Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — An international press freedom group says 77 journalists were killed worldwide in 2016. Of that number, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) said 48 cases were “confirmed” to be related to journalists’ work.
The CPJ added 26 were “confirmed cases” as the journalists were killed while covering combat.
In addition, 18 were murdered, and three were killed on “dangerous assignment.”
CPJ did not record any confirmed cases in the Philippines, and the country was not ranked among the deadliest this year.
However, it recorded two deaths in the Philippines with “unconfirmed” motives — Alex Balcoba of People’s Brigada in Manila, and Elvis Ordaniza of dxWO FM in Zamboanga del Sur.
Both journalists were killed before President Rodirgo Duterte took office.
Related: Duterte blames corrupt journalism for media killings
According to the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP), Balcoba was shot in the head by unknown assailants outside his stall in Quiapo, Manila on May 27. It said Balcoba was a member of the Manila Police District Press Corps.
The NUJP said the death of Ordaniza marked the “first murder” of a journalist in the Philippines this year.
The group said Ordaniza was shot twice in the chest on February 16, while preparing dinner at his home in Poblacion, Zamboanga del Sur.
CPJ said it is still investigating if both deaths were work-related.
It’s list has yet to include the death of Catanduanes News Now publisher Larry Que, who was shot in the head on Monday. Que died past midnight Tuesday.
Related: Journalist groups call for probe of Catanduanes publisher killing
According to the CPJ, the Philippines ranks fourth in its Impunity Index, “a global measure of countries where journalists are slain and the killers go free.”
It said that “more journalists have been killed in direct relation to their work in the Philippines than anywhere apart from Iraq and Syria” since it began keeping detailed records in 1992.
Syria was the deadliest country for confirmed cases in 2016, with 14 journalists killed. Iraq and Yemen were tied at second place, with six deaths each.
In addition, the CPJ separately recorded the deaths of two “media workers” — those who support the press in vital news gathering. They include, translators, drivers, guards, fixers, and administrative workers.
