Senator Erwin Tulfo condemns PNVF after banning reporter from FIVB Worlds

Senator Erwin Tulfo blasted the Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) and its president, Tats Suzara, yet again, this time for revoking the media credentials of a Spin.PH reporter.

Spin.PH photographer Mark Cristino was reportedly denied entry to the Mall of Asia Arena before the final day of the FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championships last 16 and was told that their media accreditation was “deactivated.”

In a Senate plenary session on Wednesday, Tulfo, a former ABS-CBN reporter and anchor, called out the blatant censorship of press freedom and asked for disciplinary actions to Suzara and the PNVF.

“This is censorship. This is curtailment of freedom of the press. As a journalist all my life, I condemn this act of blocking our noble reporters’ freedom to write for the press,” Tulfo said in his privilege speech.

Dapat po managot ang mga taong nasa likod ng panghaharang sa mga kapatid natin na nasa media.”Karapatan po ng bawat mamamahayag na sumulat o mag-broadcast ng katotohanan dahil sa panahon ngayon, puro fake news na lamang, lalo na ‘pag aasahan mo po ang social media,” he added.

SPIN.ph reported on the high ticket sales, ranging from P5,000 for general admission to courtside tickets priced at P15,000, which led to low attendance numbers.

‘THIS IS CENSORSHIP’ ✍️

Sen. Erwin Tulfo blasted the PNVF and its leadership for their blatant attempts to censor media outlets such as https://t.co/lXpLd8gYBb and Rappler on their critical reportages of the 2025 FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship.

“Ni-report lang nila… https://t.co/V2UqbkejPu

— John Mark Garcia (@johnmarkdg_) September 24, 2025

Tulfo and fellow Senator Risa Hontiveros previously called out the high ticket prices of the tournament and the alleged showing of illegal gambling advertisements during the event.

“Their [SPIN.ph’s] alleged offense? Reporting on the exorbitant ticket prices and the empty arenas during the games, the very same issues that I and many others have raised to amplify the cries of our nation’s passionate volleyball fans, particularly our youth,” Tulfo continued.

“Ni-report lang nila ‘yung totoo na mahal po ang ticket, na wala pong nanonood, na-ban po sila ng Philippine National Volleyball Federation from covering that event,” he added.

Reports also surfaced that the PNVF reprimanded a journalist from Rappler after the media organization gave updates on the empty seats before the tournament’s opening ceremony on Sept. 12.

Ticket prices were slashed 30%  after Filipino fans voiced their criticism online. Tickets now cost from P250 for general admission to courtside seats priced at P8,800.

As of writing, Spin.PH’s accreditation was reinstated after the PNVF acquiesced to the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chairman Patrick ‘Pato’ Gregorio’ request to reinstate the organization’s media credentials.

Despite backlash over ticket prices and low turnout, FIVB president Fabio Azevedo recently called the country’s hosting of the event a “10 out of 10.”

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