Skip to content
post thumbnail

FACT SHEET: ‘Supercharged’ Philippine journalists

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos recently said his government will “remain committed to ensuring transparency and good governance, freedom of expression and of the press, and the protection of media practitioners and their rights in the practice of their profession.”

By VERA Files

May 3, 2023

2-minute read

Read this fact check in Filipino

ifcn badge

Share This Article

:

Editor’s note: The table in this article was updated to correct the case details of Rosalio ‘Tommy’ Abile. The complaint against him was filed by the unnamed wife of retired commodore Nicanor Hernandez. Tehani Hernandez is his daughter, who was also sued.

(Updated) President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos recently said his government will “remain committed to ensuring transparency and good governance, freedom of expression and of the press, and the protection of media practitioners and their rights in the practice of their profession.”

Speaking at the 50th anniversary of the Kapisanan ng Mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas on April 27, Marcos noted that the Philippines ranked 147th in the World Press Freedom Index in 2022. He vowed to “improve the present condition” of the media.  

Reporters Without Borders, a France-based international non-profit organization, wrote that the Philippine media are “extremely vibrant despite the government’s targeted attacks and constant harassment, since 2016, of journalists and media outlets that are too critical.”

On this year’s commemoration of World Press Freedom Day, VERA Files Fact Check  compiled the lawsuits filed against more than 90 Filipino journalists from 2007 to 2022. Out of 45 cases, 32 were filed by past and incumbent government officials. Thirty-four (about 75%) are complaints involving cyber libel punishable under the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012, and 10 are libel under the Revised Penal Code. 

View this table: 

 

Get VERAfied

Receive fresh perspectives and explainers in your inbox every Tuesday and Friday.

More Stories

post thumbnail

News consumers now value personal loyalty more than facts, veteran journalist laments

 post thumbnail

​ Press freedom ‘depends on the people’ – CMFR director

 post thumbnail

World Press Freedom Day: Disinformation the new guns, goons, and gold

 post thumbnail

Apply Now | Road Safety Journalism Fellowship Phase 2

 post thumbnail

VERA FILES FACT SHEET: ‘Supercharged’ na mga mamamahayag na Filipino