“Since the task force was formed, it has investigated about 13 cases.

Malacañang urged media workers yesterday to report any death threats in light of the recent brutal slaying of broadcaster Joey Llana.

Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS) executive director Undersecretary Joel Sy Egco said on radio that any form of threats that mediamen receive can be reported to PTFoMS.

He vows to investigate all reported incidents of threaths against media workers.

“All incidents involving media workers are being investigated, regardless of whether work related or not,” said Egco.

He said media workers may not be aware of the protocols in reporting threats they have received. Thus, the agency is going around the country to conduct seminars.

Asked why a number of journalists killed were blocktimers, Egco said this was due to their having more autonomy.

“If you are a blocktimer, you have autonomy from the network or station you are broadcasting,” said Egco.

“Whoever pays for the blocktime, the station or the network is not liable,” he said.

“So if the broadcaster makes any strong comments against anyone, the station will not be held liable for the actions of the blocktimer. This is one situation that is not regulated,” he added. “More blocktimers are vulnerable to threats, and sometimes they are charged with libel,” he added.

Since the task force was formed, it has investigated about 13 cases, according to Egco.

In the case of Llana, the undersecretary said that he will go to Albay to look into the matter, although he did not reveal when he will visit the province.

“I have to go there, but I won’t announce when,” Egco said.

Llana, a radio blocktimer, was gunned down before dawn Friday in Daraga, Albay by unidentified suspects while he was on his way to host his program “Metrobanat” on dwZR. The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) said Llana suffered 14 bullet wounds.

Egco said they have already coordinated with Philippine National Police-Counter Intelligence Task Force, specifically Task Force Usig, who in turn contacted the local authorities in Albay.

Llana’s sibling said the victim received death threats days before the murder, according to the NUJP, adding that the broadcaster’s death is the 12th media killing under the administration of President Duterte, the third in Bicol Region and the 185th in the country since 1986.

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