2021 State of Press Freedom in the Philippines
Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility executive director Melinda De Jesus presented this report during the celebration of the World Press Freedom Day on May 3, 2021.
May 5, 2021 | 09:00:00 PM
CMFR executive director
Melinda De Jesus discusses the history of the Philippine press fighting the Marcos dictatorship to restore democracy, and the country's recent decline to authoritarianism under President Rodrigo Duterte. She also discusses CMFR's database on attacks and threats against journalists, new laws that tighten restrictions on the Philippines media, and how the coronavirus pandemic exacerbated the situation.
By law, the Duterte presidency ends in 2022. It renders this assessment of press freedom in the PH in a new light. The next election confronts the nation with a fork on the road; to turn the page or stay with the status quo. Filipinos must make their choice with a conscious review of the state of the nation, of which the state of press freedom is only a part, albeit a critical one.