Statement of the Commission on Human Rights on the report of UN Special Rapporteur Irene Khan on the state of freedom of expression and the press in the Philippines
The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) of the Philippines acknowledges the recommendations presented by United Nations (UN) Special Rapporteur on freedom of opinion and expression, Irene Khan, following her official visit to the country in January 2024. These recommendations reflect both progress made and the urgent reforms still needed to protect and promote free expression in the Philippines. Every Filipino’s right to freedom of expression and opinion is inherently linked to access to diverse sources of information, protection from threats, and meaningful participation in public life. As such, CHR remains firm in its stand that while the Philippines has seen improvements in this area, there remains a clear need for […]
ジャーナリストのアトム・アラウロ氏と赤札貼り人に対する裁判での勝利に関する人権委員会の声明
The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) welcomes the recent decision of the Quezon City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 306, which ruled in favor of journalist Atom Araullo in his civil suit against SMNI hosts Lorraine Badoy and Jeffrey Celiz, who accused him of being associated with communist terrorist ideologies in their talk show. In the decision released by QC RTC Branch 306, Badoy and Celiz were ordered to pay Araullo P2.08 million in damages and legal fees as compensation for “the red-tagging and its effects on his personal life and on his career as a journalist.” This court decision underscores the importance of the Supreme Court ruling in Deduro […]
Statement of the Commission on Human Rights on the call of UN Special Rapporteur Irene Khan for the Philippine government to address issues concerning media workers
The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) acknowledges the urgent appeal made by United Nations (UN) Special Rapporteur on freedom of opinion and expression, Irene Khan, urging the Philippine government to review the cases of journalists facing legal charges and address the alarming incidents of media killings in the country. As the country’s independent national human rights institution, CHR underscores the importance of swift and impartial processes to secure justice for media workers subjected to alleged fabricated charges and arbitrary detention. The call by the UN Special Rapporteur highlights the prolonged detention of community journalist Frenchie Mae Cumpio, who was arrested on 7 February 2020 in Tacloban City on allegations of […]
Statement of the Commission on Human Rights denouncing the killing of a woman media worker in Zamboanga City
The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) strongly condemns the killing of another media worker in Zamboanga City, who was attacked just a few meters away from her house on 22 October 2024. Ma. Vilma Rodriguez, a media worker affiliated with eMedia Productions, was shot three times by a riding-in-tandem assailant. She managed to walk home and inform her daughter about the attack, but was later declared dead at the Zamboanga City Medical Center. Rodriguez was known for her role in the Barangay Affairs radio program, which tackles various issues concerning local communities. She was also a community leader, serving as the barangay secretary and was heavily involved in local affairs. […]
レイテ島で警察官夫婦が行ったとされるメディアへの嫌がらせに関する人権委員会の声明
The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) expresses grave concern regarding the reported harassment of three journalists covering a land dispute in the town of Pastrana in Leyte province on 14 July 2023. The alleged acts of aggression and harassment were allegedly committed by a married police couple over a land dispute that they are involved in. As captured in a video posted by the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP), police officer Rhea Mae Baleos aggressively pushed one of the reporters of San Juanico TV while he was taking videos. In a statement, NUJP said that Baleos reportedly grabbed Sianosa’s mobile phone. Gunshots were then heard after a […]
レマテのフォトジャーナリストとその家族に対する銃撃事件、およびVERAファイルズに対する殺害脅迫に関する人権委員会の声明
The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) expresses solidarity with the media community in strongly condemning the gun attack on Remate Online photojournalist Joshua Abiad and his family and the death threats against fact-checking media organization VERA Files. Based on the police report, Abiad sustained two gunshot wounds after two unidentified assailants shot his vehicle multiple times along Corumi Street corner Gazan Street in Barangay Masambong, Quezon City on 29 June 2023. His 4-year-old nephew sustained gunshot wounds and died at the hospital on Saturday, 1 July 2023. Two other family members aboard the vehicle were also injured—his brother, 41-year-old Renato Abiad, and an 8-year-old nephew. A bystander was also hit […]
TV5のジャーナリスト、エド・リンガオ氏と司会者のルード・デ・ヴェイラ氏に対するオンライン脅迫に関する人権委員会の声明
The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) remains firm in its stance to defend the free press and calls for the protection of all media workers in the country. We do not and cannot take lightly any threats or any allusions to harm the lives of journalists, regardless if such statements are deliberate or cursory. On 11 October 2022, CHR received reports involving online threats made against TV5 journalist Ed Lingao and television host Lourd de Veyra. Based on initial review, an individual named Seth Corteza claimed that the two would allegedly be the next victims of assassination; referencing to the fatal ambush of the late radio broadcaster Percival “Percy Lapid” […]
Statement of CHR Executive Director, Atty Jacqueline Ann de Guia, on NTC’s order to internet service providers to block websites allegedly affiliated to terrorist organisations and closure order of the Securities and Exchange Commission to Rappler
