President Rodrigo Duterte said the Philippines enjoys a "vibrant democracy" despite it being a "work in progress" — on the same day that journalist Maria Ressa accepted her Nobel Peace Prize award in Norway.
Duterte, in his speech during the Summit for Democracy, said there is a free press, and the transfer of power is ensured through the polls.
"Today, we have a vibrant democracy and an open and diverse society. Freedom of expression and of the press are fully enjoyed and the regular transfer of power is guaranteed through free and honest elections," the president said.
However, Duterte remarked that the country's democracy is still a work in progress, challenged by corruption, poverty, as well as peace and order issues.
"Philippine democracy is indeed a work in progress. But the Filipino is free. The Philippines is free," he said.
He made the remarks on the same day that Rappler chief executive officer Maria Ressa accepted her Nobel Peace Prize Award in Oslo, Norway.
Ressa is currently facing seven active court cases in what critics claimed was the administration’s attempt to stifle the free press in the Philippines.
She was also almost barred from traveling to Oslo to personally accept her award if not for permission granted by the Court of Appeals.
In her speech, Ressa said that part of the reason why she and Rappler survived years of government attacks is because of the volunteered kindness of strangers.
"Part of how we at Rappler have survived the last five years of government attacks is because of the kindness of strangers, and the reason they help – despite the danger – is because they want to, with little expectation of anything in return," she said.
"This is the best of who we are, the part of our humanity that makes miracles happen. This is what we lose in a world of fear and violence."
She also stated that attacks against her and the online news outlet only made them stronger.
"But the more I was attacked for my journalism, the more resolute I became. I had firsthand evidence of abuse of power. What was meant to intimidate me and Rappler only strengthened us," she said.
The journalist also called out American companies that she said are biased against facts and journalists.
"These American companies controlling our global information ecosystem are biased against facts, biased against journalists. They are, by design, dividing us and radicalizing us," Ressa said.
"I've said this repeatedly over the last five years: without facts, you can't have the truth. Without truth, you can't have trust. Without trust, we have no shared reality, no democracy, and it becomes impossible to deal with the existential problems of our times: climate, coronavirus, now, the battle for truth," she added.
