Philippines

A Safer World For The Truth investigation. The murder of Gerry Ortega is indicative of structural problems concerning the safety of journalists in the Philippines; while the hitmen are often arrested, the powerful masterminds behind the killings of journalists often evade justice.

Attacks and threats against the Philippine media continue to rise under the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte

Websites run by the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism and the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines were disabled by cyberattacks

Two people were convicted of murdering journalists in 2016. Nevertheless, the Philippines remains one of the most dangerous places in the world to practice journalism, and violent attacks against media workers usually go unpunished.

Impunity for crimes against journalists was compounded by a lack of progress in trials related to the 2009 Maguindanao massacre, an election-related crime in which 32 journalists and other media staff were among the 58 people killed.

Government orders telecoms to block mobile signals during papal visit

Press freedom in the Philippines continued to be under attack from 2014 to 2015. The killing of journalists is continuing, with four journalists killed from May 2014 to May 2015. The trial of the accused masterminds of the Ampatuan (Maguindanao) Massacre and their supposed henchmen is continuing, but with a primary accused was released, while a witness in the same case was killed.

Ranked 86th in annual global media freedom report

“A record number of journalists were killed in the Philippines in 2013”

Impunity for crimes against journalists is the norm

“Slow progress in Maguindanao massacre case underscores culture of impunity”

Ranked 149th in annual press freedom index

“Harassment of and violence against leftist political activists and environmentalists continues”

An update on the Ampatuan Massacre trial by CMFR Executive Director Melinda Quintos de Jesus

CMFR has issued a monograph report on the issues of journalists’ safety, from the perspective of owners/their representatives. The report included discussions on how the owners see their responsibilities and their capacity to provide protection, the problems and what they perceive to be the most serious challenge to the protection of journalists

Ranked 89th in annual global media freedom report

“The Philippines remains one of the most dangerous places in the world for journalists to work, and impunity for crimes against them is the norm”

Press freedom advocates launch International Day to End Impunity on anniversary of Ampatuan massacre

“At least 72 journalists have been killed for their work since 1992, making the Philippines the second deadliest country in the world for journalists”

“Judicial investigation into the Ampatuan massacre made it clear that the response of the authorities was seriously inadequate”

“Hundreds of leftist politicians and political activists, journalists, and outspoken clergy have been killed or abducted since 2001”