Presidential task force: Media members’ safety a priority

The Presidential Task Force on Media Security or PTFoMS yesterday expressed concern over the perception that the country has stagnated on protecting journalists from the hazards of their trade, including being killed over their reporting.

"The safety of all journalists and media practitioners is a top priority of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.," the task force said in a statement following the release of the Global Impunity Index by the Committee to Protect Journalists.

CPJ, a United States-based media advocacy group, said the Philippines remained at seventh spot in the latest index, the same ranking the country has since 2020.

"The administration of President Marcos condemns in the strongest terms all cases of threats, harassment, or violence committed against the members of the press, and it is working very hard with all government agencies and stakeholders to address this problem through the PTFoMS," the task force said.

It may be recalled that the CPJ declared the country as the "most improved" country in the world in its 2020 rankings, moving from fifth to seventh place.

According to CPJ, the GII calculates the number of unsolved murders of journalists as a percentage of each country's population.

The seventh place was as expected because the report covered a 10-year period between 1 September 2012 and 31 August 2022, the task force said.

"It should be noted that most of the cases that transpired during this 10-year period have already been fully investigated, with cases already filed in court. The PTFoMS has already set up plans to work with the judiciary to prioritize these cases," it said.

As an example, it said the suspect in the killing of radio broadcaster Renato Blanco mentioned in CPJ's report has already been arrested. Blanco was stabbed to death on 18 September 2022 by accused Charles Yanoc Amada, PTFoMS said.

Amada is undergoing trial for murder before the Regional Trial Court of Negros Oriental, the PTFoMS said, adding it has communicated this information with Shawn Crispin, senior Southeast Asia Representative of CPJ.

Media vanguards

Regarding the killing of Percival "Percy Lapid" Mabasa, the task force said the government has given importance to investigating and solving the case.

"Most of us are aware of the importance being given by the government in the investigation of this case in terms of manpower and resources. We have to trust our law enforcement agencies that they will be doing their best in bringing to justice all of the perpetrators behind this heinous crime," it said.

The PTFoMS said it is currently working with the Philippine National Police and media groups to develop guidelines on how law-enforcement agencies can protect media workers.

It added that the so-called "Media Security Vanguards" or PTFoMS' focal persons composed of the PNP's public information officers nationwide that were established during the last election is still an ongoing program, in collaboration with the Department of the Interior and Local Government and the PNP.

"Through this initiative, journalists all over the country now have a "first line of defense" as these vanguards are tasked and trained to receive and respond to all threats leveled against any media worker," it said.

"Please note that the Philippines is not included in CPJ's list of 'World's Worst Places to Be a Journalist' or '10 Most Censored Countries in the world,'" the group pointed out.

"In the 2022 Director-General Report on the Safety of Journalists and the Danger of Impunity released recently by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization, it has again cited the numerous programs and initiatives made by the government through PTFoMS to protect journalists in the country."

In his speech during the President's Night with the Manila Overseas Press Club on 5 October 2022, two days after the fatal shooting of Mabasa, President Marcos reaffirmed the government's commitment to safeguarding press freedom.

"I share your club's conviction in the importance of upholding the universal right of free speech and press freedom as well as giving and receiving accurate information, I'm committed to remaining open with you, constantly communicating our progress as we move forward," Marcos said then.

"Under my lead, we will support and protect the rights of the media as they efficiently perform their duty. Whatever difficulties we may encounter from this point on, the government will always be ready to lend an ear and to listen to your concerns and to answer all that you may want to know," the President said.

PTFoMS asked all journalists, broadcasters, and media practitioners to report any incident of threat and harassment so that the matter can be thoroughly and swiftly investigated. The PTFoMS can also provide any journalist or media worker with real-time police security it said.