Palace vows to make journalists safer

MANILA, Philippines - The government will step up the protection of journalists from security risks amid the country's declining status in the World Press Freedom Index, Malacañang vowed.

"We acknowledge the decline in the ranking, and we will intensify our efforts to safeguard our journalists, and uphold the freedom of expression," Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said in a televised press briefing Thursday.

Coloma said that the Palace believes in freedom of expression and freedom of the press.

"We remain committed to the regime of freedom of the press and freedom of expresion where there are no prior restraints and no censorship," Coloma said.

The Philippines slipped in the Reporters Without Borders' 2014 press freedom ranking, dropping to 149th from 147th in 2013 and 140th from 2011 to 2012. This despite the country being recognized as the freest media in Asia.

Read: World press freedom: Philippines slips to 149th

He pointed out that the Aquino administration looks to the legacy of the EDSA Revolution in 1986 when the president's mother was installed president.

"Mataas ang ating commitment sa pangangalaga sa kalayaan ng mamamahayag. Sa buwang ito pinagdiriwang natin ang ika-28 na anibersaryo ng EDSA People Power revolution. Isa ito sa mahalagang kalayaang pinagwagi ng EDSA People Power," Coloma added.