“Amping.” “Ingat.”
These are words that journalists in the Philippines would usually tell each other – before heading out on assignment, when exposing corruption, or even when simply going to work. These words mean “Be safe,” said half in care, half in warning, in a country where too many journalists never made it home.
Today, as the world marks the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists, we stand with those who continue to report the truth despite the constant threat of harassment, violence, and death.
According to UNESCO, nearly 85% of journalist killings worldwide remain unpunished, with one journalist killed every four days. The Philippines remains one of the most dangerous places for the press, ranking 9th in the Committee to Protect Journalists’ 2024 Global Impunity Index. Since 1986, 202 journalists have been killed in the country, according to the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines. Only a handful of these have resulted in convictions.
Regarding to the press release that Neon Metin access from Movement for Media Safety Philippines, report that the culture of impunity also extends beyond killings. Frenchie Mae Cumpio, a young community journalist from Eastern Visayas, has been detained since 2020 on charges widely condemned by local and international human rights groups as retaliatory and unsubstantiated. Her case reflects the alarming pattern of criminalizing journalists, especially those covering marginalized communities or exposing state abuses.
As we remember those who have been silenced, we also honor those who continue to speak. We demand justice and accountability for every journalist attacked, threatened, or wrongfully detained.
Ending impunity is not just about solving past crimes; it is about protecting the truth itself. When journalists are unsafe, the public’s right to know is endangered. When crimes against the press go unpunished, democracy weakens.
We call on the government, the justice system, and all citizens to stand with journalists: To protect their safety, uphold their rights, and ensure that truth-telling does not come with the price of one’s life or liberty.
