Romwel Anzures

Alas Pilipinas battles against Egypt in the FIVB Volleyball Men's World Championship 2025 in Pasay City on September 16, 2025. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News

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ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1759218831091IMG_8466.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Alas Pilipinas battles against Egypt in the FIVB Volleyball Men&#x27;s World Championship 2025 in Pasay City on September 16, 2025. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Alas Pilipinas battles against Egypt in the FIVB Volleyball Men&#x27;s World Championship 2025 in Pasay City on September 16, 2025. <em>Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News</em></span></span></span>MANILA — The Philippine Sportswriters Association has condemned the previous decision of the Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) to revoke the media accreditation of sports website SPIN.ph at the recently-concluded FIVB Men’s World Championship.</div><div><a class="fr-green" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/volleyball/2025/9/25/credentials-of-sports-website-spin-ph-reinstated-at-fivb-worlds-after-tulfo-lambasts-organizers-0105"><strong>READ: Credentials of sports website SPIN.ph reinstated at FIVB Worlds after Tulfo lambasts organizers</strong></a></div><p>“The PSA is alarmed by the way access to coverage was used recently as a backhanded form of censorship, and is concerned about its impact on members of the free press,” said PSA President Francis Ochoa in a statement on Tuesday.</p><p>Last week, the PNVF — headed by its president Ramon ‘Tats’ Suzara — revoked the credentials of SPIN.ph to cover the global volleyball showcase after it published articles that touched on criticism of low attendance and ticket prices, among other issues.</p><p>The accreditation of the website’s reporters and photographers was eventually reactivated following backlash from Senators Risa Hontiveros and Erwin Tulfo, and with the backing of Philippine Sports Commission chairman Pato Gregorio, just in time for the last stretch of the tournament.</p><p>However, that it happened at all paints a dangerous picture, the PSA said.</p><p>“We acknowledge the effort made to restore SPIN.ph&#x27;s accreditation, but we call attention to the fact that revoking the website&#x27;s access should never have occurred to begin with,” Ochoa said.</p><p>“Let us be clear: the very fact that the press is barred, however briefly and inconsequentially — and for no justifiable reason — is unacceptable.”</p><p>“Even if the PNVF’s September 23 attack against one media group has been undone, a chilling effect lingers: a whispered warning to journalists that their next critical piece — be it a short or longform article, in video form, as interview transcript — can result in non-access,” added Ochoa.</p><p>Following this, Ochoa said that the PSA has “spurred into strengthening the protection of its members from all forms of pressure and harassment while in the performance of their duties.”</p><p>Moving forward, to ensure that the said measure is not subject to misuse, the PSA said that it will:</p><p>-- Police its ranks and provide continuing guidance to its members on fair and impartial reporting.</p><p>-- Create a committee to handle dialogue between officials/athletes/organizations and PSA members to ensure due process in any case where the revocation of credentials is at issue.</p><div><strong>Read the full statement here:</strong></div><div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fphoto.php%3Ffbid%3D808983708180784%26set%3Da.193951989683962%26type%3D3&amp;show_text=true&amp;width=500" width="500" height="582" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><p>The <a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.facebook.com/CollegiatePressCorpsPH/posts/pfbid02Aas3VULWvm3zhNs91cX8BMMPWDwi6mj4PGFqHiPEJb5MrNbXTcD4topvqKy7qc7Zl?rdid=jfeADPqee6k4wlTI#">Collegiate Press Corps</a> also issued a statement in support of the PSA.</p><p>&quot;We join the call in denouncing any form of censorship, and attempts thereby, on fellow journalists performing their duties of fair, balanced and accurate reporting in the games, tournaments and leagues as well as the officials, personalities and athletes we cover – without favor, and definitely without fear,&quot; the CPC said.</p>

<p>"The very fact that the press is barred, however briefly and inconsequentially — and for no justifiable reason — is unacceptable," says the PSA.</p>

"The very fact that the press is barred, however briefly and inconsequentially — and for no justifiable reason — is unacceptable," says the PSA.

PSA: Revocation of SPIN.ph’s FIVB Worlds accreditation a 'backhanded form of censorship'

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PSA: Revocation of SPIN.ph’s FIVB Worlds accreditation a 'backhanded form of censorship'

Rom Anzures,

ABS-CBN News

Published Sep 30, 2025 04:17 PM PHT

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Volleyball

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2025 FIVB Volleyball Men's World Championship

Philippine Sportswriters Association

Tats Suzara

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