Zubiri to media: Help improve PH image

The Senate president even insisted that freedom of the press still exists in the country despite reports that the press freedom ranking of the Philippines declined this year. (File Photo: Senator Migz Zubiri/Facebook)

MANILA – Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri on Monday urged the Philippine media to help the country improve its international image as a nation with high respect for press freedom.

Zubiri made the call during a press conference, following the filing of murder charges against two officials of the Bureau of Corrections and others in connection with the assassination of broadcast commentator Percival “Ka Percy Lapid” Mabasa.

“I appeal to the media, tulungan niyo naman kami na pagandahin ang imahe ng Pilipinas, (I appeal to the media, please help us improve the image of the Philippines),” Zubiri told members of the media.

The Senate president even insisted that freedom of the press still exists in the country despite reports that the press freedom ranking of the Philippines declined this year.

The country slipped nine spots to 147th out of 180 countries in the 2022 World Press Freedom Index by Paris-based Reporters Without Borders (RSF).

.“We are a free media. May pumipigil ba sa report ninyo sa Senate? Wala di ba? (Did anyone here in the Senate prevent you (from reporting)? Nobody, right?),” he said.

“Katulad noong Percy Lapid, Nahuli na nga iyong bumaril at mahuhuli na nga iyong mastermind. Tumulong naman kayo iannounce yan sa buong mundo. Buti sana kung hindi inaksyunan, e inaksyunan naman (Just like the Percy Lapid case. The shooter has been caught, the mastermind will soon be apprehended. Please help us to announce this to the whole world. Actions had been taken,” Zubiri added.

PNA)He added that the country is better than other nations where people could not freely express their opinion.