Press freedom: Philippines down 6 notches
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines dropped six notches in the 2018 World Press Freedom Index of media watchdog Reporters Without Borders (Reporters Sans Frontières, RSF).
The country slipped to 133rd from 127th out of 180 countries on the list, with a score of 42.53.
RSF noted that the dynamism of the Philippine press has been challenged by President Duterte who, the group said, has repeatedly hurled threats against journalists.
“There have been countless examples of Philippine government harassment of media that voice any kind of criticism of Duterte’s ‘war on drugs.’ Here, again, verbal violence and physical violence are closely linked,” it said.
RSF also noted that the Philippines is the deadliest country for journalists in Asia after four of five media workers targeted by gunmen were killed in 2017.
Norway is still the top country in the world for press freedom while North Korea continues to be ranked last on the index.
The report came months after Malacañang banned Rappler reporter Pia Ranada from covering the President.
Duterte has also called out ABS-CBN and Philippine Daily Inquirer for their supposedly “slanted” reporting.
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