Duterte: Press freedom is 'vital in a nation’s vibrant democracy'

File photo taken during a rally calling for press freedom.

The STAR / Krizjohn Rosales, file

MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte described press freedom as "vital in a nation’s vibrant democracy" as some sectors criticized what they called the censoring of journalists under his administration.

In a video greeting for the fifth anniversary of the Presidential Task Force on Media Security, Duterte cited the role of the body in protecting the freedom and the rights of the press.

“The task force plays a crucial role in safeguarding press freedom that is vital in a nation’s vibrant democracy," Duterte said in a video message posted on the Facebook page of the Office of the Presidential Spokesperson Thursday.

Full Story: https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2021/10/13/2133914/duterte-press-freedom-vital-nations-vibrant-democracy