Insisting that it was “unfair” for the United Nations’ Human Rights Committee (UNHRC) to express its concerns over reports of human rights violations in the country, including the killing of journalist Percy Lapid, Senate President Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri falsely claimed that the Philippines has a “very free media” compared to countries like Malaysia and Singapore.
In a Nov. 7 press conference, the senator was asked if he thought that the UNHRC’s concluding observations of the country was “damaging” to the Philippines’ image. Zubiri said:
“We have a free media. You are [sic] guys are all free. [Nami-]misquote nga ako minsan, eh. Naiinis nga ako sa inyo minsan. You take my quote out of context kaya pinapa-record ko na, eh. Alam mo, we have a very free media as compared to Singapore, as compared to Malaysia, as compared to Vietnam.”
(We have a free media. You are [sic] guys are all free. I’m even misquoted sometimes. I’m upset with you sometimes. You take my quote out of context. That’s why I’ve asked for everything to be recorded. You know, we have a very free media as compared to Singapore, as compared to Malaysia, as compared to Vietnam.)
Source: Senate of the Philippines, Transcription of Senate President Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri’s Press Conference, Nov. 7, 2022
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