IFJ calls for Resolution to be withdrawn in the Philippines

January 29, 2013

IFJ calls for Resolution to be withdrawn in the Philippines

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) joins its affiliate the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) in calling on The Philippines Commission on Elections (Comelec) to immediately revoke Resolution No. 9615, which requires that “prior approval” be given before election candidates can be interviewed by broadcasters.

In a statement, The NUJP has called the Resolution, issued on January 15, unconstitutional since it constitutes ‘prior restraint’.

The Resolution would preclude impromptu interviews, making it both an impediment to press freedom and the public’s right to know.

In addition, the NUJP has said that the Resolution could have dire consequences in emergency situations, such as natural disasters, when officials, who may also happen to be candidates, need to get information out as quickly as possible to the public.

“We are greatly concerned by the continued implementation of legal reforms that undermine press freedom in the Philippines,” said the IFJ Asia Pacific. “We call on the Filipino government to withdraw this resolution which undermines press freedom and directly contradicts their stated commitment to press freedom and pass the longstanding Freedom of Information Bill.”

The IFJ represents more than 600,000 journalists in 131 countries

Find the IFJ on Twitter: @ifjasiapacific

Find the IFJ on Facebook: www.facebook.com/IFJAsiaPacific

ENDS

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