MANILA, Feb. 13 (PNA) — Malacanang on Thursday reiterated its commitment to intensify efforts to protect journalists and uphold the freedom of expression.
Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Herminio B. Coloma Jr. made the statement during a Palace media briefing where he also acknowledged the decline of the Philippines in this year’s World Press Freedom Index.
The country this year placed 149th on the index — two places lower than its ranking in 2013, which was 147. The index is done annually by international media watchdog group Reporters without Borders.
“We acknowledge the decline in the ranking, and we will intensify our efforts to safeguard our journalists, and uphold the freedom of expression,” Coloma said.
“We remain committed to the regime of freedom of the press and freedom of expression where there are no prior restraints and no censorship,” he added, stressing that the government will continue its efforts to solve the killings of journalists.
He also noted that freedom of expression is one of the commitments of the Philippine government since the 1986 EDSA-1 People Power revolt.
“We have a major commitment to safeguarding freedom of expression,” Coloma said in the vernacular, adding that it is only timely as the 28th anniversary of the EDSA People Power 1 revolution is drawing closer — on Feb 25. (PNA)
