Over 100 police deputized as media security vanguards

Ruth Palo

Editor

posted on 4 years ago — updated on 1 second ago

467
views

DAVAO CITY: At least 133 police communicators have been assigned as point persons to facilitate appropriate police action on issues involving the security of working journalists providing media coverage to the 2022 National and Local Elections, and other journalists under threat.

In a statement Friday, PNP chief General Dionardo Carlos said that all 133 Public Information Officers in the Police Regional Offices, Police Provincial Offices, and City Police Offices and the National Headquarters were officially deputized as Media Security Vanguards of the Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS).

“I have designated our Chief PIO, Police Brigadier General Roderick Augustus B Alba as the head focal person at the National Headquarters in coordination with the Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS), while the Chiefs of the Regional Public Information Offices will be the counterparts at the different regional jurisdictions,” Carlos said, acting on instructions of Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary and National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM) Chairman Eduardo M Año.

Carlos also ordered all 1,890 Chiefs of Police nationwide to head the operating arm of the PNP Media Security Vanguards in the municipal and city police station levels.

According to him, “the PNP recognizes the role of the media in raising the level of awareness in the coming elections. Media practitioners are sources of relevant information as the country battles misinformation and disinformation that disrupts the delivery of the truth.”

With the possible escalation of political tensions ahead of the May 2020 polls, the media may be caught in the middle of political rivalry and conflict, so there is an urgent need to provide that mantle of protection, Carlos said.

In a virtual launch of the PNP Media Security Vanguards on Friday, PTFoMS Executive Director, Undersecretary Joel Sy-Egco echoed the need to protect working journalists as a matter of state policy and priority as expressed in Administrative Order No. 1 series of 2016, issued by President Rodrigo R Duterte creating the presidential task force to protect members of media.

Carlos in his message said “the continuing attack on media workers is not only an affront to press freedom and free expression but also robs the Filipino people of a democratic system that fosters a reformed electoral process free from violence, threat, and intimidation.”