I have nothing to say but be disgusted with what is happening within the four walls of the National Press Club, which I used to be a regular member.
From what I know, the NPC, now sitting on a property foreclosed by the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) many years back, is being staffed by regular members whose motives are personal rather than for its members’ welfare.
PDI columnist Neal Cruz has been vocally harping about the NPC ailments for a while. With these, he earned the ires of some select few of jackals, who are always on the lookout for what they could take advantage of inside the NPC premises. In short, the NPC has denegenerated from a well-respected organization into a lousy and unbelievable media entity now run by some unscrupulous mediamen who use their press cards, not for good purpose, but to even intimidate others to advance their interests.
Alone, the illegal selling of the Manansala mural, donated by the Manila Chronicle to the NPC, for 10 million pesos allegedly to a cabinet member, was downright a stupid act of insensitively ignoring the ethics and sensibilities of thousands of its regular members who look up the NPC as an indomitable media organization. Now, it has slowly transformed into shards of disarray and shame just because the very directors and officials elected to run it have other sinister agenda up their sleeves.
I think it’s about time that NPC members should think twice before they should elect their officials to the NPC board. Make sure that we are not electing people who are suspected hoodlooms, and who disguised as media practitioners. Otherwise, the NPC name can be used and abused by those who feel they are demigods with power over those they are supposed to serve in good stead.
Therefore, the NPC needs cleansing before it can again regain its previous health. This can only be done by electing decent and honest members from legitimate media organizations.