2 MIN READ
NORTHERN DISPATCH
www.nordis.net
Today, we mark World Press Freedom Day with renewed calls for justice, accountability, and decisive action from state authorities.
The figures are stark. As of April 2026, the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines has documented 242 cases of press freedom violations under the Marcos Jr. administration. These include ten killings, 75 incidents of harassment, 39 cases of red-tagging, and multiple forms of legal and digital attacks.
Behind the total are 313 victims, of which 238 are individuals and 75 media outlets. The data confirms that threats and attacks on journalists are neither isolated nor declining. Instead, the trend points to sustained and serious pressure on the press.
The military’s killing of our colleague RJ Ledesma and the continued detention of Frenchie Mae Cumpio on “financing terrorism” charges underscore the risks. Meanwhile, Deo Montesclaros of Pinoy Weekly and former Northern Dispatch correspondent for Cagayan Valley is also facing a terror-financing complaint.
Their cases highlight an environment where journalists can be targeted for their work, including coverage of underreported issues and human rights concerns.
Other media killings remain unresolved, as lawfare continues to intensify.
The use of libel and related charges remains a recurring concern, placing journalists under prolonged legal scrutiny. Colleagues from Baguio and Tabuk in Northern Luzon have been among those targeted.
These actions place a heavier burden on provincial journalists and smaller media organizations.
Reporters Without Borders, in its 2026 World Press Freedom Index, ranked the Philippines 114th globally and flagged it among countries where legal tools are used to pressure journalists.
The report noted that laws mostly on national security or digital regulation are increasingly used to intimidate media workers and constrain reporting. It also found that more than half of countries worldwide now face “difficult” or “very serious” press freedom conditions.
Data on perpetrators is instructive. Government actors and state security forces are linked to a significant share of reported cases. A global survey by Forbidden Stories found that 77 percent of threatened journalists identified public authorities as their main source of threats, more than double those citing criminal groups.
The same survey shows that threats are routine and often severe. Thirty-seven percent of respondents reported experiencing physical attacks, abductions, or arrests, while nearly one in three said they receive threats monthly.
Taken together, local data and global findings point to a consistent pattern: legal pressure, harassment, intimidation, and killings are shaping the conditions under which journalists work. These pressures affect not only reporters but also the public’s access to critical information on governance and accountability.
The persistence of these violations raises questions about state commitments. Official assurances to protect journalists remain on record, yet documented cases continue. The data points not only to weaknesses in policy and institutional response, but also to documented state-backed attacks.
Despite these conditions, journalists continue to report on issues of public interest, including governance, public spending, environmental concerns, and human rights.
Recent reporting on the flood control scandal, the alleged misuse of confidential funds, and the killings during Duterte’s “war on drugs” has contributed to public scrutiny and the pursuit of accountability.
The record is clear: press freedom is under siege, yet journalists persist, committed to their work.# nordis.net
