A top Philippine police official rejected Wednesday an accusation by a U.S.-based group that the Philippines is one of the most dangerous places for journalists to work in.

Philippine National Police spokesman Samuel Pagdilao said it is not reasonable to say that the country is a dangerous place for journalists.

"If you will see our records, most of the mediamen that were killed were not job-related," he said. "They were not killed in the performance of their duties. Many of them were killed because they earned the ire of some people. This is our position."

A U.S. group, the Committee to Protest Journalists, said on Tuesday the Philippines and Afghanistan are two most dangerous countries for journalists in Asia.

Source: Xinhua