STRIVE TO ERADICATE RISKS TO MEDIA- PBBM
No evidence to support claims of ‘state-sponsored’ attacks versus PH journos
PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr., urged the Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS) to strive to mitigate, and eventually eradicate, all the risks to their job that hound the members of the press in the country and their families.
“With your steadfast adherence to your mission and unwavering support towards our collective goal, I am optimistic that we will further mitigate—and eventually eradicate—the risks that hound our media workers and their families,” the President said in a message as the task force celebrated its seventh anniversary this October 11, 2023.
In his message, the Chief Executive also called on the task force headed by Undersecretary Paul M. Gutierrez to “revitalize” its commitment “in our shared mandate of fostering (a) free and responsible press.”
Towards this end, Gutierrez, in his report to be read during the Third PH-EU Sub-Committee Meeting on Good Governance, Rule of Law and Human Rights scheduled in Belgium this October 26, 2023, said the task force’s inventory of all the 203 cases of media killings in the country between 1986 and 2023, has debunked the claim of some quarters that media workers in the Philippines are being targeted for attack based solely on their profession or for being critical of the government.
“A deeper look on these cases showed unmistakably that these attacks cannot be attributed to an organized or ‘state sanctioned policy’ to systematically eliminate or suppress critical members of the press thru violence,” Gutierrez said.
He added that of the 142 cases of media killings deemed ‘work-related,’ only 26 incidents or 18 percent are attributed to government officials as suspects. “However, officials involved in these incidents had to face the full force of the law,” Gutierrez pointed out, citing the case of radio blocktimer, Percival ‘Percy Lapid’ Mabasa.
Mabasa was gunned down last October 3, 2022 in Las Piñas City and the principal suspect, former Bureau of Corrections director, Gerald Bantag, has already been charged in court and remains the subject of an ongoing manhunt operation.
Created by virtue of Administrative Order No. 1 on October 11, 2016 by President Rodrigo Duterte, the PTFoMS is principally mandated to address all violations of the right to life, liberty and security all members of the media. The PTFoMS is the first of its kind in the world.
Since his appointment by Pres. Marcos last May 25, Gutierrez, a two-term president of the National Press Club (NPC) and columnist for the Journal Group, immediately buckled down to work, focusing on the inventory of all media-related cases of violence while addressing those recorded under the Marcos administration.
In her message to the PTFoMS’ first Inter-Agency Meeting last August 16, 2023, Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Secretary Atty. Cheloy Garafil and PTFoMS Co-Chair, was pleased to note that all the 4 recorded attacks against the media since Pres. Marcos took office on June 30, 2022, have been deemed ‘resolved’ with the suspects identified, charged in court and some of them already behind bars or the subject of ongoing manhunt operations after the issuance of warrants for their arrest.
In the last 5 months, Gutierrez said the task force had already conferred with some media groups in Metro Manila, Zamboanga, Leyte, Quezon and Bicol while strengthening its partnership with other government agencies aimed at ensuring the safety and welfare of all media practitioners.
These agencies include, among others, the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC), Philippine National Police (PNP), National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), Public Attorney’s Office (PAO), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Commission on Human Rights (CHR) and the National Privacy Commission (NPC).
Gutierrez added that in partnership with the PAO, regional meetings for other media groups in the country are also scheduled until the end of the year, citing the successful holding of the National Capital Region Media Summit held in Manila last September 19, 2023 with more than 170 participants.
“Drawing our inspiration from the encouragement of Pres. Marcos, we assure our colleagues in the media that despite the many challenges, your task force, the PTFoMS, shall always strive to create a media environment that is safe for everyone,” Gutierrez said.
