Persecution of the press is the new normal in Bongbong’s Philippines

The Philippines remains one of the most dangerous places for journalists, with media workers facing harassment, arbitrary detention, and even murder. Despite a constitutional right to press freedom, impunity prevails as the powerful circumvent the law and attacks on the media continue under President Marcos Jr. Journalists face red-baiting, censorship, and chilling effects, while some media owners enable the regime's repression. The culture of impunity and historical denialism perpetuated by Marcos Jr. mirrors the human rights violations documented during his term. For press freedom to survive, the Philippines must reject the normalization of media repression and defend the constitutional rights of journalists.