PAPI cited for defense of true info, free press

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Tuesday led the oath-taking of newly elected officers of the Publishers Association of the Philippines Inc. (PAPI), thanking them for promoting and protecting people’s rights through accurate information and free press.

On his official Facebook page and Twitter account, Marcos shared photos of the oath-taking ceremony of newly elected PAPI officers in Malacañang together with a two-paragraph caption. “In the oath-taking of the newly elected officers of the Publishers Association of the Philippines Inc., we extend our deepest gratitude to them for promoting and protecting everyone’s right through correct information and free press,” he said in English and Filipino.

“They help us in empowering Filipinos to join in building a peaceful and productive community,” he added.

In a separate Facebook post, PAPI shared a list of its newly elected officers who were sworn in by the President.

Nelson Santos was reelected as the new president of PAPI and was joined by Beck Madeja-Velasquez as the executive vice president, and Alma Ochotorena as the vice president for Luzon, respectively.

Mark John Arrojado was elected secretary, Conchita Barretto as treasurer, Leonida Cardona as auditor and Elizah Ann Templado as assistant secretary.

Jaime Vistar and Eduardo Cardona were elected as members of the Board of Directors for Luzon; Edalyn Acta and Danilo Silvestrece were elected as Board of Directors for Visayas and Anila Anne Acosta and Elpedio Soriano Jr. as members of the Board of Directors for Mindanao.

Santos expressed support for the Marcos administration’s “information dissemination” efforts.

“Luckily, we have the Press Secretary here, Cheloy Garafil, so we were able to relay to her the support we can give to the government,” he said also in English and Filipino in a video uploaded on state-run RTVM.

In October last year, Marcos vowed to support and protect media rights under his administration, citing his willingness to lend an ear and listen to all their concerns.

He also promised to continue articulating his administration’s plans to the members of the media.

According to its website, PAPI is the country’s largest media fraternity composed of publishers of about 500 community newspapers in the regions and provinces, and a few national publications as regular members.

It is composed of practicing community journalists, both print, broadcast and online, mostly from the regions and provinces, as associate members.

PAPI’s affiliate publications have an estimated total print circulation of over 2 million copies every week.