Journalists have rallied behind Mariz Umali after she faced online harassment amid her coverage of the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, Netherlands.
The International Association of Women in Radio and Television (IAWRT) Philippines condemned the harassment, particularly regarding a viral video where Umali was falsely accused of calling former Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea “matanda” (old). Mariz clarified that it was a misunderstanding and no disrespect was intended toward Medialdea.
The IAWRT also denounced broadcaster Ramon Tulfo’s vile comments in a Facebook post: “Tatanda ka rin hija. At pagdating ng araw na yun pati kepys mo kukulubot” (You will also get old, hija. And when that time comes, even your vagina will get wrinkled).
Other women journalists covering the ICC, including Zen Hernandez and Gretchen Ho, have also been targeted by similar harassment, which the IAWRT decried as part of a troubling pattern aimed at discrediting Filipino women journalists covering the ICC trial of former President Duterte.
The IAWRT emphasized that harassment is not criticism but an attempt to silence journalists. “As women journalists, we stand together. This must stop. A press under attack is a democracy at risk,” they stated.
The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) also condemned Tulfo’s remarks, calling them “crass, embarrassing, and unbecoming,” and warned that such comments could lead to further harassment of Umali.
“The comments against Umali reflect the growing online harassment targeting journalists and media outlets covering the ICC developments,” the NUJP said.