The latest report of the global media watchdog, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), noted that in 2024, for the first time in two decades, no journalist was killed in the Philippines. This was welcomed by authorities and press groups but the latter warned that impunity and attacks targeting the media continue to undermine independent and critical reporting in the country.
A radio reporter was killed in October 2024 but a police investigation led to the arrest of a suspect and concluded that it was not work-related
The CPJ report cited the observation of some analysts that the government of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. “has taken a comparatively milder tone toward the press than his predecessor Rodrigo Duterte, who frequently threatened the media.” Around 23 journalists were killed during the presidency of Duterte from 2016 to 2022. Duterte also supported the non-renewal of the franchise of the country’s biggest media network, which had a chilling effect on society.
The Presidential Task Force on Media Security acknowledged the report and attributed the development “to the collaborative efforts of various stakeholders, including law enforcement agencies, media organizations, and civil society, in promoting a safer environment for the press.” It vowed to remain vigilant in fulfilling its mandate. “We recognize that the fight for media security is an ongoing process, and we cannot afford to be complacent,” it said in a statement.
The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) also welcomed the CPJ report as it urged authorities to do more by arresting the perpetrators and masterminds of media killings in recent years. “We hope that this sets the bar for coming years,” it said in a statement. “We hope as well that this will mean a quicker resolution to pending cases of media killings from previous years,” it added.
For example, the NUJP flagged the continuing failure to arrest the alleged mastermind in the 2022 killing of broadcaster Percy Lapid.
In an editorial, the Philippine Star echoed the demand to pursue justice and accountability as part of the campaign against impunity. “The challenge at this point is to sustain this positive development, and to do more to bring murderers to justice,” the editorial pointed out.
The NUJP also emphasized that “media killings are only one aspect of media safety” as it warned against unabated attacks against members of the press
Last month, the Photojournalists’ Center of the Philippines condemned the bombing of the vehicle owned by a prominent photojournalist. “This attack is not just an assault on one individual but an affront to press freedom and the public’s right to information,” it said in a statement.
The independent media network Altermidya called out the filing of terror charges against a multimedia reporter. “By weaponizing anti-terror laws to silence the press, the government creates a climate of fear, discourages critical reporting, and allows misinformation to thrive unchecked,” it said in a statement. A young community journalist has already spent five years in detention over fabricated terror charges filed by the authorities.
The Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility recently sounded the alarm over the online harassment of a TV anchor as it called for greater vigilance against violence directed towards the media during the ongoing midterm election campaign. “During election season, journalists often become prime targets of threats, harassment, and even violence as they cover politically sensitive issues and hold powerful figures accountable,” it said in an alert notice.
While it is encouraging to learn that no journalist was killed in 2024, other threats remain that continue to put the lives of reporters at high risk. It is good that officials have vowed to work with key stakeholders to prioritize media safety. This should be sustained by policy reforms to overhaul repressive and outdated media regulations and amend or repeal laws that are routinely used to stifle free speech.