NUJP Cagayan de Oro

26/09/2026

23/09/2026

“Deo Montesclaros’s unwavering commitment to documenting environmental and social issues in the Philippines, despite the risks and threats he faces, is an inspiration not only to the country’s journalism community but to reporting around the world. He should be praised for his work, instead of facing a jail term for trumped-up terrorism-related accusations. We call on the Philippines authorities to drop the charges against him and stop criminalising journalism," said Cédric Alviani, RSF Asia-Pacific Bureau Director.

For the past decade, photojournalist Deo Montesclaros has documented environmental destruction and human rights violations in the Philippines. Now, he is being accused of supporting terrorist organisations due to this work, a common retaliation tactic used by Philippine authorities to silence the in...

20/09/2026

The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) Cagayan de Oro Chapter joins the 13th National Congress, the organization’s highest policy-making body, held in Quezon City on September 19, represented by its chairperson, Franck Dick Rosete.

The chapter congratulates the newly elected members of the National Directorate and Executive Committee:

Chairperson: Lourdes Escaros
Vice Chairperson: Kath Cortez
Secretary-General: Paul Soriano
Deputy Secretary-General: John Sitchon
Treasurer: Alyssa Mae Clarin
Auditor: Zorayda Mustaril

Directors:
Sherwin de Vera
Gina Dean
Edito Mapayo
Jervis Manahan
Aireen Jaymalin
Janvic Mateo
Joyce Pañares
Marc Lino Abila
Mara Cepeda

NUJP is a lateral guild committed to securing the interest of the working Filipino press.

Photos by Chantal Eco

11/09/2026

Journalists Franck Dick Rosete and Menzie Montes, who are active members of the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) Cagayan de Oro Chapter, recently participated in a workshop facilitated by the Oxford Institute of Technology and Justice (OITJ) at Southwestern University in Cebu City on September 9, 2026.

They tested and gave insights to an AI-powered legal assistant tool that is designed to support journalists' access to justice by providing legal information and facilitating referrals.

The chapter expresses gratitude to the NUJP secretariat for recommending our members to the said event.

02/09/2026

WE STILL ACCEPT RESPONSES

Hirap kumuha ng impormasyon mula sa iba’t ibang opisina o kawani ng gobyerno? I-submit ang reports sa National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP)!

This monitor aims to document experiences of Filipino journalists in accessing information under FOI mechanisms and other public records processes.

The NUJP’s National Directorate is gathering reports on denied requests, delays, incomplete disclosures, excessive fees, intimidation, or other barriers encountered in the course of journalistic work.

The information collected will help identify patterns, strengthen advocacy for transparency, and support efforts to improve access to information in the Philippines.

Submit reports by scanning the QR Code or go to bit.ly/nujpfoimonitor

22/08/2026

The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) Cagayan de Oro Chapter welcomes the decision of the Office of the Cagayan de Oro City Prosecutor, dismissing the cyberlibel and alleged violation of the Data Privacy Act complaints against our member, Menzie Montes of RMN/iFM Cagayan de Oro.

This development is indeed a victory for press freedom.

In a resolution dated June 11, 2026, the city prosecutor’s office dismissed the criminal complaints filed by Richel Petalcurin-Dahay, who currently serves as acting head of the City Education and Development Department, for failure of the evidence on records to establish a prima facie case with reasonable certainty of conviction.

The complaints stemmed from the conversation between the two parties amid the alleged delayed tuition payments and delayed issuance of city scholars’ allowances last year, when Montes posted on Facebook a complaint regarding the matter from an anonymous concerned individual.

The city prosecutor’s office stated that the evidence on records failed to sufficiently establish the first and most fundamental element of cyberlibel, which is a defamatory imputation. It said the content of the publication did not expressly accuse the complainant of corruption.

As to the alleged violation of the Data Privacy Act complaint, Petalcurin-Dahay argued that Montes disclosed screenshots of their conversation without her consent, saying it is a violation under the same law.

However, the city prosecutor’s office considered the contention “unpersuasive.” It stated that the subject communication involved concerns raised to a government office. It also said that under the Data Privacy Act, among the exclusions are information that relates to the functions of government employees or officials.

The use of lawfare against journalists continues. In fact, this is the third cyberlibel complaints filed against our colleague. The dismissal of the recent complaints shows that we can win the legal battle. Nevertheless, our calls to decriminalize libel and stop the weaponization of laws and media attacks remain, as these could stifle press freedom.

We express our gratitude to the dedicated lawyers of La Viña Zarate and Associates for their legal assistance that resulted in this victory.

We also thank the Cagayan de Oro Press Club (COPC), especially the leadership of its former president, Mr. Froilan Gallardo, and lawyer Beverly Musni of the Union of Peoples’ Lawyers in Mindanao (UPLM) who made the partnership with La Viña Zarate and Associates possible.

Reference:
NUJP Cagayan de Oro Chapter | [email protected]

21/08/2026

ALERT: The Office of the Cagayan de Oro City Prosecutor dismissed the cyberlibel and alleged violation of the Data Privacy Act complaints filed by a Cagayan de Oro local government official against journalist Menzie Montes for failure of the evidence on record to establish a prima facie case with reasonable certainty of conviction.

13/08/2026

Ms. Anne Jane Duhaylungsod of RMN DXCC, treasurer of the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) Cagayan de Oro Chapter, has participated in Gender Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (GEDI) training for Filipino journalists from August 11 to 12, 2026, in Quezon City.

Organized by NUJP's National Directorate, the training aimed to introduce participants to the issue of gender equity and safety at work.

We thank the National Directorate for requesting one participant from our chapter for this training.

10/08/2026

The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines´ (NUJP) stand on media junkets is clear.

We believe accepting sponsored trips from those accused of committing genocide is downright unethical. There ought to be no moral dilemma in rejecting offers from Israel. Our guide should be simple: Whose interests are you serving?

Read the full statement here: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1F23TVL85K/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Download NUJP's Ethical Guide for Filipino Journalists for free and read: https://nujp.org/ethical-guide-for-filipino-journalists/