Image capture of video by Duterte Kami 2016 via YouTube channel • A global media watchdog denounced incoming President Rody Duterte’s statements on media killings
• Reporters Sans Frontieres urged Philippine reporters to boycott Duterte’s press conferences until he issues a public apology
• The group also called on media organizations to file lawsuits against Duterte
The group Reporters Without Borders or Reporters Sans Frontiéres (RSF), a global media watchdog, denounced President-elect Rodrigo Duterte’s recent comment that “corrupt journalists are legitimate murder targets.”
Duterte uttered the controversial comment when asked by a reporter during a press conference in Davao City about his stand on media killings in the country.
The incoming president said most of those (journalists) killed were corrupt.
“Just because you are a journalist, you are not exempted from assassination if you are a son of a b****. Freedom of expression won’t save you. The Constitution cannot help you kapag binaboy mo ang isang tao [if you disrespects a person],” he added.
RSF’s Asia-Pacific Desk head, Benjamin Ismail, said not only were Duterte’s statements “unworthy of a president but they could also be regarded as violations of the law on defamation or even the law on inciting hatred and violence.”
The RSF urged Philippine reporters to boycott Duterte’s press conferences until he issues a formal public apology over his statements on media killings. The group also called on media organizations to file lawsuits against him.
“Duterte should nonetheless be pleased by the existence of these laws because without them he would also be exposed to violent repercussions, according to his own words. We urge organizations that represent the media to not overlook comments of this kind and to bring lawsuits. We also urge the media to boycott the Duterte administration’s news conferences until the media community gets a public apology,” RSF said in a statement published on its official website.
According to the media watch group, respect for media freedom in the Philippines, which is ranked 138th out of 180 countries in RSF’s 2016 World Press Freedom Index, declined in 2015.
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