THE NATIONAL Union of Journalists of the Philippines slammed Palace Spokesman Harry Roque for denying the existence of press censorship in the country.

“You are denying censorship of the Philippine press, which the rest of the world has recognized by standing with Filipino journalists to whom the Nobel Peace Prize belongs,” NUJP said in a statement.

It was responding to Roque’s broad assertion that “no one has ever been censored in the Philippines.”

“As someone who once stood before the Supreme Court bench and defended the freedom of the press against the Cybercrime Prevention Act, you should know that censorship comes in many forms,” the group added.

Roque was a veteran human rights lawyer who previously represented journalists.

NUJP cited the killing and attacks on journalists.

“Attorney Roque, when 20 of us have been killed, four of us have been jailed, when there have been 37 cases of libel brought against our own, and 230 cases of varied attacks in our ranks, we feel the big chill,” the NUJP said.