PCO urges caution in reporting incidents involving minors

As videos of the fatal shooting at Ateneo de Zamboanga University (ADZU) circulated widely on social media, the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) on Wednesday urged state media to exercise the highest level of caution in reporting incidents involving minors.

PCO Secretary Dave Gomez also appealed to private media organizations to ensure their coverage protects the dignity, safety, and privacy of minors and bereaved families.

In a statement, Gomez said the PCO would not impose restrictions on private media outlets but urged them to exercise care and responsibility, particularly when covering sensitive cases involving minors.

“We reiterate our position that in incidents involving minors, all state media must exercise the highest level of caution in how such tragedies are reported,” Gomez said.

He called on media organizations to refrain from publishing details that could compromise the dignity, safety, and privacy of minors and their families or interfere with ongoing response and investigation efforts.

Gomez also cautioned against reporting details that could potentially encourage copycat acts.

“In particular, we ask for restraint in reporting that may compromise the dignity, safety, and privacy of minors, the bereaved families, and the ongoing response and investigation efforts, and to avoid details that may encourage copycat acts,” he said.

Gomez stressed that responsible reporting is especially important in sensitive cases involving minors to protect vulnerable individuals and their families while authorities continue their response and investigation.