SUBIC, Zambales – Special investigators of the Presidential Task Force on Media Killings vowed Thursday to dig deeper into violent incidents involving media practitioners, mostly in the countryside, in a bid to bring justice to the victims and eventually set the record straight that Philippines is not a dangerous country for journalists.
This developed as PTFoMS Executive Director Usec. Joel Sy-Egco reminded members of the fourth state to be professional and responsible when pursuing stories or much better avoid stories that may compromise your journalism career.
“We have to be responsible. May kaakibat na responsibilidad an gating pagiging mamamahayag, maging ikaw man ay nasa broadcast or print media,” Egco said in his opening speech during the Seminar on PTFoMS Administrative Order 1 (AO-1) Operational Guideline and Protocol held in a resort hotel in this town.
Egco said the Philippines have been pictured in the international scene as a dangerous place for journalist next to Afghanistan by different press groups citing as primary example was the Mamasapano massacre.
The PRFoMS chief said the Duterte administration acknowledges the problem that prompted the chief executive to create a government agency that would directly handle and supervise the investigation on any attacks aimed at journalists.
“Of the 11 cases recorded by PTFoMS, two have already been solved. We’re on the process of investigating other incidents not only those that occurred in the present administration but also cold cases,” said Lawyer Jay De Castro, one of the panelists during the PTFoMS seminar where most of his audience are PNP officers, government prosecutors and local media.
De Castro said a number of suspects tagged by witnesses as responsible behind journalist attacks have been brought behind bars but he did not mention specific personality or victims.
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte signed AO-1 creating the PTFoMS due to rising number of violence including threat to life, liberty and security against media practitioners. The task force is being headed by Presidential Communication Office Undersecretary Joel Sy-Egco, also a journalist.
Egco assured members of the fourth state of the government support in the event of media attacks. “Our office will be there to assist and investigate kahit text message lang aaksyunan natin yan.”
Present during the event were Chief Supt. Amadro Corpus, Central Luzon PNP director; Layer Jesus Simbulan, head of the regional State prosecutor; private and government media and based in different provinces in region 3.
Meanwhile, Egco presided the first induction ceremony of the Camp Olivas Press Society (COPS), an organization of working journalists in the police beat in Central Luzon. The officers were Rudy Abular – President, of People’s Journal/ Tonight; Jesus Yutrago Malabanan – Vice President, of IOrbitnews.com and Reuters; Grace Sansano – Secretary, DZRH; Chris Navarro, Treasures, of Sunstar-Pampanga; Froilan Magtoto – Auditor of Manila Times Homer Teodoro, GMA 7, business Manager and Buddy Arevalo, Director; Gary Bernanrdo, and Cris Sansano members.