Media workers are not the enemy

Photo: Chantal Eco

On National Press Freedom Day, the Photojournalists’ Center of the Philippines pays tribute to media workers who continue to defend the public’s right to know.

Journalism is the pursuit of truth, but in the Philippines, it remains a dangerous profession. Reporters face threats, harassment, red-tagging, and killings. Since 1986, at least 147 journalists have been killed, according to Reporters Without Borders, making the country one of the deadliest for the press. Yet despite the risks, journalists persist. They expose corruption, amplify the voices of the marginalized, and hold power to account.

Media workers are not the enemy. Branding them as paid operators or conspirators only fuels disinformation and erodes democracy. When reporters press public officials for comment, they are not spinning stories. They are fulfilling their duty to verify facts.

Today, we honor colleagues who have sacrificed their lives and liberty for press freedom. We also demand the immediate release of community journalist Frenchie Mae Cumpio, who remains unjustly detained for reporting on social injustices in Eastern Visayas. 

We call on every Filipino to stand up for freedom of expression and a free press. Those who trample on these rights must be held accountable.