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MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Loren Legarda called for stronger protection for journalists and other media workers on Thursday, National Press Freedom Day, stressing that a free and secure press is essential to the public’s right to truthful, timely, and reliable information.
In a statement, Legarda pointed out that the Philippines ranked 114th out of 180 countries in the 2026 World Press Freedom Index of Reporters Without Borders (RSF). While an improvement on its116th ranking in 2025, she noted that the RSF continued to describe the Philippines as one of the most dangerous countries in the world for journalists.
Unesco, she added, has also recorded cases of journalists killed in the Philippines this year.⠀Aug. 30 is observed annually as National Press Freedom Day under Republic Act No. 11699, in honor of Marcelo H. Del Pilar, the father of Philippine journalism.
READ: CHR urges stronger safeguards for journalists on Press Freedom Day
