EP 32: Duterte Among World's 'Press Freedom Predators'?

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has been branded as a 'Press Freedom Predator' by international media watchdog Reporters Without Borders.

Duterte joined 36 other world leaders who crack down massively on press freedom.

The list includes Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin, North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un, and Hong Kong's Carrie Lam.

Reporters Without Borders cited the Philippine Daily Inquirer, ABS-CBN and Rappler as Duterte's favorite targets.

It also said, Duterte waged a total war against independent media through false charges of defamation or tax evasion, rescinding broadcast licenses, and using an army of trolls to subject journalists to online harrasment.

Malacañang finds duterte's inclusion in the list 'bereft of merit'.

But for four consecutive years the ranking of the {hilippines has been dropping in the World Press Freedom Index.

The Palace has also downplayed this and insisted that duterte remains committed to protecting journalists' rights.

In this episode, we answer the question: How important is the freedom of the press? 

And has it really eroded in the Philippines, the so-called Asian bastion of democracy, during the time of Duterte?

Christian Esguerra sits down with Daniel Bastard, Asia-Pacific Director at Reporters Without Borders, Journalism Professors Danilo Arao  and Felipe Salvosa.