Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility (CMFR)

The undeniable escalation of the number of killings in the Philippines is disturbing enough, says CMFR. But just as troubling is the increase and variety of harassments to which journalists have been subjected.

It is not clear if the killing of Filipino publisher Vergel Bico stems from a personal grudge or was linked to his reports on illegal gambling; the journalist had received threats from government officials and other subjects of his columns.

The Philippines’ libel law has made the media’s monitoring role and assisting the public through accurate information in the task of exacting official accountability, more difficult than it already is.

Two men riding tandem on a motorcycle shot dead radio commentator Fernando “Nanding” Solijon in Mindanao; the journalist had reportedly received death threats and was at odds with various politicians during the last elections.

Members of a police Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team in pursuit of alleged gang members entered a radio station in Iloilo City, Philippines and assaulted station personnel.

A businesswoman-turned-fugitive for her alleged involvement in a multi-billion peso corruption scandal filed four separate libel complaints against a blogger, two reporters, two editors and a publisher, as well as a fashion designer, in Manila.

The police have formally charged two suspects for the 30 July 2013 murder of two tabloid columnists in Quezon City, Manila. The suspects have yet to be arrested.

The most recent threats to a television broadcaster in Manila have gone personal; they are linked to a report she made on a tax evasion case against a lawyer of the Ampatuan clan.