NUJP belies CCP-NPA-NDFP tag

The NUJP issued this statement after “community news outfits around the country” sought the NUJP officers’ reactions on the claims of a certain “Ka Ernesto,” who claimed to be a former NUJP member, that the group had links to CPP founding chair Jose Maria “Joma” Sison. (File Photo: National Union of Journalists of the Philippines/Facebook)

The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) on Monday, January 7, belied allegations linking them to the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front of the Philippines (CPP-NPA-NDFP).

“The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines denounces continued efforts to link us to the communist revolutionary movement, which we see as part of an orchestrated effort to intimidate us into silence,” it said.

The NUJP issued this statement after community news outfits sought the NUJP officers’ reactions on the claims of a certain “Ka Ernesto,” who claimed to be a former NUJP member, that the group had links to CPP founding chair Jose Maria “Joma” Sison.

Asked where they obtained such story, the news outlets said it came from the three Manila-based tabloids — Police Files Tonite, Bagong Bomba, and Saksi Mata ng Katotohanan — all of which, published an article using the exact same headline, “NUJP PINAMUMUNUAN NG CPP-NPA-NDF (NUJP headed by CPP-NPA-NDF).”

The media watchdog noted that it was the second time that the NUJP was linked to the communist rebels. The first time it happened was when a certain Mario Ludades, who claimed to be one of CPP’s founders, accused the group of being a “legal front” of the CPP-NPA-NDFP “in stories run by several outfits on December 26, incidentally the 50th anniversary of the CPP.”

“It is hilarious that they keep repeating these charges since the NUJP’s membership represents a broad spectrum of creeds and political beliefs bound by a common dedication to defending and expanding the bounds of freedom of the press and of expression,” it said.

The group added that they initially planned not to give attention to the allegations made against them, but such accusations can bring danger to their members and other colleagues.

“With at least 12 colleagues slain under the watch of a president who has actually justified the murder of journalists–remember ‘Just because you’re a journalist you are not exempted from assassination if you’re a son of a b*tch?”–and openly and constantly curses and threatens media, we are taking this matter very, very seriously,” the NUJP said.

“It does not take [a] genius to figure out who is behind this determined, if futile, effort to cow us. But we tell you now and will tell you again, do your worst, you will fail,” it added.

The NUJP further said they are seeking advice from legal experts on what possible actions they can take against those who spread false accusations about them.

“We do serve fair warning though to those behind this campaign: We will hound you and make sure you pay should any harm that may befall our members and other colleagues because of your craven machinations,” it stressed.