Entities react to PT attack on Folha journalist – 02/28/2023 – Politics

Fenaj (National Federation of Journalists) and Sinjorba (Union of Journalists of Bahia) reacted, this Tuesday (28), to the attack by state deputy Rosemberg Pinto (PT) on journalist João Pedro Pitombo, from Sheet.

The government leader Jerônimo Rodrigues (PT) in the Legislative Assembly of Bahia contested a report that revealed that the wife of the Minister of the Civil House, Rui Costa (PT), omitted in her resume that she has held a position in the State Health Secretariat for at least nine years, including the eight years her husband was governor.

Aline Peixoto, who is a nurse and is running for a position as a counselor at the Municipal Court of Auditors, was appointed on May 5, 2014 as a special advisor to the Bahia State Health Secretariat.

In a video recorded and published on Monday (27) by the website Informe Baiano, Rosemberg Pinto accuses the journalist of writing “against Bahia” and classifies João Pedro Pitombo as a “liar”.

“He’s the one who writes against Bahia. He’s a liar, her resume says she worked, she was a special advisor”, says the deputy, when interrupted by the reporter.

At this point in the recording, the reporter says that the CV mentions his work from 2012 to 2014, but not the link since then, while the PT congressman replies: “I don’t know, it doesn’t matter to the Assembly, it only matters if it has ability to be a counselor”.

“Criticism has been made by some journalists, like the one who wrote the article in Sheet of São Paulowho doesn’t like Bahians, only speaks ill of Bahia, of politicians, mainly on the left. [Ele] makes an acidic criticism of Aline. In my opinion, this is a machismo behind who is writing”, says Rosemberg.

In a joint note, the Union of Journalists of Bahia and Fenaj expressed solidarity with João Pedro Pitombo and stressed that there is no lie in the published report.

“In light of the practice of good journalism, as advocated by Sinjorba and Fenaj –so necessary in this time of fake news circulation–, there is no untruth in the said article, verified according to technical criteria, with information confirmed by sources from the Health Department of the State and corroborated by the former secretary of the portfolio, the doctor Fábio Vilas-Boas, to whom Aline Peixoto, competing for a position as counselor in the Court of Auditors of Municipalities, was subordinate.”

The entities also drew “the attention of the press and other social segments to the need to discuss the non-technical criteria that have always been used in appointing the positions of the audit courts, including in Bahia”.

The report sought deputy Rosemberg Pinto this Tuesday, after the reaction of entities. The congressman’s press office said he will not comment on the matter.

Wife of Rui Costa, Aline Peixoto remained in office in the government even after her husband took over the Government of Bahia in January 2015. In the same period, she became president of Social Volunteers, a non-profit organization traditionally led by the first lady of state and works in partnership with the government.

In the resume sent to the Legislative Assembly to register her candidacy for the position of counselor at the Court of Auditors, Aline reported that she held a position at the Health Department between 2012 and 2014 and said that from 2015 she took over the management of Social Volunteers.

Minister Rui Costa has acted behind the scenes by nominating his wife for the position, which is for life and has a monthly salary of R$ 41,800. The initiative, however, generated discomfort and embarrassment among allied deputies, as well as criticism from PT voters.