MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang on Tuesday lambasted the inclusion of President Rodrigo Duterte in a media watchdog’s list of this year’s “press freedom predators,” saying the dishonor was “bereft of merit” and “baseless.”
Duterte was among 37 heads of government in a gallery published by Reporters Without Borders who “crack down massively on press freedom,” and waged a “total war” against independent media.
The Paris-based media watchdog said that Duterte has an “arsenal that he can use to wage ‘total war’ against journalists” since there is “collusion at all levels.”
In response, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque shot down the claims, saying that press freedom is “alive and well in the Philippines.”
Roque cited as example the report of a prosecutor in the International Criminal Court (ICC) who seeks to investigate human rights violations in the country based on media reports.
“That proves that freedom of the press is alive and well in the Philippines, wala ni isang kasong libelo na sinampa ang Presidente, walang kahit sinong mamamahayag napakulong ang Presidente,” Roque said in a press briefing.
(The President has not filed a single case of libel against a journalist. No journalist has been jailed by the President.)
As to the issues being thrown against the President, including the ABS-CBN shutdown, Roque said it was Congress who decided not to grant the media giant a franchise to operate.
However, it can be recalled that Duterte said he was “very happy” that he has “dismantled the oligarchy” in the country, days after Congress denied ABS-CBN a franchise.
The President was also quoted as saying that he would not allow ABS-CBN to operate even if Congress would grant it a new franchise.
In the media watchdog’s report, it noted that “Congress tamely endorses all President’s decisions.”
“Judges who don’t toe the line are pushed aside. Congress tamely endorses all the president’s decisions. Backed by most of the private sector, Duterte easily imposes his line on media outlets owned by businessmen that support him,” the group said.
Meanwhile, cases against Rappler, which is known to be critical of the Duterte administration, were hailed in court for supposed violations to the country’s law, particularly under the Securities and Exchange Commission.
“That’s part and parcel, of course, of the media advocacy to promote freer press pero wala talagang basehan na media predator ang ating Presidente,” Roque said in response.