03 May 2018, Makati City– Centerlaw joins the international community in celebrating the World Press Freedom Day. Today is a celebration of the fundamental principles of press freedom. It is also an opportunity to assess the state of press freedom in the Philippines and throughout the world. Today, we also pay tribute to journalists who have lost their lives in the line of duty,and reiterate our efforts to defend the media from attacks on their independence.
Centerlaw notes, however, that press freedom has been under constant attack in the Philippines for the past year. Philippine media have been at the forefront of delivering information to the public in relation to critical issues such as the President’s war on drugs. In response, the administration, especially the President himself, have been launching verbal attacks against the media. He stated in one of his speeches, “It is not because you are a journalist that you will be protected from assassination if you are a son of a bitch. Freedom of expression will not do anything for you, my dear ones.” Media has also been denied access to police documents relating to police killings during war on drugs operations.
Last year alone, four journalists were killed, making the Philippines one of the deadliest countries for journalists in Asia and the Philippines. Major media outlets, including the main television channel, the country’s major newspaper, and an online news site, were the subjects of these verbal assaults and threats.
Centerlaw implores the Philippine government to respect and uphold press freedom. As UN Secretary General António Guterres stated, “On World Press Freedom Day 2018, I call on governments to strengthen press freedom, and to protect journalists. Promoting a free press is standing up for our right to truth.” Centerlaw believes that a free press gives Filipinos access to truth,and helps in the full realization of their liberties and freedoms. The Philippine government should recognize its obligations under the Philippine Constitution and international human rights law to respect and ensure the freedom of the press in the Philippines.
