HRW flags ‘persistent’ harassment of journalists in 2022

Bulatlat managing editor Ronalyn Olea and lawyers Minnie Lopez and Floyd Tiongson of the National Union of People's Lawyers speak to media in front of the Quezon City Regional Trial Court on July 8, 2022.

Philstar.com

MANILA, Philippines — Human Rights Watch flagged in a report released Thursday what it called the "persistent" harassment of journalists in 2022, marked by attempts to silence news outlets critical of the Marcos Jr. administration as well as by libel charges against media workers.

Press groups in the country have long been raising the alarm on physical attacks and other attempts to intimidate journalists. The New York-based watchdog said in its report on the Philippines that "harassment of journalists also persisted in the past year."

This was on top of the killings of four journalists in 2022, including two — broadcasters Percy Lapid and Renato Blanco — who were killed during the first few months of the Marcos Jr. administration. Charges have been filed over the murder of Lapid — who also went by Percy Mabasa — although it is yet unclear who was really behind his death.

Full Story: https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2023/01/12/2237122/hrw-flags-persistent-harassment-journalists-2022