The Philippines remains to be a difficult country in terms of press freedom, global media group Reporters Without Borders (French: Reporters Sans Frontieres, RSF) reported.
In its 2024 Press Freedom Index, RSF categorized the Philippines to be under difficult conditions with Eastern Vista’s Frenchie Mae Cumpio listed as an ongoing press freedom violation by the government.
The Philippines is ranked 134th out of 180 countries, falling two rungs from 2023’s 132th.
“Press freedom around the world is being threatened by the very people who should be its guarantors – political authorities,” RSF said.
“This finding is based on the fact that, of the five indicators used to compile the ranking, it is the political indicator that has fallen most, registering a global average fall of 7.6 points,” the global group revealed.
Norway is the best country while Afghanistan, Syria and Eritrea are the worst on press freedom, RSF added.
The Middle East is the worst region while Asia-Pacific, where the Philippines is included, is the second worst.
“The press freedom situation has worsened in the Asia-Pacific region, where 26 of the 32 countries and territories have seen their scores fall in the 2024 World Press Freedom Index. The region’s dictatorial governments have been tightening their hold over news and information with increasing vigor,” RSF said.
RSF noted that while press freedom is a Constitutionally-guaranteed right in the Philippines, hundreds of media killings remain unsolved.
The government is also seen as responsible for press freedom attacks against critical media outfits.
The RSF warns that the global drop in press freedom rankings is worse this year, owing to elections held in dozens of countries around the world.
The Philippines is gearing for an election season with politicians filing their candidacies later this year for May 2025’s local and national elections. # (Raymund B. Villanueva)
