LOS BANOS, Laguna— With vows of solidarity and renewed rejuvenation, the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) held its 8th National Congress at the Oasis Splash Resort here on Feb. 23-24.
During the congress, a new directorate, which will serve a two-year term, was also elected.
The new set of officers, mostly dominated by journalists from the Philippine Daily Inquirer (PDI), is composed of: Chairperson Rowena C. Paraan, NUJP Media Safety Office, formerly with the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ); Vice Chair Alwyn Alburo, GMA-7; Secretary General Rupert Mangilit, NUJP Media Safety Office, formerly with GMA-7; Deputy Secretary General JB Deveza, PDI, NUJP Mindanao Safety Officer; Treasurer Jo Clemente, PDI; and Auditor Ryan Rosauro, PDI.
The new directors are: Nonoy Espina, InterAksyon.com; Nestor Burgos, PDI (immediate past chairman); Julie Alipala, PDI; Chino Gaston, GMA-7; Fred Villareal, Manila Standard Today, Vice Chair NUJP-Pampanga; Redempto Anda, PDI; Bobby Labalan, Media Solutions; Cong Corrales, PCIJ; and Sonny Fernandez, ABS-CBN.
The 8th NUJP Congress was keynoted by Guy Ledoux, European Union (EU) Ambassador to the Philippines, who discussed the EU’s concern about the human rights situation in the country, and press freedom in particular.
Ledoux also talked on what the EU has done to help address these issues. He noted the failure of the 15th Congress to pass the Freedom of Information bill, which he called a key piece of legislation that would have tremendously boosted the Aquino administration’s avowed aim of fighting corruption in government.
He also raised the continued murder of journalists and noted the continued failure to convict a single mastermind in media killings.
The widow of murdered Palawan broadcaster Gerardo Ortega, Patria, and eldest daughter Michaella also spoke to the Congress and acknowledging the NUJP’s steadfast commitment to the search for justice for his death and those of the 153 other journalists murdered in the country since 1986.
At the same time, Patria Ortega aired her “frustration” at the continued efforts to subvert justice and let the accused masterminds evade being brought before the bar.
On the night of the 23rd, participants to the Congress marked the third year and third month since the November 23, 2009 Ampatuan massacre with prayers for the victims and pledges to remain committed to the cause of justice and genuine press freedom and democracy in the country.
Monette Salaysay, widow of Maguindanao Massacre victim Napoleon Salaysay; Elvie Sanchez, wife of slain Baguio-based journalist Romeo Sanchez; and Patria Ortega thanked journalists and groups that continue to fight with them for justice for their loved ones.
In line with the event, press freedom groups—among them are the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), International Federation of Journalists, Norwegian Union of Journalists (Norsk Journalistlag); and local allies Philippine Press Institute, Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility, and Center for Community Journalism and Development—expressed their solidarity.
In a message read on the 24th, CPJ commended the the NUJP for being “a steadfast ally in working not only for the protection of journalists but in organizing to confront attempts to shrink the space for media to operate, as well as combat the impunity with which journalists are harassed, threatened and killed.”
