Senator Erwin Tulfo on Wednesday, Sept. 24, condemned the Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) for barring reporters from Spin.PH and reprimanding a Rappler journalist over their coverage of the ongoing FIVB Volleyball Tournament.

In his manifestation delivered before the plenary session, Tulfo said reports surfaced that Spin.PH’s accreditation had been revoked by the PNVF, effectively preventing them from covering the international volleyball games. He said the media outlet’s supposed offense was reporting on the “exorbitant ticket prices” and the “empty arenas” during the matches.

“Ni-report lang nila, Mr. President, ang totoo na mahal po ang ticket, na wala pong nanunuod, binan po sila ng Philippine National Volleyball Federation from covering that event (Mr. President, they only reported the truth—that the tickets were expensive and that no one was watching—yet the Philippine National Volleyball Federation banned them from covering that event),” Tulfo said during the plenary session.

The senator added that the issue was not isolated, as a journalist from Rappler was also reprimanded by the same federation for posting on social media about the low attendance during the tournament’s opening and the high cost of tickets.

Tulfo called the actions of the PNVF “censorship” and a blatant attack on press freedom.

“Mr. President, this is censorship. This is curtailment of freedom of the press. As a journalist all my life, I condemn this act of blocking our noble reporters’ freedom to write for the press,” he stressed.

He further emphasized that those responsible should be held accountable.

“Dapat po managot ang mga taong nasa likod ng panghaharang sa mga kapatid natin na nasa media,” Tulfo said.

The senator also underscored the importance of protecting the right of every journalist to write and broadcast the truth, especially amid the flood of misinformation online.

“Karapatan ng bawat mamamahayag na sumulat o mag-broadcast ng katotohanan—dahil sa panahon ngayon puro fake news na laman lalo na kung asahan mo po ang social media—at walang sinoman ang pwedeng pumigil dito, Mr. President,” Tulfo added.

Tulfo ended his manifestation by reiterating his solidarity with journalists who continue to fulfill their duty of reporting the truth despite attempts to silence them.