MANILA - The Philippines has dropped two places in the 2024 World Press Freedom Index, ranking 134 out of 180 countries.

The country climbed 15 places to rank 132 out of 180 in 2023.

The Philippines had a global score of 43.36, lower than last year’s 46.21, according to the Paris-based Reporters Without Borders (RSF) in its report released Wednesday, World Press Freedom Day.

The media watchdog described Filipino media as “extremely dynamic despite the government’s targeted attacks and constant harassment” since 2016.

The previous Duterte administration, the group added, was marked by verbal attacks against journalists. Several news websites were also targets of cyberattacks.

It noted, likewise, that “there seem to have been fewer and less violent attacks” against journalists, but the situation is still “worrisome”.

“Harassment by means of threats and “red-tagging” persists, while defamation and cyber-defamation are still punishable by prison sentences,” RSF said.

The Philippines remain as one of the world’s most dangerous countries for journalists, RSF said.

“Impunity for these crimes is almost total. In an attempt to address this issue, the government set up a Presidential Task Force on Media Security in 2016, but this inter-ministerial body has proved unable to stem the vicious cycle of violence against journalists,” it added.

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