Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Eduardo Año, in a virtual launch stressed that the media has a sacred duty to perform its tasks.
THE Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS) on Friday officially launched its “media security vanguards” who will be assigned to protect journalists from threats of violence, discrimination, misinformation, and corruption ahead of the elections in May.
Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Eduardo Año, in a virtual launch stressed that the media has a sacred duty to perform its tasks “that cannot be curbed by doubts, fear, harassment or intimidation to tell the truth to the people.’’
With the continuous election-related violent incidents, Año assured that the government is taking counter steps in guarding journalists against errant groups adding that “in the future, the press will have more freedom to work on the ground.’’
Año commended the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Presidential Task Force for Media Security “for proactively working shoulder to shoulder in assuring that our truth seekers and truth-tellers are protected and defended in the excellent fulfillment of their jobs.’’
In democratic countries like the Philippines, Año said elections constitute a crucial point in their history as it provides a platform “to amplify our voice and politics and power our restructured meaning society a better place.’’
He noted that the state must provide its citizens with the necessary information and platform to make the public make the right choices including “in the election procedures and processes during election time.’’
“Journalists are said to be the eyes and ears of everything’’ this is true before, during, and after elections,’’ Año noted.
With journalists working closely with the PNP public information offices, the DILG chief appealed to the media to help resolve the cases and incidents by drawing the attention of appropriate authorities.
“Let us work together to prevent violence and exploitation of your job and profession/ be part of our efforts to win the people’s trust as the protector of the people the PNP has done its best to fulfill their mandate,’’ he said.
