Malacañang has played down a report by an international media group, which claimed that the Philippines is among seven countries in the region deemed as worst places for journalists. Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo on Friday dismissed the Southeast Asia Media Freedom report, which took note of the threat of impunity, safety and censorship in the country. Well for one, the deaths of journalists in this country appear not to be connected with their job,” Panelo said at a press briefing, referring to the report, published by the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ). Personal livesPanelo said the reports he received about those who were killed had nothing to do with their work as journalists. But Malacañang insisted that harassment cases faced by some journalists had nothing to do with freedom of expression.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer December 21, 2018 21:22 UTC