The Philippines was the most dangerous country in Asia for journalists last year. It has been that way in recent years, and it is unlikely to change soon, especially with a government targeting journalists criticising its policies.
Four journalists were killed there last year. That brought to nine the number of journalists killed since President Rodrigo Duterte was sworn into office in June 2016.
The Philippine Centre for Media Freedom and Responsibility (CMFR) has tallied at least 85 attacks on the media under Mr Duterte. These include the killings, six slaying attempts and 11 death threats.
“Separately and together, these 85 cases have made the practice of journalism an even more dangerous endeavour under Duterte,” CMFR said in a statement as cited by The Strait Times.
Reporters Without Borders said Mr Duterte himself was fomenting these attacks with his “cryptic, but alarming, the comment” against journalists.
He once said it was acceptable to kill journalists if they were corrupt.
The Philippines slipped six places in Reporters Without Borders’ global press freedom index last year. It ranked 133rd out of 180 countries, reflecting a “growing animosity” towards journalists that is “openly encouraged” by politicians.
In its latest report on press freedom, released this week, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) listed the Philippines as still the fifth among countries with the worst records of prosecuting killers of journalists.
From 2011 to 2014, the Philippines ranked 3rd in the list before moving down to 4th in 2015 and 2016. Last year, the country moved down to 5th place.
Source: straitstimes.com