THE Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS) notes with concern the Global Impunity Index (GII) released by the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), a US-based media advocacy group, where the country remained in 7th place, its rank since 2020.
It will be recalled that the CPJ declared the country as the “most improved” country in the world in its 2020 rankings, moving from 5th to 7th place.
The safety of all journalists and media practitioners is a top priority of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. 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.
According to CPJ, the GII calculates the number of unsolved journalist murders as a percentage of each country’s population. The 7th rank was expected because the report covered ten-year period between September 1, 2012, and August 31, 2022.
However, it should be noted that most of the cases that transpired during this ten-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.
For example, the suspect in the killing of radio broadcaster RENATO B. BLANCO that was mentioned in CPJ’S report has already been arrested. Blanco was stabbed to death on September 18, 2022 by accused CHARLES YANOC AMADA.
He is currently undergoing trial for MURDER at the Regional Trial Court of Negros Oriental. The PTFoMS has actually communicated this information with Shawn W. Crispin, Senior Southeast Asia Representative of CPJ.
With regard to Percival Mabasa, more popularly known as Percy Lapid, 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.
The PTFoMS is also currently working with the Philippine National Police (PNP) and media groups to develop guidelines on how law-enforcement agencies will protect media workers.
It should be noted that the so-called “Media Security Vanguards” or PTFoMS’ focal persons composed of the PNP’s Public Information Officers (PIOs) nationwide that were established during the last election is still an on-going program, in collaboration with the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) 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.
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.
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 (UNESCO), it has again cited the numerous programs and initiatives made by the government through PTFoMS to protect journalists in the country.
The PTFoMS is also working hand in hand with various media groups and civil society organizations for the implementation of the Philippine Plan Of Action On The Safety Of Journalists or PPASJ, a first in the world, patterned after the United Nations Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity.
The PPSAJ which the PTFoMS fully supports was crafted to strengthen the enabling environment for the exercise of press freedom and to establish safety mechanisms for journalists and media workers that are locally anchored and sustainable.
In his speech during the President’s Night with the Manila Overseas Press Club (MOPC) last October 5, 2022, President Marcos emphatically reaffirmed the government’s commitment to safeguarding press freedom.
He stated that: “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 remain open with you, constantly communicating our progress as we move forward.”
“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 Marcos administration through the PTFoMS will continue to remain proactive and unwavering in its mandate to defend media freedom in the Philippines by protecting the life,liberty, and security of media workers.
We remind 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. (VICTOR RUIZ BALDEMOR)
