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NUJP: Marcos spox's refusal to acknowledge questions a red flag


The refusal of Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s spokesman to acknowledge some questions at a news conference raises a red flag for press freedom and discourse, the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines has said.

The NUJP issued the statement a day after Marcos' spokesman Vic Rodriguez skipped questions on what Marcos next move will be as regards a contempt order issued against him by a United States district court.

"Despite a promise of greater media access when presumptive president Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. takes office, Marcos spokesperson Vic Rodriguez's deliberate refusal to acknowledge questions... are a red flag for press freedom and discourse in a second Marcos presidency," the NUJP said.

It said the media community's apprehension was not without basis.

"It was during his father's time that newsrooms were closed down before being allowed to operate under the watchful eye of government censors,” the NUJP said.

“We face the prospect of a second Marcos presidency with public trust in us eroded, partly by our missteps but largely because of a sustained campaign to discredit the critical press,” it added.

GMA News Online has reached out to the Marcos' camp for comment.

The NUJP called on fellow journalists to continue holding the line, stressing the need for all members of the media community to come together and fight for the country’s free press.

“The veterans in our community have pointed out that the work that we do must continue. But while the work must continue, it can no longer be business as usual," the NUJP said.

"While we are competitors, we are also a community, and will need to collaborate and work with each other more in our daily reporting and in countering disinformation and misinformation that will exist long after the elections,” it added.

Several media groups including the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines (FOCAP) previously raised alarm on the online attacks journalists receive from Marcos'  supporters.

It further expressed concern on the difficulties reporters experience to access the candidate for an interview about pertinent issues and controversies.

Marcos has since denied that he was difficult to interview saying he was “always out in the public.” —NB, GMA News

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