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
MANILA — The media accreditation of sports website Spin.ph at the 2025 FIVB Volleyball Men's World Championship was restored on Wednesday, after Senator Erwin Tulfo criticized the organizers for "censorship."
This, as the site published stories on "empty" arenas and "exorbitant" ticket prices during the 32-nation competition, which didn't go unnoticed by Filipino fans as well.
Sen. Tulfo, in another privilege speech during the Upper Chamber's plenary session on Wednesday, cited reports that the accreditation of Spin.ph was deactivated, resulting in them being effectively barred from covering the tournament.
The lawmaker had already voiced out his concerns on Tuesday regarding the ticket prices, saying that they are "driving away fans from the sport."
"Their alleged offense, Mr. President? 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 concerns of our nation's passionate volleyball fans, particularly our youth," Tulfo said.
"Ni-report lang nila Mr. President, ang totoo na mahal po ang ticket, na wala pong nanonood, binan po sila ng Philippine National Volleyball Federation from covering that event," he added.
READ: 'This is exclusion': Senators highlight ticket prices at FIVB Men's World Championship
Tulfo also highlighted that a lighter sanction was brought upon to Rappler Sports, which reported about the lack of audience during the opening ceremony. The senator, also a former broadcaster, called this as "curtailment of freedom of the press."
"We’ve also learned that a journalist from Rappler was reprimanded by the same organization for a social media update about the low attendance during the opening and high ticket prices of the league," the senator said.
"Mr. President, 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.
WATCH: Tulfo, Hontiveros hit pricey tickets at FIVB Men's World Championship
Francis Ochoa, president of the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA), said in a statement to the sports website that this would be put into review, adding that attempts to suppress credible reporting "will not be tolerated" by the group.
"The incident will be put under further review. Still, as PSA president, let me strenuously and absolutely make it clear that any attempt to silence the press over critical, yet credible, reporting cannot be tolerated by the PSA," said Ochoa.
"Censorship of any form has no space in a democracy, especially not in sports, where the principles of fair play always prevail," he added in the same statement.
The National Press Club (NPC), in a post on social media, likewise condemned the act.
"The National Press Club (NPC) of the Philippines unequivocally condemns the attempt of the Philippine National Volleyball Federation Inc., under the leadership of Mr. Ramon “Tats” Suzara, at media censorship in the ongoing 2025 FIVB Volleyball Men's World Championship," it said.
"The PNVF, without warning, revoked the accreditation of SPIN.ph and barred their access to the tournament and reportedly also warned Rappler and other covering media against reporting anything negative connected to the event -- actions which clearly undermine the foundational principles of press freedom and transparency," it added.
According to an article published by Spin.ph on Wednesday evening, Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chairman Patrick "Pato" Gregorio asked the Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) to reinstate the media outlet's accreditation in the FIVB Worlds—and it was granted.
"We have requested PNVF, and they have acceded, to reinstate the accreditation of SPIN.ph — we abide by our shared commitment to protect and enable the best interests of Philippine sports," Gregorio expressed in a statement to Spin.ph. "True sportsmanship is overcoming differences to restore our joy and pride in sport."
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