03/05/2026
DEFEND PRESS FREEDOM! โ
Today, May 3, 2026, marks World Press Freedom Day: a moment to recognize those who carry the weight of truth, from campus journalists to community reporters who serve at the frontlines of information.
Across the globe, press freedom is shrinking. The UNESCO World Trends Report on Freedom of Expression and Media Development (2022-2025), reports that freedom of expression has declined by around 10% since 2012. The International Federation of Journalists calls this trend โalarming,โ warning that the scale of decline now echoes some of the most turbulent periods in modern history. These are not distant concerns, these shape the reality journalists face today.
This reality is reflected in the Philippines. The 2026 World Press Freedom Index by Reporters Without Borders (RSF) places the country 114th out of the 180 nations, a slight rise from 116th last year. Journalists in our country continue to face threats, harassment, and violence, making the Philippines one of the most dangerous places to practice the profession.
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) points out that the government and the authorities continue to weaponize โred-taggingโ to silence critical voices. Just recently, RJ Ledesma a journalist at Altermidya Network died on the armed conflict in Toboso, Negros while reporting on how renewable energy projects affected displaced communities. Instead of recognizing his work as a journalist, he was labeled as a rebel and later claimed he was a combatant.
The case of Frenchie Mae Cumpio, a community journalist, further exposes how this pattern operates. After being red-tagged, she was arrested and now remains one of the country's longest-detained journalists on charges of financing terrorism. Press freedom advocates continue to challenge these accusations, pointing to how such cases intimidate and silence independent reporting. Meanwhile, authorities increasingly target media organisations themselves, filing charges and linking them to alleged terrorist activities.
According to the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) violence against media workers remains widespread and state repression remains the biggest threat to Philippine media freedom. NUJP has documented 242 incidents under the Marcos Jr. administration. This report includes 10 killings, 75 cases of surveillance and verbal harassment, 39 instances of red-tagging, 19 cyberattacks, 18 online attacks, 18 cases of judicial harassment, 14 libel or cyber libel charges, 14 physical assaults, 12 denials of coverage, 9 death threats, 7 arrests, 4 censorship cases, 2 theft incidents, and 1 closure order. Notably, 43% of these violations were attributed to government actors and state forcesโfigures that highlight the scale and persistence of threats facing the press.
Freedom of the press is the foundation of our democracy. Yet in the Philippines, it remains a challenging terrain for those who dare to speak truth to power. With these data and statistics, it becomes clearer that the impunity against journalists continues. When those in power silence the press, they deny the public access to truth. When journalists are attacked, citizens lose a vital defense against misinformation and abuse of power.
The UPV Libertas stands firm in condemning all forms of repression against the media. The press must continue to question, investigate, and hold power accountable. Today, we take a stand. We urge the public to defend the press and protect the right to information. A free press keeps democracy alive. Without it, truth is buried, and the people are left in the dark.
โ
Sulat | Yz Pollicar
Mulat | Louise Postolero
