Press freedom is not under threat, Palace insists

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang has once again maintained that press freedom in the country remains intact despite the report that tagged the Philippines as one of the countries with least protection for media and non-governmental organizations. 

“There is no truth that we have fewer press freedom. Our media are still able to broadcast and print or publish what they want—fake news included. Filipinos are free to air their grievances with the president even declaring an unprecedented Day of Protest,” presidential spokesperson Harry Roque Jr. said.

The presidential mouthpiece was reacting to the Transparency International’s Corruption Perception Index 2017, which showed that the Philippines, along with India and the Maldives, are the worst offenders of press freedom in the Asia Pacific region. 

READ: Philippines among worst offender of press freedom in Asia Pacific

Roque noted that President Rodrigo Duterte had created the Presidential Task Force on Media Security to ensure the protection of media practitioners. 

“Per the record of the Task Force, all murder cases involving journalists during the Duterte administration have been solved. In addition, public officials who threatened media workers have been ‘red-flagged’ to show that we work without fear or favor,” he said.

Reacting to the report’s finding that at least one journalist is killed every week in a highly-corrupt country, Roque said that “is not the case in the Philippines.”

According to the report published by media watchdog Reporters Without Borders last year, five journalists targeted by gunmen were killed in the country in 2017. 

This week, Rappler reporter Pia Ranada has been barred from entering the presidential complex.The decision stemmed from Rappler’s uncertain status as a Filipino corporation and its alleged propensity to spread the so-called “fake news.”

Several media groups have slammed the decision, calling it an attack on press freedom. 

RELATED: Rappler tells Roque: Ban a clear case of intimidation l Roque to Rappler: Fix ownership, reporting issues before calling for press freedom

‘Corruption cannot be solved overnight’

With a score of 34, the Philippines also slipped in the global corruption index to 111th in 2017 from 101st in 2016. 

“We have to underscore that corruption is a problem that cannot be solved overnight; thus, we are taking the results [...] seriously,” Roque said. 

He cited the firing of top government officials allegedly involved in corruption by the president and the creation of the Presidential Anti-corruption Commission and citizens’ complaint hotline.

“Fighting corruption needs everyone’s cooperation. The government cannot do it alone. Citizens must be vigilant and report corruption,” Roque said. 

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