This is not encouraging at all for media practitioners in the country.
That the Philippines placed 134th among 180 countries in the press freedom index of the international media organization Reporters Without Borders, or Reporters Sans Frontières, reflects the challenges faced by the government in upholding freedom of the press as guaranteed by the 1987 Constitution.
In its report released on World Press Freedom Day on May 3, the international media watchdog said the country’s index decreased from 132nd in 2023, while it had a score of 43.36 for 2024.
While RSF said in its report there have been fewer attacks against the press during the Marcos Jr. administration, these attacks are cause for concern.
“There seem to have been fewer and less violent attacks of this kind, but they are still worrisome.
“Harassment by means of threats and ‘red-tagging’ persists, while defamation and cyber-defamation are still punishable by prison sentences,” RSF said.
The organization also observed libel is still criminalized and that women journalists still face work-related violations in the country.
The Philippines certainly can draw lessons from the experiences of the top 10 countries with the highest levels of press freedom, namely Norway, Denmark, Sweden, The Netherlands, Finland, Estonia, Portugal, Ireland, Switzerland, and Germany.
In 1993, the United Nations General Assembly established May 3 as World Press Freedom Day. As the government marked the occasion, President Marcos Jr. cited the critical role of journalists in fighting fake news and misinformation
“As the fourth pillar of our democracy, their words serve as our strongest defense against misinformation and fake news. Now, more than ever, their commitment to their work is crucial,” the Chief Executive pointed out.
For its part, the Presidential Communications Office reaffirmed its commitment to uphold “freedom and independence of the press” and ensure their rights and welfare are protected.
It gave assurances the current administration “remains steadfast in fostering an environment where journalists can practice their profession free from fear of threats, reprisals, and violence.”
In its 2024 World Press Freedom Day statement, the UN stressed the important role of journalists in combating disinformation and misinformation campaigns on the “triple planetary crisis,” namely climate change, biodiversity, and air pollution.
In the concrete Philippine context, that also means government should uphold the Constitutional guarantee of freedom of the press as a strong foundation of our democratic system.
