The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) pushed back against Vice President Sara Duterte following her recent attacks on local media, framing her rhetoric as a strategy straight out of a “dictator’s playbook.”
The journalists’ group took strong exception to Duterte’s claims that Philippine media fails to meet global standards. It highlighted that numerous Filipino reporters have earned prestigious international accolades, directly refuting her criticisms.
The union’s response stemmed from an interview Duterte gave in The Hague, Netherlands, where she criticized domestic news organizations in comparison to their foreign counterparts.
“Kung makita mo ang international media, kung paano sila mag-present ng balita, kung paano sila naghahanap ng mga bagay o mga aktibidad o mga pangyayari na ibabalita, napakalayo ng kalidad ng journalism sa ibang bansa ikumpara sa atin sa Pilipinas,” Duterte said.
In her remarks, the Vice President accused local media of prioritizing financial gain over the truth and encouraged the public to rely on social media as an alternative platform for direct information.
The NUJP countered her push for social media, pointing out that online algorithms frequently reward and accelerate the spread of false information.
“It is also well-known that their family’s political operators have unleashed misinformation on social media that peddled untruths to attack their political rivals and institutions critical of their clan,” the NUJP statement read.
Advising the Vice President to focus on her own official duties rather than attacking the press, the organization highlighted her ongoing legal and political battles.
“If only Sara paid more attention to standards of governance and leadership instead of scapegoating the media, she would have avoided the predicament she is now facing before the Senate impeachment court,” NUJP stated.
The union concluded that Duterte’s attacks on the press are unbecoming of a high-ranking official and showcase a clear disregard for democracy and press freedom.