By Chazlee Vanhaltren
Undersecretary Jose Torres Jr., executive director of the Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS), stressed that protecting journalists is the State’s responsibility during a public forum on Sept. 24 at the Audio-Visual Theater.
“When journalists are safe, information flows freely. When information flows freely, citizens participate meaningfully. When citizens are informed and engaged, democracy grows stronger,” he said.
The forum, themed “Press Freedom and Good Governance: The Role of Media Security in Strengthening Philippine Democracy,” centered on media security and its role in protecting press freedom and access to information.
The executive director said the task force is working to address the Philippines’ reputation as “one of the world’s most dangerous places for journalists” and combat its culture of impunity.
He said this impunity is dangerous because “unresolved attacks turn violence into censorship that suppresses journalism” and deprives the public of stories that would otherwise be reported.
Then-President Rodrigo Duterte established the PTFoMS in October 2016 through Administrative Order No. 1, mandating it to protect the life, liberty and security of media workers.
“The task force embodies a vital principle. When a journalist is attacked for public interest work, the entire democratic system is wounded. But no single agency can do this alone,” Torres said.
When asked about how citizens can support journalists during a question and answer segment, Torres answered they can educate families and neighborhoods on the role of media and communication in democracy.
“If there’s no social media or people don’t have access to their mobile phones, we go to journalists to make sure that we bring their payong (umbrella) when they go out because the radio said that it will rain today,” he explained.
Torres also called for local governments, media organizations, civil society, and students to extend protection to threatened journalists who “often work alone in places where political and economic power rests in advance.”
“A threatened journalist needs to know whom to call and who needs a plan to protect his sources and data. Media security must protect journalists without compromising press freedom,” he said.
The event was organized by the School of Public Affairs and Governance Society and attended by students from the College of Mass Communication and College of Business Administration.
