there is no other term applicable—fake from the get-go."

"We do understand the need for PNA and other state-affiliated outfits to project as strongly as possible the government’s side on current issues and controversies. But does this include peddling falsehoods?" it added.

It said fake news sites which have exploited the first article "to counter the international concern over the current human rights situation in the country and to further smear mainstream media outfits" have also not helped in reporting the real stand of the UN member-states.

The NUJP expressed concern over the potential implications of the PNA news items, saying journalists are already facing harassment and threats from supporters of the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte.

"Our concern over the use of PNA to legitimize fake news also stems from the possible implications this poses on the professional reputations and yes, the safety of our many upright colleagues who work for the venerable news agency and continue, despite the challenges they face, to keep it reputable and worthy of people’s trust," it said. — Joseph Tristan Roxas/BM, GMA News