It is atrocious for the second-highest official of the land to make such generalizations on journalists and media workers who remain committed to reporting on the truth despite continuing attacks.

CAGAYAN DE ORO — A group of journalists denounced the remarks of Vice President Sara Duterte who criticized the state of Philippine journalism falling short of international standards.

In a statement, the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) acknowledged the reality that newsrooms are not safe from mistakes. But it said that it is atrocious for the second-highest official of the land to make such generalizations on journalists and media workers who remain committed to reporting on the truth despite continuing attacks.

“By denigrating Philippine media, [Duterte] is unleashing one of the tactics straight out of a dictator’s playbook: controlling information by demonizing the independent press and weaponizing social media for her propaganda,” NUJP said.

Duterte, who has been a subject of an ongoing impeachment trial, issued the remarks after she was asked about the apparent “practice” of the dominant media to put her family in a bad light. In her comments, she differentiated the ways of local and international media when it comes to presenting their reports. She also accused the media of “worshipping money.”

NUJP stressed that Filipino journalists have been recognized internationally because of their journalism.

A 2017 study conducted by the University of Oxford claimed that Rodrigo Duterte’s camp paid $200,000 (more than P12 million now) to promote and defend him against his critics.

“If only Sara [Duterte] 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 said.

For the group, the Vice President’s renewed attacks showed “her authoritarian tendencies and contempt for freedom and democracy.” (DAA)

Disclosure: Bulatlat editor-in-chief Ronalyn Olea is the secretary-general of the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines.