MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Francis Pangilinan called on the Presidential Communications Operations Office to use its resources judiciously as he criticized the agency’s “press freedom caravan” in Europe, which aims to discuss the state of press freedom in the Philippines. But Pangilinan, the president of the erstwhile ruling Liberal Party, questioned the intent of the office’s information drive in Europe. Journalists’ organizations both in the Philippines and abroad said the arrest of Ressa undermines press freedom and freedom of expression, and that it is an “act of persecution” by the Duterte government. The Philippines is the worst in impunity in Southeast Asia, according to a report published by the International Federation of Journalists last December. It added: “[It] has fueled a culture of impunity which has emboldened those seeking to silence the press.” — Gaea Katreena Cabico

Source: Philippine Star February 18, 2019 08:41 UTC