Last July 2, the Paris-based Reporters Without Borders (RSF) named Duterte as among 37 government leaders who have led relentless crackdowns against news media. The Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility (CMFR) said that from June 30, 2016 to April 30, 2021, 19 media workers were slain. CMFR said that 52 cases of intimidation, 37 libel cases and 20 cases of online harassment were also reported. Other attacks and threats listed by CMFR include message threats, physical harassment, website attacks, being barred from coverage, arrests, slay attempts, verbal threats. It also weakens the capacity of media to sustain people’s unfettered exchange of ideas about public issues,” the group said.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer July 16, 2021 05:48 UTC