The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) has recorded 256 cases of attacks against the press since President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. assumed office in 2022, with government officials and state security forces among the alleged perpetrators.
The media organization released the figure Monday, July 27, ahead of Marcos’ fifth State of the Nation Address.
The number of documented cases rose by nearly 6% from the 242 cases recorded by the NUJP as of May 3.
Government officials were allegedly involved in 58 cases, while 54 were attributed to state security forces. Another 61 cases involved private individuals and 31 involved private organizations.
The perpetrators in more than 50 cases remain unidentified.
The NUJP said 12 media workers have been killed since the start of the Marcos administration, while 80 others experienced harassment.
Nearly 40 media workers were red-tagged, while 19 were targeted in cyberattacks.
The group also documented nearly 20 cases of judicial harassment and 14 cases involving libel or cyberlibel charges.
Other cases involved online attacks or harassment, physical attacks, denial of coverage, death threats, arrests, censorship, property damage, and the closure of a media organization.
The 256 cases involved 325 victims, including 250 individuals and 75 media organizations.
“Behind every number is a journalist, a newsroom, and a community whose access to truth is at risk,” the NUJP said.
Most of the documented attacks occurred in Luzon, with 202 cases. Another 51 were recorded in the Visayas, 30 in Mindanao and six overseas.
