Malacañang said there is nothing to worry about the Philippines dropping two places in the World Press Freedom Index.
In the report of the international organization Reporter’s Without Borders, the Philippines’ rank slipped from 136th in 2020, to 138th in the current year.
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said on Thursday (April 22) that despite the lower rank, press freedom in the country remains. He added that the Philippines maintained its high standing in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
“We see nothing wrong with it, pero [but] of course, we dispute also the ranking because iyong [the] Reporter’s Without Borders considered as affront to press freedom itong [this] Rappler issue, na alam naman natin na dinesisyunan ng SEC na hindi naman appointed ni President Duterte [that we know was decided by the Securities and Exchange Commission officials whom President Duterte did not appoint].”
Report from Mela Lesmoras/NGS-jlo
