Ahead of the official campaign period for the 2022 national elections, the government ensures protection for media workers covering the elections against crime and intimidation, the Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS) announced on Saturday, Jan. 29.
“Ayaw nating may masaktan, ayaw nating may matakot, ayaw nating may mamatay,” PTFoMS Executive Director Joel Egco said in a Laging Handa briefing.
(Translation: We don't want anyone to get hurt, we don't want anyone to be afraid, we don't want anyone to die.)
Egco added that his office is also investigating cases of killings involving former media workers who ran for public office.
“Nakatingin tayo sa anumang maaaring kaharaping danger o panganib ng mga kapatid natin sa hanapbuhay, lalo na sa mga tumawid na sa pulitika. Halos nakikipagbanggaan na sila doon sa lokal, doon sa mga dating pulitiko na kanilang subject lamang sa kanilang mga programa,” he added.
(Translation: We're looking into any danger our friends in the media might face, especially those who have already moved to politics. They are now butting heads with politicians who used to be their subjects on their programs.)
The government instructed the Philippine National Police (PNP) to deploy focal persons all over the country who will serve as “media security vanguards”.
“This is in response actually doon sa hamon ng ating Presidential Task Force on Media Security to protect the members of the fourth estate,” PNP Spokesperson Brigadier General Roderick Alba explained in the same briefing.
“Halimbawa, may threat o risk sa kanilang buhay, we have the mechanism na tulungan po ‘yung ating kababayan, hindi lamang yung members ng media. But this time around, there is a dedication and greater focus na kailangan talagang mabigyan sila ng atensyon,” Alba added.
(Translation: For example, if there is a threat or risk to their lives, we have the mechanism to help the people, not only the members of the media. But this time around, there is a dedication and greater focus that needs to be given to them.)
Egco and Alba emphasized that they are avoiding a repeat of the Maguindanao massacre, the single deadliest attack on journalists that happened in 2009. 58 people were murdered, 32 of them are media workers.
“Talagang may possibility kung minsan na naiiipit ‘yung ating mga members ng media, lalo na (‘yung) pumupunta sila sa area na intense ‘yung political rivalry and we don’t want that to happen na kasama ‘yung media na maapektuhan diyan,” Alba explained.
(Translation: There is a real possibility that sometimes members of the media will be involved, especially those who go to areas with intense political rivalry and we don’t want that to happen that members of the media will be affected.)
According to Alba, there are 133 media security vanguards or focal persons. Alba also said that he will serve as the chief focal person nationwide and will join local and regional public information officers for media workers in need of assistance.
He added that police stations will be the operating arm that will confirm and validate complaints, even saying that warrantless arrests are possible, if needed.
“Kung kailangang hulihin ‘yung mga taong nire-reklamo, mayroon tayong enough evidence ay we could do warrantless arrest or kung mayroong nag-file ng kaso, may warrant of arrest ay pwede po nating hulihin," Alba emphasized.
(Translation: If there is a need for someone to be arrested, if there is enough evidence, we could do warrantless arrest or if someone file's a case, and there's a warrant of arrest, we can arrest them.)
PTFoMS Executive Director Joel Egco said media workers can also apply for exemption to the gun ban. Egco explained that these measures are necessary to avoid another deadly incident like the Maguindanao massacre.
‘A timely policy’
Paolo Barcelon, a correspondent from CNN Philippines who covers Manila Mayor Isko Moreno’s 2022 presidential bid, welcomed this move so long as they are tasked to only secure and protect media workers.
“For me, as long as they are tasked to only secure us, give us protection, there is absolutely nothing wrong. Importante din naman na we, [journalists and media workers,] feel safe doing what we do,” Barcelon said in a message to Arrowhead.
(Translation: For me, as long as they are tasked to only secure us, give us protection, there is absolutely nothing wrong. It’s also important that we, [journalists and media workers,] feel safe doing what we do.)
However, he disapproves of this measure if this is just going to be used for surveilling media workers.
“Pero kung ang aim nito ay matiyagan kami, bantayan ginagawa namin, then I disagree,” he pointed out.
(Translation: But if this [“protection”] aims to observe and watch closely what we are doing, then I disagree.)
The campaign period for the 2022 elections will start on Feb. 8 for the national posts (president, vice president, senator, and party-list groups), and March 25 for local posts (House of representatives, provincial, city and municipal).
By LJ Abadinas
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