THE Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS) on May 6 assured local media practitioners that its office is committed to addressing all forms of media harassment.
Speaking during a one-day media safety workshop, PTFoMS Undersecretary Jose Torres Jr. emphasized that the task force’s core mandate is to protect the security and safety of journalists in the country.
“Kung naay mga threats, panghadlok sa media, pwede ninyo na i-report,” Torres said.
Torres noted that while PTFoMS has existed for 10 years, his ultimate hope is for the office to become obsolete — signaling a future where threats to press freedom no longer exist.
“For now,” he added, “we will continue to conduct training and workshops for media professionals across the Philippines.”
PTFoMS also introduced a Facebook page with a QR code where journalists can report incidents of harassment or threats directly.
In the coming months, the task force plans to revise its media safety and security guidelines in coordination with the Philippine National Police (PNP), Torres said.
Meanwhile, Cagayan de Oro Press Club (COPC) President Froilan Gallardo gave an overview of the local media situation and urged journalists to double their efforts in ensuring safety, particularly during the election season.
He criticized fellow journalists who attack their colleagues, saying, “Sakit nga ato rang mga kauban mubira sa ato.”
Gallardo, who has long reported from conflict zones, reminded reporters assigned to various areas to stay vigilant.
“There is no news worth dying for,” he said.
