MEDIA TRAINING. A screenshot of a photograph by Vic Kintanar of former NUJP chair Rowena “Weng” Carranza-Paraan at an all-women media security coaching in Cagayan de Oro Metropolis in March 2013. Screenshot from mindanews.com

MANILA, Philippines – The Nationwide Union of Journalists within the Philippines (NUJP) has denounced the red-tagging of their former chairperson Rowena “Weng” Carranza-Paraan.

In a press release posted on its official social media accounts on Friday, Might 15, the NUJP described a Might 13 social media publish by a sure Aram dela Cruz. The publish featured a picture of Paraan and different ladies in a forested space surrounding what seemed to be an injured man.

The publish was captioned: “Ano ang tunay na ugnayan ni Rowena Paraan (NUJP, Head ng Bayan Mo Ipatrol Mo, ng ABS-CBN) at ng CPP-NPA-NDF [Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front]. Alam ba ito ng ABS-CBN?”

(What’s the actual connection between Rowena Paraan (NUJP, Head of Bayan Mo Ipatrol Mo of ABS-CBN) and the CPP-NPA-NDF. Does ABS-CBN know this?)”

The picture, mentioned NUJP, was taken at an all-women media security coaching held in Cagayan de Oro Metropolis from March 16 to 17, 2013. Paraan, who was the lead coach on the occasion, carried out simulation workouts on administering first assist to injured individuals.

It has been recognized by Mindanews as a photograph for an article that they printed in March 17, 2013 titled “Girls journalists, media staff collect for 1st all-women security coaching.” It was taken by photojournalist Vic Kintanar.

For greater than 10 years, NUJP has held common media security coaching periods, which embody security and safety ideas throughout and out of doors of protection and simulation workouts. The facilitators of those workouts are journalists, safety specialists, police, and navy officers.

“It’s completely shameless however harmful {that a} historic media security coaching aimed toward defending and making certain the security of media staff is getting used to malign, threaten, and put journalists and the NUJP in peril,” NUJP mentioned of their assertion.

Paraan additionally spoke concerning the deceptive publish on her Fb account, giving the identical rationalization and saying that it additionally put in danger the opposite journalists on the 2013 coaching session.

In line with the Might 3 “State of Media Freedom in PH” report from the Freedom for Media, Freedom for All (FMFA) Community, red-tagging is among the many ways getting used to stifle the press amid the COVID-19 pandemic. – Rappler.com