Philippines 138th in World Press Freedom Index

WASHINGTON – Many journalists have been murdered in the Philippines, from the 2009 Maguindanao massacre to recent execution-style killings, Reporters Without Borders said in its 2016 World Press Freedom Index.

“Often committed by private militias in order to silence reporters who are investigating them, these murders usually go unpunished. In this climate of terror, media outlets succumb to self-censorship or corruption, in which journalists receive ‘favors’  in exchange for positive coverage,” the report said.

The Philippines was in 138th place in the latest index which ranked 180 countries according to the freedom allowed journalists. It was in 141st place in last year’s index.       

“In the Philippines, journalists carry guns and know how to use them because they are in constant danger,” the index said.

Paradoxically, the national media are fairly free and diversified and do not hesitate to criticize the Aquino administration, it said.

Also, the Internet is not subject to any control.

Heading the rankings were Finland, Netherlands and Norway in that order, while the last three positions were held by Turkmenistan, North Korea and Eritrea, referred to by the index as “the same infernal trio.”  – With Artemio Dumlao