PPI new officers push FOI, oppose magna carta for journalists
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By PPI (PR)
BAGUIO CITY — The new set of officers and Board of Trustees of the Philippine Press Institute (PPI) reiterate their continuous support for the passage of the Freedom of Information (FOI) or the “People’s Freedom of Information Act of 2013.
During the taking of oath of the new set of PPI leadership in its office in Intramuros, Manila, the board also expressed its strong opposition to Senator Jinggoy Estrada’s magna carta for journalists. The group deemed it as unconstitutional and a violation to the freedom of the press. The media group will soon come out with its position paper. “Press freedom is the fountainhead of all freedoms. Let no one assail or diminish it,” newly elected PPI Chairman-president and trustee for Mindanao Atty. Jesus G. Dureza said.
Senate Bill 380 filed by Estrada in July this year proposes annual professional exams for the accreditation of media practitioners. It also seeks the creation of a Philippine Council of Journalists (PCJ) that will be given charge of the accreditation of journalists and the conduct of the “Professional Journalist Examination.”
The National Union of Journalist of the Philippines (NUJP) also opposes the said bill that subscribes to the notion of subjecting journalists to accreditation for purposes of regulating the profession. The media organization also stated that it is a frightening possibility where journalists will be seen, wittingly or unwittingly discriminating each other. It called for the bill to be withdrawn by Estrada.
Meanwhile, PPI new officers and trustees are: Dureza as the Chairman and trustee for Mindanao, he is the publisher of Mindanao Times; Ruevivar M. Reyes as the Vice Chairman And Trustee for Visayas, he is the general manager and managing editor of the Southern Leyte Times; May Anne S. Cacdac as Corporate Secretary And Trustee for Luzon, she is the Assistant Editor of Sun Star Baguio; and Alfonso G. Pedroche as treasurer, he is the Editor-in-chief of the Pilipino Star Ngayon.
The other trustees are: Raul C. Pangalangan (Philippine Daily Inquirer) Rolando B. Estabillo (Manila Standard); Amado P. Macasaet (Malaya) Chairman Emeritus; Ariel C. Sebellino, executive director Vergel O. Santos (BusinessWorld), Augusto B. Villanueva (Journal Group). # nordis.net
