Tags: reporters withour borders

By RONALYN V. OLEA
and INA ALLECO R. SILVERIO

NUJP challenges President Aquino to make good on his pledge to solve the killings of journalists while others say authorities should go beyond the robbery angle that the police initially announced, considering that Dr. Gerry Ortega was also an environmental activist.

Related Stories: Killed for Anti-Mining Stand? Palawan’s ‘Doc Gerry’ Was Friend of Environment and the Poor | Palawan Environmentalist and Broadcaster Shot Dead

Reporters Without Borders today released its Press Freedom Index for 2009. In it, the Philippines ranks 122, compared to last year’s 139. This suggests that press freedom in the Philippines has improved, regardless of the many killings, attacks and intimidation being faced by Filipino journalists. But over the years, the country’s rankings in the index indicate a worsening of press freedom.