RWB: PH placed 134th among 180 nations in press freedom index

Groups hold an indignation rally to condemn the killing of veteran broadcaster Percival Mabasa, who was more popularly known as Percy Lapid, along Timog Avenue in Quezon City on October 4, 2022. Photo from Kabataan Partylist’s Facebook Page

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines placed 134th out of 180 countries in terms of press freedom, press organization Reporters Without Borders, or Reporters Sans Frontières (RSF), said on Friday.

In its report released on World Press Freedom Day, the country’s index decreased from 132nd in 2023, while it had a score of 43.36 for 2024.

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RSF said in its report that there have been less attacks against the press in the administration of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., but these attacks are still worrisome.

“[T]here seem to have been fewer and less violent attacks of this kind, but they are still worrisome.  Harassment by means of threats and “red-tagging” persists, while defamation and cyber-defamation are still punishable by prison sentences,” RSF said.

The organization also observed that defamation is still criminalized and that women journalists still face work-related violations in the country.

Meanwhile, RSF named the following countries as those with the highest levels of press freedom:

• Norway
• Denmark
• Sweden
• The Netherlands
• Finland
• Estonia
• Portugal
• Ireland
• Switzerland
• Germany

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In 1993, the United Nations General Assembly established May 3 as World Press Freedom Day.