‘Specialized teams’ to protect journalists for 2025 polls

The Presidential Task Force on Media Security relaunches its ‘Media Safety Vanguards’ in coordination with the Philippine National Police at the Philippine Information Agency headquarters in Quezon City on April 8. — Photo by Jason Sigales/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — The Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFOMS) will be deploying “specialized teams” to protect members of the press ahead of the 2025 elections.

PTFOMS executive director Jose Torres Jr. made this announcement at the launch of the task force’s “Media Safety Vanguards,” previously launched for the 2022 polls.

“We will deploy specialized teams trained to respond swiftly to any threats or incidents involving media personnel. We also aim to strengthen partnerships between law enforcement and media organizations to ensure timely and effective responses to security concerns,” Torres said, adding that the PTFOMS will conduct safety workshops with journalists.

The Philippine National Police Public Information Office (PNP PIO) will oversee the Media Security Vanguards, according to Department of the Interior and Local Government Undersecretary Rolando Puno.

For his part, PNP PIO Director Col. Randulf Tuaño said his office and his regional counterparts will be the “first line of defense.”

“Let us report to them. There, we will find mechanisms where we can address if our friends in the media receive threats,” Tuaño said in Filipino.

Additionally, the Department of Justice said it would assist in expediting legal action for incidents involving media personnel.

“The media has an important role in our society. They should not be killed. They should not be intimidated because if there’s no free expression, there’s no justice, there’s no true democracy,” Torres said.

READ: NUJP happy but wary over zero work-related media killings

A report released in February by the international watchdog Committee to Protect Journalists said the Philippines had no media killings in 2024.

READ: PH 9th in Global Impunity Index; journos not impressed

Despite the report of no killings in 2024, the Philippines ranked ninth on the Committee to Protect Journalists’ Global Impunity Index released last October.

The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines maintained that “justice remains elusive” for slain media workers.