Addressing terrorism and preventing the spread of disinformation both uphold human rights. A safe environment enables a dignified life. At the same time, access to accurate information allows people to make informed decisions and participate in different affairs, including governance. In this regard, the role of the government, as the prime duty-holder, is to ensure that there is a balance among rights—not treat them as competing values. The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) expresses grave concern on the move of the National Telecommunications Commission, based on the request of the National Security Council, to block access to the websites of organisations designated by the Anti-Terrorism Council, as well as those […]
世界報道の自由デーの祝賀に関するCHR広報担当ジャクリーン・アン・デ・ギア弁護士の声明
In celebration of World Press Freedom Day today, 3 May 2021, the Commission on Human Rights offers its support to all members of the press in creating a community where they can exercise their profession free from violence, intimidation and harassment. Amidst the political climate and the health crisis in the country caused by the global pandemic, journalists play a vital role in ensuring that members of the public remain up-to-date with the most factual and relevant information and in staying critical in holding power to account. Thus, it is concerning that for four consecutive years the Philippines has consistently dropped in the World Press Freedom Index released by Reporters […]
Statement of CHR Spokesperson, Atty Jacqueline Ann de Guia, on the worsening state of press freedom in the country
Free speech and expression are critical in holding power to account. Journalists and other media practitioners are holding the line to defend accountability in a democracy, most especially in an environment that tends to tolerate impunity. The 2021 World Press Freedom Index released by Reporters Without Borders (RSF) suggests that the Philippines is facing a worse state of press freedom as it slipped from 136th last year to 138th this year out of the 180 countries surveyed. Consistently, and on repeated occasions, the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) has expressed grave concern over the worsening state of media freedom in the country, and calls out the State’s long history of […]
CHRスポークスマン、ジャクリーン・デ・ギア弁護士による、全国キャンパス報道の自由の日を記念した声明
The Commission on Human Rights joins all educational institutions and students in the observance of the National Campus Press Freedom Day today, 25 July 2020. This observance was declared only last year, on 28 August 2019 through Republic Act No. 11440 or the National Campus Press Freedom Day Act, in recognition of the importance of campus press in promoting and protecting press freedom and freedom of expression. During the period of its declaration, the reality in many key universities was in stark contrast to what the law aspires to cultivate. It was signed at a time when campus journalism and student protests were confronted with intimidation and harassment and universities […]
Statement of the Commission on Human Rights on the decision of the House of Representatives to deny ABS-CBN’s franchise application
It is with concern that the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) notes the denial of the franchise of ABS-CBN, the biggest broadcasting media outlet in the country. CHR continues to stress the importance of timely, credible information in pushing everyone towards the correct direction in responding especially to a pandemic. The loss of a major network has inevitably left millions of Filipinos in the dark, especially those in far-flung areas with no access to the internet as an alternative. The thousands of workers confronted with the sudden loss of jobs also adds to the number of the struggling population who continues to suffer from loss of livelihood due to the […]
Statement of CHR Spokesperson, Atty. Jacqueline de Guia, on the killing of a radio broadcaster in Dumaguete City
A radio broadcaster was murdered yesterday, 5 May 2020, on the same day that a media giant was shut down and only 3 days after World Press Freedom Day. On his way home, Rex Cornelio, a news reporter and announcer in DYMD Energy 93.7 FM was shot in Barangay Daro, Dumaguete City. He is the third radio broadcaster to be killed in Dumaguete since 2018 and the latest casualty in the unrelenting trend of attack and harassment against members of the press. Around 154 media attacks and assaults have been recorded in our country from June 2016 to December 2019. These violence and similar attacks to journalists signify an erosion […]
CHRの広報担当者、ジャクリーン・アン・デ・ギア弁護士による、国家電気通信委員会がABS-CBNに出した停止命令に関する声明
ABS-CBN’s shutdown tonight triggers waves of effects, especially as the country confronts the dangers of a pandemic. At this point, we cannot stress enough how access to credible information is crucial in addressing the spread of Covid-19. With the station off the air, we lose another voice that people rely on for critical information on how to protect themselves and their loved ones from the ill-effects of the virus. But with jobs affected due to their closure, the decision of the National Telecommunications Commission also aggravates the struggle for a source of living already experienced by the rest of the nation that came with lockdowns and quarantines. It is ironic […]
CHR報道官、ジャクリーン・アン・デ・ギア弁護士による、報道の自由を損なう最近の事件に関する声明
真実は、それを守る自由な報道機関があるからこそ生き続けるのです。私たちが大切にし、価値を置くものはすべて、真実に根ざしています。メディアは、事実に基づいた報道、善意に基づく批判、そして／あるいは反対意見といった形で、権力に真実を伝えます。真に国民に奉仕する政府は、自由なメディアを反政府的なものとみなすのではなく、社会の利益に不可欠なものと見なすはずです。委員会は、特定の政府の政策や行動を声高に批判する個人や団体、特にメディアが、嫌がらせや脅迫を受ける傾向が強まっていることを繰り返し指摘してきました。ジャーナリストのマルガリータ・ヴァッレ氏の「誤認逮捕」は、人権擁護活動に積極的に取り組んできた彼女の行動を考えると、同様の恐怖と疑念を引き起こしています。[…]
Statement on the World Press Freedom Day
PRESS STATEMENT 4 May 2017 Statement on the World Press Freedom Day The Commission on Human Rights Philippines is one in celebrating the World Press Freedom Day! Today, we commemorate the fundamental principles of press freedom and pay tribute to journalists who have lost their lives in the exercise of their profession. This is also an opportunity for us to assess the state of the fundamental human rights of freedom of expression, including its corollary press freedom and access to information locally and internationally, raise awareness of the importance of press freedom, and reflect on the crosscutting issues and professional ethics. The Commission calls on, not only the Philippine Government […]