The NUJP wants the journalists to take a legal action versus Presidential Communications Sec. Martin Andanar.
NUJP – The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines encourages the reporters who are present during the press conference of SPO3 Arthur Lascañas to take a legal action against Presidential Communications Sec. Martin Andanar.
Based on a recent news report in Phil Star Global, NUJP Chairperson Ryan Rosauro said that the union ‘encourages’ their fellow journalists who were there during the media briefing of SPO3 Lascañas to ‘take a legal action against Mr. Andanar’.
“We encourage our colleagues present at the press conference… to consult their counsel and take a legal action against Mr. Andanar for shamelessly besmirching their reputation,” the NUJP chairperson said.
According to the news report, Rosauro also mentioned that Andanar’s move has even endangered the lives of the journalists “in this age of tokhang”. The NUJP chairperson assured the reporters that the union will be there to support them.
Based on the report, Mr. Andanar, speaking to a television interview, has previously claimed that he has received reports that there were as much as $1,000 given during the media briefing.
“Hindi ko na lang papangalan ang aking source pero meron daw pinagbibigyan ng ganitong kalaking halagang pera para ma-cover ito [I won’t name my source but there are those who were given this big amount of money to cover it],” the Presidential Communications Secretary said.
During the press conference, SPO3 Lascañas pinned down Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte based on a previous news report.
The NUJP tagged the statement of the Presidential Communications Secretary as “baseless” and just to divert the current issue on the surface based on the report.
According to the report, the Senate Press Corps has put down the claim of Andanar and protests against the “unsubstantiated and irresponsible claims” made by the Presidential Communications Secretary.