NUJP: Iglesia leaders to blame for attacks on media in EDSA rally

Katerina Francisco

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NUJP: Iglesia leaders to blame for attacks on media in EDSA rally

Patricia Reyes Nabong

The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines says it was the responsibility of Iglesia ni Cristo leaders to 'rein in their followers' during its 5-day protest

MANILA, Philippines – The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) blamed Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) leaders for failing to stop attacks on journalists covering the 5-day protest of the influential church last week.

In a statement on Wednesday, September 2, the NUJP said the INC leadership is “primarily to blame” when it failed to stop its followers from attacking an ABS-CBN cameraman covering the protests in EDSA.

“Given that in such mass gatherings as the INC protest, it does not take much for a peaceful crowd to transform into an out-of-control mob, it was the responsibility of the religious group’s leaders to rein in their followers,” the NUJP said.

“That they failed to do so can be attested to by many other reports of motorists and passersby being harassed, in some instances physically. For this, the leadership of the INC is primarily to blame,” the group added.

A dzMM report said ABS-CBN cameraman Melchor Pinlac was punched on the body and back of the neck while the thousands of INC members crowding EDSA chanted, “Biased, biased.”

A reporter from radio dzBB, Olan Bola, reportedly tried to stop the attack, but was also shoved around by the crowd.

Thousands of INC members took to the streets last week to protest the alleged intervention of the Department of Justice (DOJ) in what the church perceived as its internal affairs. The DOJ had received a complaint filed by an expelled INC minister against senior members of the church, but no investigation has been conducted yet.

While recognizing that it was “inevitable” that some INC members may feel upset about a media outfit’s perceived bias on the issue, the NUJP stressed that this does not justify the physical assault against the journalists.

“Whatever feelings the INC or its members may have towards particular media outfits, this does not give them the license to assault journalists who are merely performing their duty to record the unfolding events. The INC leadership, in particular, should know this since, after all, they do operate a media network themselves,” the NUJP said.

Gov’t also responsible

The NUJP, however, also said government authorities should be held responsible for “failing to ensure peace and order.”

The rally at EDSA infuriated hundreds of Metro Manila motorists, who had to endure hours of traffic with portions of the major thoroughfare blocked off by the protesters. (READ: Iglesia ni Cristo: Sorry for traffic, blame our enemies)

“It is infuriating to witness the orgy of back-patting and self-congratulations by the likes of Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas II and police officials, who even thanked the INC for a ‘peaceful’ protest,” the NUJP said.

The group added, “It is even more outrageous for the police to even suggest that they would forward any complaints over the conduct of the protest to the INC.”

NUJP called on INC leaders to issue a public apology to the two media practitioners and to ensure their members’ cooperation should Pinlac and Bola choose to take legal action. – Rappler.com

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