Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility (CMFR)

A recent resolution by the Philippines Supreme Court makes no allowances for the media to access video footage of the trial into the 23 November 2009 Ampatuan Massacre and disseminate it; essentially this puts the rights of the accused above press freedom and the public’s right to know.

The Philippines House Committee on Public Information failed to discuss any substantive issues on the Freedom of Information bill, particularly the bill’s contents; this leaves virtually no time for any FOI measure to get approved in the 15th Congress.

Filipino broadcaster Julius Caesar Cauzo was gunned down recently; while the police and his co-workers are baffled as to the possible motive for the attack, the journalist had received death threats from his commentaries about political issues.

Time is running out for the passage of the Filipino FOI act, says the Right to Know coalition, while calling on the House of Representatives, the Senate, and President Aquino to take decisive action.

MFWA welcomes the move by Gambian authorities to drop charges against two journalists for seeking permission to peacefully protest the execution of death row inmates, but calls for investigation into death threats against journalists.

Over 40 IFEX members worldwide call for the new President of Somalia to help combat impunity in the killing of journalists, revise media laws and uphold UN and African resolutions to help protect journalists.

Two Filipino journalists had just boarded a taxi after interviewing a congressman and his brother, a mayor, about their political plans when two unidentified gunmen riding in motorcycles fired shots at them.

In response to various petitions questioning the constitutionality of provisions of the Cybercrime Prevention Act, the Supreme Court of the Philippines restrained government agencies and officials from implementing the Act for 120 days.