There is no suppression of press freedom under the Duterte administration.

This, Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Martin Andanar emphasized yesterday, pointing out that President Rodrigo Duterte’s signing of Republic Act (RA) 11458, or the measure exempting broadcast and online media from revealing their sources, is proof of this.

Enacted on 30 August, the charter is an amendment to Section 1 of RA 53, or the so-called “Sotto Law”.

“With this new law, it is clear that even those from online and broadcast are already protected. This goes to show that under this government… there is no suppression of press freedom in our country,” the chief communicator said in a recent interview.

“Press freedom is flourishing, this despite all the criticisms that press freedom is suppressed in our country, but that is far from the truth and proof of that is the signing of this Act expanding coverage of exemption,” he added.

He also cited Administrative Order 1, the circular that created the Presidential Task Force on the violations to the right to life, liberty, and security of the members of the media; Executive Order 2, which promotes an open government in the Executive branch through the freedom of information; and RA 1140, which declares 25 July as National Campus Freedom Day, as initiatives of the Duterte administration in promoting the freedom of the press and the freedom of expression.

Andanar, himself a former newsman, went on by saying that with the expanded coverage, journalists may not be compelled to divulge their sources of published news or information obtained in confidence.

This, however, may be overturned should “the court or the House of Representatives or the Senate or any committee of Congress finds that such revelation is demanded by the security of the State,” according to a provision on RA 11458.

Malacañang earlier tagged the signing of the charter “as auspicious and relevant in the present time, with the advent of technology.”