📷: NUJP / FB
On World Press Freedom Day, the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) warned that “state repression remains the biggest threat to Philippine media freedom” as it recorded 242 incidents of violations under the Marcos Jr. administration.
Of the total number of attacks, NUJP noted that 43 percent were perpetrated by government and state security forces. Ten journalists have been slain, with police declaring two killings as non-work related. NUJP countered that “the fact remains that the state has failed to protect journalists and media workers. Perpetrators have not been brought to justice.”
The group cited the case of community journalist RJ Ledesma, where the military falsely claimed he was a combatant to justify his killing. Another journalist, Frenchie Mae Cumpio, remains detained on what NUJP described as “trumped-up charges of financing terrorism,” after repeated red-tagging prior to her arrest.
Red-tagging persists, with 39 incidents recorded since 2016. NUJP criticized the administration’s refusal to abolish the National Task Force to End the Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC), despite calls from UN experts and human rights groups. The group also pointed out that the government ignored the Supreme Court’s 2024 ruling declaring red-tagging a threat to life, liberty, and security.
Beyond red-tagging, libel and the Data Privacy Act have been weaponized against journalists. NUJP reported cases of women journalists in Roxas City and Cagayan de Oro facing cyber libel charges, with one also accused of violating the Data Privacy Act. Politicians have likewise threatened colleagues with such charges to deter coverage of controversial stories.
Other forms of harassment include surveillance, physical and verbal attacks, denial of access to information, cyberattacks, and online harassment. NUJP lamented that recommendations from UN Special Rapporteur Irene Khan have “largely fallen on deaf ears.”
The group urged the government to take drastic measures to stop media killings, decriminalize libel, end red-tagging, and enact a Freedom of Information Law. “The climate of impunity remains and so, no amount of safety measures would be enough to protect ourselves from harm,” NUJP said.
“The attacks do not happen in a vacuum. Those in power want the truth to be hidden, obfuscated or distorted for their selfish interests. Journalists resist repression so that we can continue our mission of telling the truth so that the public will be empowered to take action. We call on the public to stand with us in defending media freedom and democracy,” NUJP concluded. # (ZIA LUNA)
