Head of Duterte's media task force slammed for blaming CMFR, NUJP for negative reports about PHL

The Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility (CMFR) has scored President Rodrigo Duterte's task force on media security (PTFoMS), particularly its head, Undersecretary Joel Sy Egco, for allegedly blaming "irresponsible journalism" for the negative reports about the Philippines.

The group said Egco particularly mentioned the CMFR and the National Union of Journalists in the Philippines (NUJP) during a meeting with the Filipino community during PTFoMS' recent press freedom caravan Brussels, Belgium

"His own statement about NUJP and CMFR's being supposedly responsible for 'negative reports' about the Philippines is itself another form of disinformation," the CMFR said in a statement.

It added that neither it nor NUJP publish reports about the Philippines, as it is a media advocacy group that "only reports and issues alerts and monitors," while NUJP is "an organization of journalists."

"Mr. Egco can obviously benefit from further education in the ethics and professional standards of journalism, although it may be a bit too late," CMFR said.

In response, PTFoMS said the two groups "plunge deeper to a new low" by accusing Egco of spreading disinformation.

Disputing the media watchdog groups, the task force, in a statement, claimed that Egco "merely echoed" the observation of Jan Top Christensen, the Danish ambassador to the Philippines, last year that some media reports are "systematically negative."

It said NUJP's Europe chapter chair, Macel Ingles, "erroneously attributed" statements to Egco "without taking them in the proper context."

"It must be pointed out, however, that the report lacked due diligence and focused on the sensational, or at the very least, misappreciated the facts. These acts are considered to be grossly unethical," the task force said.

The task force also said CMFR and NUJP have co-published reports on the state of Philippine media and press freedom, one of which it claimed was "seriously flawed."

It also accused the NUJP and CMFR of failing to concretely improve media workers' conditions and of not sharing the supposed PTFoMS position of ensuring the setting up "protective mechanisms" for media workers.

"They are both quick to jump in on the action, with guns blazing, when it comes to matters that will promote their own interests and portray both groups as the staunchest defenders of press freedom in the Philippines," it said.

"But now that they are called to account before the international community for acts that put into question the adherence of their officials and members to ethical standards of journalism, they are all too quick to pass the blame on to others," it said.

The task force added: "This does not bode well for our media workers. Whose side are these self-styled media groups really on? Who’s behind them?"

GMA News Online has sought comment from NUJP and CMFR. —Nicole-Anne C. Lagrimas/KBK, GMA News